The parts where I WASN'T dying were fun

[wendyzski]

We got thanks from both the ED AND the Bride for our work with the wedding reception. We're experienced anough to see when there is a need and step into it. The ED said "I started looking around to see if we needed to get entertainment started, and you were already handling it". In general, we were able to take notes on the fly and make things work out and look seamless. Same thing with the Opening Gate scene which was new to us, but all the cues worked just as if they had been rehearsed. That's the essence of being a pro.

While I never managed to actually catch a TEATRO show, I did see finally Stupina (at a distance) dancing at front gate, and I met Baby Stupina. A very funny moment in the Tipsy Gypsy when a fiddler with a new act practially levitated over the table to get away from Baby Stupina. She was all like "get that freaky thing away from me". Baby Stupina cried, and I told her she had to apologize for hurting BabyS's feelings, but she was too freaked out. I had to ask, and yes she's terrified of clowns - to the point of hyperventilating. She may not be long for the Faire Circuit if she can't get past this.

Also, I totally want to steal Mrs. Leilo's new outfit!

We got to see Jayna Lee again, for the first time in about 3 years. She's working with a partner now, and is just as cute and perky as ever. She's not doing the fire act any more, which is probably good as she is the one who set the stage afire in Fremont. (The Tortuga Twins managed to put it out by beating the flames out with a hay bale, and we made her sign the scorch-mark that was left just to the left of downstage center). It's nice to run into other performers again across the years, and to catch up on how the acts have changed and developed. They are now doing juggling, magic, acrobatics & contortion.

I met a couple of Wenches from the MN/Upper WI area, and we talked about how great it would be to have a Hostel and maybe actual Wench activities up there next season. As a performer, my return is dependant upon the whims of management, but I'd love to help out any way I could. It's sort of a Halfway House between Shakopee and Bristol.

And as always it was the kids that provided some of the best moments of the day. At one set in Angus' Pub, we were singing Health ToThe Company, and I toasted "and one to my lass" to a little girl in a pink princess dress. The smile that lit up her face made me warm all the way down to my toes. We also had a little boy in an orange T-shirt dancing and clapping, and two llittle girls holding hands and very gravely dancing around in a circle at various shows/.

But it was the little just-past-toddler with the white flowered dress and the purple-gatorade smile that just about made my day at closing on Sunday. We did our 2 songs and then another act had 2, so I went to go pull little kids out to dance (to show the kind of thing that street characters ought to be doing). She held up her skinny little arms to be picked up, so with mommy's permission I settled her on my hip and proceeded to waltz her around the circle. I even let her lead! When my arms got tired, I took her back to mommy, and went on to dance with a couple of other girls. Got back into place to take my cue from Her Maj to start off leading the usual 'Health To The Company'. About halfway through my first verse, she comes out of the crowd right up to me, and stands next to me. Then she starts swaying her hips side to side, so I started imitating her. By the end of the first chorus, the afterimages from the camera flashes were getting a bit much, so I was actually glad when she decided to go back to mommy. All in all the cute was quite overwhelming.

(But good gods i need some serious sleep now)