Canadians visiting!

[Orphena]

Lady Deborah - that sounds most intriguing! We should love to watch how that plays out - currently our budget will not allow for a third day, (and that is our travel day), but if we can manage to swing it, we will, and in that case,we will watch for you!

[Orphena]

So, we are so very excited for this trip... (I believe I am quivering with excitement!)  but I still have a couple of questions that I am hoping can be answered before we leave! I have been scouring the Michigan Ren Faire website, and they FINALLY updated this weekend's schedule, but I cannot find a listing of what all the acts are! (There is a listing of entertainers, but no description!) I am an over planner, and want to be sure we manage to hit at least a few shows - which probably means paying attention to the schedule for at least one of the days!

So - for those in the know...These are the shows we are considering making an effort to see - but want to be sure we are not going to end up at some kiddie show!  You may notice that these are more acting shows, which we enjoy the most!

Please let me know if I have guessed correctly on the type of show. - Question marks mean I have no idea...

Rogue Blade Show - I am assuming is Fight show
Ric Rac Zoo?
Ded Bob - I have seen the website
One Step Further? Dance?
Idiots Jamboree?
Knotty Nauticals -Pirate Mud show?

Royal Ball - Maypole Stage - is there audience participation at all? (What if I stand on the sidelines and look desperate?)

Ample & Trite - ?
Hob the Troll? (I am assuming troll comedy?)
Shock & Awe ?
Zucchini Brothers - Juggling, by their website..
Drag Race - Field of Honour - I have no idea...

Does anyone know if there is a prize for the costume contest, and what it might be? 

Thanks so much!!!

[Kathleen MacLeod]

***Rogue Blades is a combination fight/comedy show--I'd say more comedy than serious fighting.
***Ric Roc has two shows--the Stupid Show and the Dumb Show. The Stupid Show is mostly normal comedy, juggling, playing with fire, and all that jazz. The Dumb Show is silent physical comedy. Both are absolutely hilarious.
***Knotty Nauticals--This is done by Pirate Shantyman and Bonnie Lass. I believe they've modified their usual comedy show into more tightrope walking and such.
***Royal Ball is the cast doing morning dance. The fourth and final song is all about audience participation! The Maypole is danced around periodically throughout the day by the Peasant Dancers. I'm not sure whether or not they use audience participation at all with that.
***Hob the Troll--You're right, it's troll comedy. He also sings, plays the accordion, and often hangs out around the bridges on site

Those are the ones I've seen enough to have a good idea of them. I'm working during the day, so I don't get to stop and watch shows like I used to

[Orphena]

Thank you Lady Kathleen!

That helps very much!

[PhoenixRose]

I hope you have a lovely weekend at our fine faire, and the the weather stays nice for you.

[Kathleen MacLeod]

The weather was ridiculously hot and humid today, but Orphena and her hubby were there anyway. I saw them out and about all day and called her Canada all day long; she said she had a good time, but I suppose she could've been humoring me 

[robert of armstrong]

It WAS hot on Saturday!!  I was thankful that I was not in my armor, usually I wish I were.  Our day was limited to around 10am to 3pm, as that was all the heat that the young ones would allow us.  But, it has opened the debate for a second visit this year.....

We had a great time, as was expected, even though it was cut off a little short.  Huzzah to you and yours, MiRF!!

[Orphena]

Well, we are safe home after a DELIGHTFUL visit! Robert - I think I saw you on your way out on Saturday, but I had no chance to yell out a hello! Was your lady wearing green?

Michigan - you have such a lovely faire - we may make our visit an annual one! Your queen is the most regal, gracious, stunning monarch! I LOVED the variety in the gowns & menswear, the colours, the character interactions! We managed to catch the Zuchinni Brothers, Manolete, Tortuga Twins, and the Washer Women (who were hilarious!) We spent time with some of the regulars down at Guiness Pub, met Graybeard, Stella, and the Dutchman (I've dutch blood in me too!), and met Martin from here (I hope I got your name right!) and the gentleman with the camera whose name I have forgotten, to my shame! Lady Kathleen was delightful - you are too cute!  We interacted with cast, playtorns, and mundanes, and really truly enjoyed ourselves! What a variety of things to do and see!

We stayed at the Wyndham, which was a drive of about 15 minutes. The room was large - plenty of room to get dressed in, they have a pool and a HOT tub which was so nice after a day at Faire (Pool is open until 10). Breakfast included bagels, waffles, eggs, sausages,  fruit, yogurt, cereal, juice and coffee. Staff was nice, several other faire goers there, no odd comments in the morning when we left in full noble attire. The only downside was that the beds are soft - not nearly supportive enough!

We got there early on the first day - the food bank wasn't ready to accept donations until 9 / 9:30, and the ticket wicket did not open until 9:40 or so, which seemed late, considering how long the line was (Somehow we ended up at thefront of the line though!)
. We bought 4 tickets all at once to save ourselves the line on day 2! I would reccomend people aim for a 8:45 or 9am arrival, since on day 2 we got there at 9 and were only a few rows further back.

Thank you to all who made this trip so much fun!

[Kathleen MacLeod]

Robert, I'm glad you enjoyed our faire and survived the dreadful Saturday heat! That's an achievement in and of itself

Orphena, I'm glad you had such a wonderful time! You had a smile on your face every time I saw you, so I was hoping that meant you were enjoying yourself It was lovely to meet you! I was so nervous when I came up to introduce myself that I could hardly remember my character name--just saying "I recognize your garb from a photo on the ren fest forums" is a strange means of introduction!

For those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting Orphena, she's just wonderful. She also gave me the most beautiful favor. I'll have to post a picture when I get a minute.

[Captain Cornelius Howard Duckman]

I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, lass!

[Orphena]

Captain Duckman - yes we very much did! It was lovely to meet you as well - and we did catch several jail shows - which were very entertaining! What a unique way to get people involved!

Lady Kathleen - I believe m'lord caught a picture of you:
"http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/ShariO/Michigan%202011/th_ladykathleen.jpg"

And we got several of her Majesty:

"http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/ShariO/Michigan%202011/th_majesty.jpg"

"http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/ShariO/Michigan%202011/th_HerMajesty.jpg"

[robert of armstrong]

Well, we are safe home after a DELIGHTFUL visit! Robert - I think I saw you on your way out on Saturday, but I had no chance to yell out a hello! Was your lady wearing green?

She was wearing a green peasent top with a thick brown waist cincher belt and a brown linen skirt.  Our daughter Abigail (2 years old) was wearing her bubblegum pink princess dress, and our son Evan (1 year old) was wearing a black and red kilt and sash over a baby one-sy dyed with tea to look like linen.  I changed my mind about what I was wearing after we heard how hot it was going to be, and went with a linen shirt, thick kidney belt and a gren and black kilt.

I'm heading back this coming weekend for an armor weekend with one of my buds, but that's another thread.

[Kathleen MacLeod]

Lady Kathleen - I believe m'lord caught a picture of you:
"http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/ShariO/Michigan%202011/th_ladykathleen.jpg"

He did indeed! Thank you for posting it; I love pictures of morning dance