"I Sense Danger" and Scarborough Faire!

Greetings everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I am writing this on Easter Sunday - the first Easter I have been able to spend with my family in many, many years.

Thinking about family makes me want to say thank you to all the well-wishers, healing light, and prayers that have been directed toward “Don Juan” who, as you may know, tore his Achilles Tendon on the final day of the 2010 Arizona season. It happened during the last two moves of the final fight during our “Don Juan in Heck” show. Amazingly he finished, was taken to a doctor by “Esmeralda” and returned for the final show - which was great (If I say so my self - a truly Weird Show). He had a successful operation this past Friday and is recovering well. We will be doing our shows at the Crown Stage at Scarborough Faire - which opens this upcoming weekend. It’ll take some adaptation, but I have the feeling that some real hysterical stuff is going to happen. Come out and see!

“I Sense Danger” Release planned for April 17th, 2010 (second weekend of Scarborough Faire)

Well, after almost four years in the making it looks as though we are almost ready to have an actual release!! I can’t tell you how much work went into this new adventure. It is a HUGE step for us (I feel) in quality from either “El Gusano” or “The Lost Princess”. To let you know, although it is a single piece it was created in three “chapters”. Each chapter has its own musical number and “action” sequence. Each chapter can be viewed individually or together as a complete piece (which I recommend for the first viewing - then you’ll get the whole story). Although a “Don Juan and Miguel” adventure - it really stars Esmeralda, Hey Nunnie Nunnie!® and the London Broil boys. It was beautifully filmed by Dr. Jules and has an excellent score written by our good friend Kelly Stallard. The score features many of your favorite festival musicians. Duncan Pace did an excellent job of directing and editing and Louie Skaradek was fabulous as Special Effects Head - lots of interesting Fx! The story is light-hearted and fun, I honestly think it is the best thing we’ve done yet. I’m uncertain if we are going to have a “theatrical” showing of it. The theater showing for “The Lost Princess” was such a good time we are tempted to try to recreate that. If not at Scarborough in Texas, then perhaps at the Sterling Festival in Upstate New York - where it was filmed. We’ll certainly let you know. As we get ready to submit “I Sense Danger” to film festivals I’ve had to write a couple of “blurbs” explaining the film. I’ve included one of the longer ones (250 words) to let you know what the movie is about. I hope you all enjoy it! Thanks for your continued support and we’ll see you at Scarborough Faire!

“I Sense Danger” (the story)....

From the award-winning producers and director of “The Tale of El Gusano” and “The Lost Princess” comes a new swashbuckling, song-filled adventure set in the delightful and fantastical world of Don Juan and Miguel.

Danger and destruction erupt after Don Juan, Prince of Spain, accompanied by his wacky and ever-faithful manservant Miguel encounter a sad and mysterious hunchbacked Frenchman; Bernard. Sensing a mysterious power Don Juan invites the seemingly helpless Bernard to his inner sanctum to teach him to harness his budding abilities. The beautiful whip-cracking Princess Esmeralda, Don Juan’s daughter, begins to develop mystical powers of her own. Her good friends, Mother Redempta and Sister Philomena council her through the song “Chastity Bell”. Meanwhile Don Juan and Miguel are suddenly called away to foreign lands to battle barbarous pirates and horrible hoards, leaving the protection of Queen Elizabeth to Esmeralda.

Bernard, now fully controlling his psionic powers, hires minions, reaps destruction upon the sleepy village of Warwicke and captures the Queen’s castle - turning it into his lair. Finally realizing his dream through song he claims the title of “Bernard the Bad Guy”.

Sensing danger to the castle and the Queen Esmeralda quickly comes up with a plan to defeat the matter-moving monster! Queen Elizabeth, realizing that even the princess needs help calls for the return of her champion Don Juan and, along with Miguel, Mother Redempta, and Sister Philomena battle Bernard.

Can Bernard be stopped? Discover the answer in this delightful family-friendly Adventure!

On the way to Scarborough Faire

Greetings faithful readers, fans and friends! Here's hoping that life is bringing you much joy!

Well, Arizona is at an end for 2008 and Scarborough opens in but a few days. The Arizona run was truly great this season. SO much fun! SO many folks came and laughed and chatted and laughed again. We had near perfect weather (some chilly and some gusty days) and near perfect attendance. I think we broke records, if not, we at least came close. We met some new people and made some new friends.

We got to know the new (young) whip-master Adam Crack (not his real name thank God!). We even got involved with him at the festival's in-house talent show. Don Juan, I, Adam and Ricki and Jef (Tortugas) performed a "whip ballet" on a Saturday night - complete with pinks Tu-tus and blond wigs while Frank (Cast in Bronze) performed a disturbing version of the Blue Danube Waltz on the carollon! It went over swimmingly and should be posted on You Tube sometime in the near future. I'll let you know the details when I find them out.

Yes, all-in-all Arizona was a lot of fun. I love being neighbors with Hey Nunnie Nunnie!, Fool Hearty, Clan Tinker, the jousters and more. I cherish our early morning coffee clutches - so much laughter, so many fine ideas shared. SO much love expressed - it's truly a gift.

And now I'm "on the road again". Travelling from my home near Kingman to Waxahachie. Alas alack my truck broke down in Tucumcari! (poop!). The dealership here says they will have it fixed today (Wednesday) and I should be on the road again later this afternoon. We'll see. At least I have time to work on the Blog! I had lunch at a terrific local place called "Dell's". If you drive through Tucumcari (off of US 40) - I'd recommend it. Good food, nice folks, lovely atmosphere! A few friends (Hey Nunnie Nunnie) are behind me and have offered their help. Hopefully I won't need it. If I'm not at Scarborough Saturday, you'll all know why. Actually - as my Mom used to say "Come Hell or high water I'll be there!"

An update on the Tucumcari stop-over. My truck was fixed. And is being fixed again. Luckily I was only ten miles out of town when the problem reared its head again. Seems like I need a fuel pump. Ah well. Tucumcari Tonight!

Oh, I do want to put in my two cents about the upcoming presidential elections. It's interesting to me that we at Renaissance Festivals represent a time of Monarchy. You know, Democracy is really a much better idea. So, this coming November, please exercise a "right" that millions of people on this planet wished they had, and that is the right to vote. Please VOTE!