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parf-fan · 6 months

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Annual fan-theory rehashing:

The shire of Mount Hope is caught in a time-loop, the same day repeating over and over.

Not always, mind you. This event only seems to be triggered by the presence of royalty in the little NightVale-esque village. And even then, not all those present will be caught in it. There is no real rhyme or reason to who will or won’t, but one can live in Mount Hope one’s entire life and never be caught in a loop.

Those trapped in the loop do not notice right away. Oh, the ones who’ve done this a dozen times, of course they can tell immediately. But most will not. How could they? All they will perceive at first is a vague sense of déjà vu. As the loop progresses, things will start to seem actively familiar. Folk meeting for the first time will already know one another. They guess what is about to happen, and they are always right. They mentally recite the words of others as the words are first spoken.

Some may spend time privately questioning their own sanity. Others will take counsel with those they trust as soon as they sense something strange. The loop is openly acknowledged at different rates by different individuals, in part based on the speed at which it is recognized. Some – particularly those whose minds most resemble those of the Fae – recognize it at once. The very second time they live this day, they know they’ve lived it before with only slight differences. Those with more typical minds take over a month’s worth of days to discern what is happening. But sooner or later, all do. And as they recognize it, they speak of it, mostly only to those they are closest to. After a time – a little under two months’ worth of looped days, to be precise – all those within the loop have acknowledged and spoken of it with at least a few others.

Yet time loops are fickle things, and more often than not, the actions of the loop are determined by the attitudes of those within it. So it is with the loop of Mount Hope. Once everyone has spoken of and acknowledged the loop, it changes.

Against all rationality, something new – someone new, often – enters the loop. An element of the supernatural previously absent. It throws everything, everyone off. The day begins as it has for months, but then it changes. Nobody is prepared for this. Some may think that perhaps they had dreamed the loop, that none of these events had truly yet transpired. Others merely stare in disbelief, mentally mouthing phrases in the spirit of what the hap is fuckening.

And so they must begin again, recognizing the repeated events. As before, the Fae-like minds catch on at once. But the process for all is more speedy this time, for they’ve already recognized a loop once before. And as they start pinning down this altered loop, they begin to accept. After all, bizarre though the past weeks of their lives have been, they cannot deny that they have enjoyed themselves immensely. They are living a festival day, after all! And through that time, they have all bonded with each other deeply. One by one, they all come to the conclusion that, well, if they are to be stuck in the same day for the rest of eternity, they couldn’t have chosen better company with whom to be stuck.

But acceptance is just what the loop has been waiting for, precisely what was needed to free its prisoners, to end it. The inhabitants of the loop are somehow aware when it is the last day. How? Who knows. Mount Hope is a strange place, and some things within it do not brook questioning.

And so the visitors and denizens of Mount Hope make their way through one final day. In many ways, it will be a relief to end this, of course; yet there is not one among them wholly pleased. For all have come to love one another immensely, and the routine of the day – moderately terrifying at times though it may be – has grown strangely soothing.

They live through their day one last time, and they stand on a stage and sing one last farewell. A very few eyes may be dry, but these are in the minority.

And then it is over. New-reigning Catherine and Henry depart the village, promising to return someday. The Bavarian representatives stay some days yet, and then they, too, must turn their faces away. The Court of France scarce remains longer before setting off for their own realm. Her Majesty, newly crowned, and her cousin, newly redeemed, take their leave of a village newly at peace. Crisis averted, the newlyweds begin their life together, as the remaining civics folk scramble to rectify whatever other ills had been wrought by the architect of the crisis. Two queens, each both fallen and redeemed in differing ways, bid farewell to that setting of upheaval and most of the supporters who had helped enact such tumult.

Yet there is not one who e’er departs that shire who does not vow to return – for a day, a week, a month, another loop. For such is the power of that strange place, that all who pass through its gates leave a part of themselves there, and all who leave that part of themselves do so because in that place, if only for a little while, they have found their home.

#YES i intended to repost this sooner but things kept getting in the way #i decided to repost it instead of reblogging it so i could update the section with everyone leaving #it's my own post i'm allowed #i devised this headcanon just before oktoberfest 2017 and have interpreted the faire through its lens ever since #it makes a place in-universe for the repeated day #and explains the small changes from day to day #as well as (most important to my mind) the character-development over the course of the season #plus provides an in-universe explanation for why the audience only meets a fraction of the people who must surely live in this village...#...and why the selection we do meet changes almost fully each season...#...even whilst remaining in the same continuity only a year or so apart #i rather enjoyed the fact that many actors this year seemed to be taking a similar approach in interpretation #particularly because i assume they arrived at the headcanon on their own since this blog has been largely inactive for three seasons #annual time-loop theory rehashing #i make words #time-loop of mount hope #wibblywobblytimeywimey #parf fan theory #fan theory #headcanons #parf headcanons #parf #pa ren faire #pa renaissance faire #pennsylvania renaissance faire #renaissance faire #renn faire #ren faire #faire #here's a health to the queuempany

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parf-fan · 6 months

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Okay here's my hope for the final Brawl. Don Gibs shows up right at the end and is like "What the fuck is wrong with you all".

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parf-fan · 6 months

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Halloween 2023 no-context spoilers

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parf-fan · 6 months

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If anybody with the necessary equipment hasn't sold their soul to the combat track this year as I have, it appears that I only recorded the Sirens' stage set once this season, and from a talkative part of the audience, at that. I very much wanted to ensure that footage existed of at least two different iterations of that show, and I genuinely thought I had already filmed it twice, but the video folder on my computer says otherwise. Realistically, and with apologies to the Sirens, I know there is no way I'm missing any of the four remaining Brawls (same timeslot), particularly not with the constantly-changing endings. Many of the YouTube channels I'd come to rely on for PARF archivism do not seem to be recording things this year (unless they're simply holding off on processing their footage, as I am; which, fair), so there is no particular safety-net for shows I don't get. I've only been able thus far to find some of the individual numbers; which, while better than nothing, don't hold a candle to the whole show. I ask as much for the sake of the actors who don't get to see their performance as I do for patrons who will want somewhere to turn when nostalgia hits them suddenly in a couple months.

#and to be clear: i've filmed a LOT this year but won't be posting it anywhere very soon #because i have yet to finish processing my 2017 footage #not to mention the years between #and i'm not messing around with chronology on the parf-fan youtube #none of this skipping-around-years stuff #i may toss some of the unprocessed footage up on the parf-fan facebook just so people have access to it somewhere in some form sooner #but we'll see #parf archivism #parf videos #parf 2023 #listen i am complete and utter GARBAGE for the combat track this year #and have lowkey been ignoring the improv track unfortunately #which is to say this is basically 2017 all over again #which tracks considering that i had to fall back in love with parf after 2021 #parf #pa ren faire #pa renaissance faire #pennsylvania renaissance faire

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parf-fan · 8 months

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Got to PARF today for the first time this year. Loving the yeomen; but this is blatant Donatello erasure, and I will not stand for it.

#y'all went and linked parf to my current main special interest and that could have been so cool (and i mean it is to an extent)#but then you left out the character who i literally got into tmnt for #who has - if i understand aright - historically been neglected in most iterations #until rottmnt (which is the only version i actually care about tbh)#and i was honest-to-god genuinely angry about it for the rest of the day #like it was actually impeding my enjoyment of the plot #this is going to be the primary thing i'm mad about all season (though not the only thing)#i friggin' hope that the halloween plot somehow brings in a character analogues to donnie #all will be forgiven (unless it's somehow bungled or demonized or something)#anyway there are at least five things that i'm genuinely so delighted about and grateful for #those are for later posts though #yeomen 2023 #parf 2023 #parf #pa ren faire #pa renaissance faire #renaissance faire #ren faire #faire

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parf-fan · 8 months

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help girl i’m hyperfixating on my coworkers

Welcome to what my world was in 2019. I have no advice.

#it a query #parf #pa ren faire #pa renaissance faire #pennsylvania renaissance faire

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parf-fan · 8 months

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nghhhh same blackfryar here i promise u will love the scenario this year. wimen

I super duper hope you're right.

Since I'm here, might as well let it be known that I'm almost certainly not going to be there this weekend, either, for medical reasons. I'm in no particular immediate danger at this point, but I don't fancy running around all sweaty day in my current state, even if I had it in me as far as energy goes. It's very annoying.

#abscesses are no fun y'all #no matter where they're located #i'm PRETTY SURE i'll at least get there saturday after this one #it a query #state of this blog #parf 2023 #parf #pa ren faire #pennsylvania renaissance faire

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parf-fan · 8 months

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dost thou plan to attend the faire this year? —a blackfryar most curious

Sorry for not bothering to check my askbox sooner, but yes. I didn't make it to opening weekend because the 60th anniversary of the summer camp I attended growing up was on Saturday, and I was subsequently WAAAAAY too tired to even consider going to Faire on Sunday. Neither of these were difficult decisions to make. I have been unhappy enough about enough aspects of PARF the last two years (2022 and especially 2021) to not feel any kind of way about missing opening weekend. You'll note the coma that this blog has been in for that same amount of time – these things are related. In some ways, I have no real room to complain, as I've never sent the Faire any feedback about their lessening quality; but that's simply because I've not yet had the heart to face the emotional labor that writing it all up will entail.

But yes, I will be attending this year. I'm hoping to attend a little more than I did last year, and I'm steeling myself for that to be at the cost of going in costume sometimes, and certainly at the cost of making anything for Faire during the season – whether for myself or as gifts for the actors. As was the case last year, I do not anticipate PARF being my primary Special Interest this season (which is the most damning thing I can say about what the past two seasons were like, particularly 2021), and it is more than likely that this blog will remain barren of new materiel for the indeterminate future. (That being said, if anybody wants to geek out with me about my current primary Special Interest, it's Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and I love it so much and it makes up a solid three-quarters of my main blog right now, and it's genuinely so damn good and the storytelling artistry is off the charts.)

#it a query #parf 2023 #parf #pa ren faire #pennsylvania renaissance faire #state of this blog

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parf-fan · 11 months

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This blog is still in a coma (as opposed to dead) for an indeterminate amount of time, but I need to make this one post. If you don't feel like reading it all, just go look through the links at the end. It's about a piece of theatre that is being streamed just this weekend.

There is precedent for me shouting excitedly on here about non-Faire theatre done by Faire actors, with particular precedent for the non-Faire theatre of Michael Stahler (Horace Tanningrove c.2019). There is also precedent for me mentioning that I am Autistic, albeit possibly not in so precise a term, at least not outside of tags. There is not, however, precedent for combining those two things in one post. But there will be now.

I cannot say as much about this as I'd like, for making words is exceptionally mentally taxing for me right now, and I'm also thoroughly out of practice at writing. But I'll do my best.

I am Autistic. Amongst other things, this is what enabled me to so keenly observe and so thoughtfully analyze and so deeply keep track of so many things about PARF, allowing me, in turn, to make so many informed and understanding memes, jokes, headcanons, analysis, and occasional fics about the characters and events of PARF: it was my primary Special Interest for several years, and remains an ongoing dormant one now. (The shifting of Special Interests is, conversely, also part of what rendered this blog so barren of late, but we won't go into that.) Being Autistic is more than only having Special Interests, of course, but that's the part that relates directly to this blog, and thus directly to you. Being Autistic is a bigger part of my life and more important to me than can ever be stated, for I would quite literally be a fundamentally different person, with a different personality, if I were allistic (not Autistic).

Michael Stahler is also Autistic, and would be a fundamentally different (probably less interesting, in my opinion) person if he were allistic. And while he has sometimes coded some of the characters he plays as Autistic, he has never before the last few months had the opportunity to play a role explicitly written as Autistic. This is in part because so few examples of characters intentionally written as Autistic are remotely accurate or respectful; and even factoring in the poor examples, there are just so few.

From the 17th of May through the 4th of June, Michael starred in the world premier of playwright Juliette Dunn's “The Puzzle” at Hedgerow Theatre (don't worry, the title does not refer to Michael's character; in fact, as one of the articles I'll be linking below states, his role is “the most whole character in the story”). I had the immense privilege and joy of attending it twice. I cannot do it justice in my current state of writing, and I frankly will not try. Rather, I will link some of the many pieces of news coverage about the show below, and plead and entreat you to read at least some of them. What I will say is that it was the most incredible play I've ever witnessed, and might even be the most amazing theatrical experience I've ever had – including all things Renn Faire and Theatre In the Mansion, which is no small feat. I wanted to shout excitedly about it on this platform back before and during the run, but I didn't have it in me at the time to make the words, not even in writing. As established, I still only kind of have it in me to make words, but I seem to have hit the point at which I'm willing to make words even though it is costing disproportionate spoons and the words are sub-par.

For those of you who missed the show entirely (which is most of you), and those who wish to witness the show again, you have one more chance. Thanks to the League of Live Stream Theater (which I did not realize was a thing that exists, and am delighted to be informed is), you can stream a performance of “The Puzzle” on June 16th (7:30pm EST), 17th (7:30pm EST), and 18th (2pm EST). That's this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, respectively. In each case, the stream starts at the indicated time, and is available on-demand for twenty hours after the performance ends. Tickets are $44 (that's the regular $35 ticket plus $9 for the platform fee).

If the antics of Horace Tanningrove ever brought a smile to your face or laughter to your lips; if PARF-fan's posts have ever enhanced your life; if you enjoyed the performance of sundry other Autistic actors at PARF, both Bacchanalian and Blackfryar (none of whom I can specify, as I did not ask their permission to namedrop them and their Autism on here), then I ask, I beg, indeed, I charge you to stream this show if it is in your budget. Hell, have some friends or family over and split the ticket cost. You will not be disappointed. You will be treated to an astounding piece of theatre, a story about human connection and communication, and you will walk away from it wiser and a more developed person.

Here is the link to the show on Hedgerow Theatre's website.

Here is the streaming link.

Here is the link to view or download the program. Even if you read nothing else from it, you really need to read the playwright's note (page three, four if you include the cover) before seeing the play, for context and definitions (particularly if you know little about Autism, but it's still important even if you're already informed).

The photos in one of the “artist spotlight” posts from Hedgerow's facebook page include pictures of the display that the audience had to walk past in the theatre to get to the house (put together by the dramaturg). As with the playwright's note, it is very important to read this display for further context and explanations, particularly if you know little about Autism (and you'll likely learn something new even if you're already informed; I certainly did). I am having difficulty making the “embed post” thing work, so I have instead attached the pictures I took of that same display (the text is more readable in these ones, anyway). While I received permission to photograph the display, I did not ask about posting the pictures, and will remove them if Hedgerow asks. The first five images are closeups of (most of) the relevant text (hence being more readable). The remaining four are wider shots, intended to showcase the display more than the text.

And here are the many pieces of news coverage which do a far batter job than I currently can of describing the show and why you should see it.

Broadway World's initial article, a well-rounded introduction to the play.

Broadway World's followup article about the extended run and the streaming option. Much directly from the first article.

NBC10 Phillidelphia's video reporting on the show. It's 2:37 long. Good supplement to the well-rounded Broadway World article.

NPR and PBS WHYY: Mostly a behind-the-scenes angle, about the acting and the writing of it. Definitely worth a read.

Li'l interview with Michael on KYW news radio.

Delco Culture Vultures: A review that provides a more detailed look at the content of the story and somewhat at the setup of the show. Contains traces of info about the plot, and is thus to be avoided if you are as neurotic about anything that could be considered a spoiler as I am (so probably literally everybody will be fine to read it).

Broad Street Review: Discusses the title, takes us on a bit of a journey with the writer to go see the show, brings in additional perspective. Contains very detailed description of the flavour of the play, relates more events within the play than any other article. Very good article, definitely worth a read if you're at all concerned about the content of the play, or otherwise unsure whether or not you want to see it.

Delco Times article. Looks to be mostly rehashing of parts of the Broadway World article, but not wholly identical. Has an audio option.

Philadelphia Inquirer's “The thing of the week” blurb. The blurb is about halfway down the page.

The interview with the playwright referenced in the “Thing of the week” blurb; only available to paid subscribers (I thus have been unable to vet it or describe the contents), but it's not impossible that some followers here fall into that category.

Two short videos about a couple different aspect of the show, one from each of Michael's co-stars:

Daniel Passer

David Shiner

A wonderful post-show interview from WPPM with all three cast members. There's enough detail about the events within the play that I would recommend listening to this after seeing the show. Either way, you should definitely listen to it. The link actually opens part-way through the interview, but you will need a free Soundcloud account to pull it back to the start of the interview (37:33). If you don't, you will miss nothing about the show itself, but you will miss hearing Michael calmly and eloquently go off about the necessity of streaming theatre for accessibility.

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The Puzzle display (text closeups):

The Puzzle display (wide shots):

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parf-fan · 2 years

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why Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth Regina Gloriana wearing Anna’s ballgown from Frozen?

#guess it just wasn't finished yet last week and thus the recycling of the gown that actually maintained costume motifs #this new gown is marvelous i'm just not certain it's exactly queenly #also it literally looks like anna's ballgown with a farthingale #parf queen elizabeth #parf queen elizabeth 2022 #parf 2022 #parf #pa ren faire #pa renn faire #pa renaissance faire #pennsylvania renaissance faire #costuming #parf costumes #parf costumes 2022

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parf-fan · 2 years

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Actual plotline, my beloved.

(Now, I do want to be clear here: I believe that the reason the 2021 season didn’t really have a plot until Halloween was so that everything could still continue if any given actor caught covid and had to sit a couple weeks out. This is my own conclusion, based on the observation of a friend that Tournament of Arms was probably put in place for that same reason, but for combat. This also explains why 2021 Queen Elizabeth could have been replaced with a regal lamp and nothing would change – there was every possibility that they might actually have to do that. If that is, indeed, the case, then I hold no quarrel with anyone responsible for the lack of plot. I just..... really wish somebody had told me at the time. Anyway, my point here is to say that, as far as my understanding goes, I am not having a go at anybody for 2021 having no plot – but Boy Fucking Howdy does it feel good to see it this year.)

#seriously though my mental health would have been UNSPEAKABLY better last year #if someone –anyone –had pointed out or told me the practical safety reasons for plotlessness #anyway yeah storyline's back and it's good #parf 2022 #parf #pa ren faire #pa renn faire #pa renaissance faire #pennsylvania renaissance faire #parf storyline 2022 #parf plotline 2022 #parf storyline #parf plotline

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parf-fan · 3 years

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Cast list time, baybee!

This year, both casts have been listed in the same section, with no clear division between Bacchanalian and Blackfryar. Ordinarily, I would dig my teeth into this and use my knowledge of returning cast members combined with past experience of which sort of professions tend to be on which cast, along with the type of headshot provided and checking the internet at large for resumés etc. to piece together who is on which cast. Having done that, I would then sort the presumed-Bacchs by track as best I might, again using knowledge of the returning actors, character professions, what little character descriptions there are, and what resumés I might be able to find. Unfortunately, because of reasons that are going to remain vague, I am not doing that this year. I’d love it if someone else tried their hand at it, though! I don’t actually have a monopoly on PARF fandom content, believe it or not. I will also not be providing my usual commentary, mostly because I am extremely tired. There is a chance I may edit this later to include commentary, but it’s a small one.

All names are copied verbatim from the Faire’s website, rendering any errors theirs and not mine. I did correct several errors in spelling and grammar in the descriptions. There are other errors in standardization (or lack thereof, rather) that remain as is, because at this point I could not be bothered. As I said. Very Fuxking Tired.

Actor : Character – Profession or Title

Minuscule character blurb goes here.

Ian Agnew : William Shakespeare – Playwright / Rogue

Very famous English Playwright. All know of his reputation wherever he may be.

Alexis Amarante : Isabella Blackwell – Captain of the Queen's Yeoman

The Queen's most trusted protector and confidant.

Abby Armstrong : Lady Mary Sydney – Lady in Waiting

Countess of Pembroke, one of the most educated women in England and Lady to Her Majesty.

Josh Arnolde : William Kempe – Actor / Rogue

No one is more dedicated to the dramatic arts and the serious craft of clowning. Part of Shakespeare's thespians.

Xavier Bates : Nigel Lowe – Carpenter

If you need something made of wood, just go to Lowe's

Kristin Bauer : Lady Dorothy Stafford – Lady in Waiting

Lady of the court and Mistress of the Robes.

Jordan Bell : Charlotte Babbage – Pirate / Siren

Gunner and generally filthy pirate aboard The Kraken's Kill.

Lauralette Bernard : Cadence Marshwarbler – Executioner

An executioner of modest means committed to serving justice and helping criminals quickly to their next life.

Kaz Bitzer : Octavia Cadenza – Luthier

A successful maker of instruments widely regarded throughout the shire.

Brianna Bloomer : Donatella Bella – Italian Artist

Painter, sculptor, and purveyor of fine art.

Richard Blosser : William Weston – Lady Mayor's Accounts Clerk

Employed by the Lady Mayor and charged with accounting for every last shilling.

Tabitha Borges : Harriet Haddock – Fish Monger

A humble and bright fish aficionado.

Elizabeth Burkholder : Bernadette N. Slaughter – Baker

Reformed pirate. Bloody good baker.

Madison Caudullo : Esme Delacroix – Pirate / Siren

Bosun and newly conscripted pirate aboard The Kraken's Kill.

Matthew Glen Clark : Richard Burbage – Leading Man / Rogue

Seasoned, wealthy leading actor in Shakespeare's troupe of thespians.

Katrina Cook : Eleanor Colmstoke – Farmer's Daughter

Daughter of Roger Colmstoke and sister to Marigold Colmstoke.

Ashley Crowther : Corporal Nicole Frost – Town Guard

Town watch by day. Town watch also by night. Town watch.

Ashley DeVoe : Lauren Ipsum – Shire Printer

All official business is conducted in French, so it is only right that this French peasant has become the source for all books, forms, and documents in the shire.

Victoria Falendysh : Barbara Bellwether – Shepherd

Shephardess from the outskirts of town visiting for the festival.

Elisia Freeman : Prudence Crawley – Etiquette Mistress

An etiquette mistress with a cockney accent. Some things just fit.

Jeremy Graeff : Sean O'Leary – Guildmaster

With the new prosperity of the Shire of Mount Hope, someone needed to step forward and run the guilds. Sean drew the short straw.

Corey Graff : Lord Alexander Radcliffe – Nobleman

Young courtier and twin brother to Lady Margaret.

Steve Hager : Rip Skeleton – Grave Digger

The only things certain in life are taxes and death. In Mount Hope, the only things certain in life are Mayor Delores Anne Penburthy and Rip Skeleton. Like we said…taxes and death.

Jeremiah Haltemann : Sir Robert Cecil – Nobleman

Son of Sir William Cecil and Secretary of State for Queen Elizabeth

Leigh Ann Hamlin : Mary Killigrew – Pirate / Siren

Current Captain of The Kraken's Kill. Former aristocrat.

Jonathan Handley : John Hopgrove – Master of Revels

Brother of Jane and engineer of entertainments.

Jilly Harris : Lady Jane Brussells – Lady in Waiting

Her Majesty's Lady of the Bedchamber.

Jonathan Heise : Sir John Gifford – Retired Knight

Retired Knight; resides in Mt. Hope.

Dom Hernandez : Osric Willoughby – Earl's Steward

Steward to Lord Thornbridge and overseer of his operations.

Jackie Holzel : Daisy Plotts – Gardener

The Lady Mayor's personal green thumb!

Brian Huff : Sir Walter Raleigh – Privateer / Governor of Virginia

The Queen's favorite privateer and newly appointed Governor of Virginia with a soft spot for Mt. Hope

Mary Huff : Tink Ballaster – Harbor Master

Retired pirate. Running ports is more profitable than pillaging them.

Fabian Hutchins : Kit Bellbrooke – Apprentice Town Historian

It is Kit's duty to run around the shire gathering information and relating it to anyone interested. Or not interested, for that matter.

Josh Kachnycz : Anthony Blacksmythe – Blacksmith

He doesn't just make weapons; he's quite the skilled hand at fighting with them, as well.

Alyssa Keshel : Toolie Ashland – Apprentice to the Grave Digger

Following in the footsteps of the highly esteemed grave digger.

Dave Keshel : Alan Kingshotte – Yeoman Guard

Yeoman guard. Divisional Sgt. Major who specializes in espionage.

Andrew Leubecker : Ezekiel Smalls – Tinker

A traveling tinker, inventor, and man about town. In a time of exploration, who doesn't need a fancy new gadget?

Iliana Lo : Zoe Tremain – Raleigh's Second

Sir Walter Raleigh's first mate and right-hand person.

Leigh Loureiro : Dagmar Shroud – Pirate / Siren

Quartermaster, responsible for all business aboard The Kraken's Kill.

Graham Luker : Sir Giles Thornbridge – Earl of Sussex

The Lady Mayor may own Mount Hope, but she pays fealty to the Earl of Sussex. And prices have gone up.

Gianna Miranda : Lady Imogen Galliard – Royal Dance Mistress

A lady of her Majesty's court charged with keeping everyone on their toes (and not someone else's).

Jared Nocella : Luke Slaughter – Shire Kennelmaster

Former Pirate. Great with dogs. Very good boy.

Tyler O'Connor : Warren Hooper – Cooper

Mount Hope needs a lot of barrels, buckets and pails. Warren is never bored.

Joe Penn : Rolland Smeedrick Daniels, III – Shire Alderman

The voice of the people. When he listens.

Debi Prestine : Aisling Magee – Potter

A guildsmerchant with a talent for shaping clay into something as useful as it is pretty.

Eileen Quinn : Billy Slaughter – Hunter

Former pirate. Current hunter. Tomato Tomato.

Nick Rainville : Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex – Nobleman

Godson of Sir Robert Dudley, and quickly supplanting him as the Queen's Favorite.

Doug Reesor : Roger Colmstoke – Farmer

Tender of fields, and Father of Marigold and Eleanor.

Green Reesor : Caledonia Broadseam – Sail Maker

Maker of sails, doing quite well in this age of exploration!

Cole Reihing : Gabriel Marston Mortaine – Yeoman Guard

Ensign Mortaine, the only multi-lingual Yeoman, is appreciated for his turn of phrase and often asked to write home for the other Yeomen.

James Riley : Sir Adam Cringer – Yeoman Guard

A soldier, a poet, a storyteller, but most importantly: a Yeoman!

Katherine Rossi : Lady Margaret Radcliffe – Lady in Waiting

Lady of the court and Maid of Honour. Came to Court with her twin brother, Alexander.

Addison Rymar : Thomas Tallis – Music Teacher

Famed composer and musician to her Majesty.

Heather Schaeffer : Elliot Leach – Barber Surgeon

Amputation and a haircut. 2 bits.

Jules Schrader : Queen Elizabeth – Queen

Queen of England and France, Defender of the Faith, Lord of Ireland and the Colony of Virginia in the New World.

Michael Sheffield : Nicholas Tooley – Actor / Rogue

Enthusiastic apprentice actor in Shakespeare's thespians.

Terry Sheffield : Marigold Colmstoke – Milk Maid

Daughter of Roger Colmstoke and sister to Eleanor. Marigold tends to all things milk and dairy!

Katelyn Shreiner : Jane Hopgrove – Master of Revels

Sister of John and arranger of amusements.

Bryan Smith : Archibald Chatham – Yeoman Guard

Ensign Chatham is the newest yeoman guard.

Jessie Smith : Madeline "Maddie" Kitchener – Scullery Wench

Best kitchen maid in the shire. Only kitchen maid in the shire.

Mary Smith : Constance Hallewell – Epic Poet

Keeper of Mount Hope's myths and legends, and spreader of their tales!

Noelani Stevenson : Gytha Fenhark – Wisdom

Supplier of herbs, ointments, hexes and charms.

Alex Stompoly : The Lady Lilith Rose – Female Illusionist

Portrayer of female roles in Shakespeare's acting company.

Emily Sturges : Maggie Cutters – Butcher

A butcher with a mysterious past.

Robyn Thompson : Geraldine Stiller – Distiller

Provider of the many fine liquors at Mount Hope's bustling bars and taverns. Business is booming!

Sandi Trait : Rosemary Blythe – Pirate

A legendary pyrate enjoying retirement in a quite shire. Or so she thought.

Catherine Wilkie : Esther Wycombe – Lady Mayor's Maid

Employed by the Lady Mayor to keep her household clean. What is the shire but an extension of the Lady Mayor's household?

Not listed anywhere I could find on the website are the directors and other support staff. Rather an unacceptable state of affairs.

#i am so tired and so sad and there are only 22 bacchs this year and those latter two statements are slightly related #some cool stuff this year tho #cast list #cast lists #bacchanalians #blackfryars #cast list 2021 #cast lists 2021 #parf news #parf news 2021 #i'm so tired #i hate depression and i hate having untreated adhd and i hate how damn inaccessible diagnosis and treatment are for adhd

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parf-fan · 3 years

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WE HAVE SCENARIO AND IN-HOUSE SHOWS! REPEAT, WE HAVE SCENARIO AND IN-HOUSE SHOWS!

We also have the casting of Queen Elizabeth, but we've had that for a little while now and I just never got around to shouting about it on here. It's the incomparable Jules Schrader – Diane de Poitiers c.2014, Eliza Barker c.2016, Jenny Groves c.2017, Queen Claude of Brittany c.2018, Mags Cockburn (independent) c.2019 & 2020. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time we've had any given actor portray two entirely separate monarchs on separate occasions, and I'm hyped.

What follows is copied directly from the Faire's website, as always (aside from a couple proofreading corrections), with personal commentary in brackets below. I even left the shows in the same order as they appear on the website, no matter how much I wanted to sort them by track.

Scenario:

1585—England has finally established a colony in the New World! Sir Walter Raleigh, one of Elizabeth's favorite privateers and newly appointed Governor of Virginia has made Mount Hope a key trade port, and the shire has never been so prosperous! Of course, where there's money to be made, there will be people who want that money. The Earl whose lands Mount Hope sits upon has suddenly taken interest in the shire which he once left alone. Now he's come to collect his share of the bounty and perhaps set up a more permanent residence with little care if he displaces some peasants along the way. Will Her Majesty intervene? Will the shire ever be the same? People will become heroes, heroes will be made legends, and legends will be proven real.

In-house Bacchanalian (professional cast) shows:

Queen's Court

'Tis always a glorious day when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth herself graces the shire of Mount Hope! Join the citizens of the shire and share in their excitement as they greet the Queen, Her retinue, and any surprise guests that may show up with intentions of their own!

[Quite literally the most generic summary possible for this show, applicable to every year containing Queen Elizabeth {except 2020}. Mercifully spoiler-free, but also provides no real info. 'Tis an understandable trade-off.]

Midday Revels

With such high expectations to entertain the Queen and her royal retinue, only Mount Hope could meet this challenge with this much spectacle and mirth! Watch as the Masters of Revels and the good people of the shire deftly entertain with music, dance, and jests that could only be matched by Dionysus themselves.

[Also fairly generic, but provides two very important pieces of information. One, there are MULTIPLE Masters of Revels this year, a fact which opens all sorts of possibilities. Two, in this particular version of reality, Dionysus uses they/them pronouns; and by golly, I am hecking here for that.]

Tournament of Arms

When the value of the shire is questioned, the Masters of Revels decide to skip the games of strategy and get right to the violence! A Tournament of Arms in which the citizens of Mount Hope display their bravery, cunning, and skill. Some more skilled than others. And a little side betting amongst the nobility never hurt anyone.

[This phrasing “skip the games of strategy and get right to the violence” posits this show as a contrast to the traditional Human Chess. A glance through the rest of the shows reveals that there is, in fact, no Human Chess scheduled this season. It is therefore a reasonable conclusion that this show will take the place of Human Chess. Definitely a little mixed feelings about that. There is something so quintessentially and iconically Ren Faire about Human Chess, and it will be strange – not necessarily good strange, though also not guaranteed bad strange – to witness a season otherwise normal without one. On the other hand, in the immortal words of Rowan and the Rose, “no one cares 'bout the chess part: just get to the fight!” And according to highly pedantic sources that are surprisingly not me, a good number of the moves employed in Human Chess don't actually follow the rules of chess; and that's without factoring in all the substitution and revival stuff, or the minigames like Saved by the Bell and Hot Lava. But back on that first hand, we have my biggest problem with it, which is that the removal of the strategy element also removes a good deal of character potential, as well as effectively rendering any leads not fighting irrelevant to the show. I suppose the matches could be selected by a lead (prolly the monarch/s), and fighters could still be on different sides like in Chess, and whichever's side wins any given fight gets points or something; but this still leaves the competing leads in a passive position. The most influence they could have would be in choosing who will fight on their team; the rest is a tossup. A game requiring strategy allows for those playing the game to actively influence the outcome, with the actual-fighting aspect enabling some measure of chance to remain. What sort of resentment could be indulged {2016} by saying “Let's pick people to fight each other and whoever picks the most winners wins”? What sort of friendly competition could be found {2018} in selecting other people to fight each other in random configurations? Why not simply say “I don't want to take sides in this matter {2019}, so you two-to-eight should find people who like you and literally battle each other's team over this matter”? And I can see absolutely no room for delicious subtle powerplays and diplomatic maneuvering {2017} in just setting up a PvP arena. As with most changes to the Faire (for changes are inevitable and, no matter how much certain sections of the fandom may gripe, necessary and not automatically bad), I will reserve full judgment on this matter until I witness how it works and what it brings to the dynamic of the day, characters, and plot. But my personal opinion on it is that it reduces the storytelling potential.]

Ultimate Joust

Join Her Majesty and the people of Mount Hope as they preside over the final joust of the day! Strength will be tested, Honor will be challenged, and the very cause of Chivalry hangs in the balance. An explosive fireworks celebration awaits the victorious Knight and their supporters should they prove worthy!

[It's Ultimate Joust. There's nothing new to say about Ultimate Joust, except perhaps raise eyebrows at “explosive fireworks celebration”, and mock-wonder whether those are actual fireworks or rather explosions designed to do harm. Granted, they were truly innocent fireworks in 2020, but that season played out rather differently overall.]

Finale Pub Sing

End the festival day in joyously boisterous song lead by the Musicians of the Shire! Join Her Majesty, Her Court, and the shire folk of Mount Hope as they bid you farewell with songs we all know and love.

[Is.... Is this not going to be hosted by characters? I understand for 2020, but continuing?]

Boar's Head Brawl

The Boar's Head Tavern always plays host to a unique and varied clientele on a festival day, and this day's festival is no exception. Nobles and commoners alike gather over a drink to bemoan their troubles, celebrate their victories, and set their eyes upon what they hope the morrow will bring. Unfortunately, some of the pub's patrons find their goals at odds! Unlikely alliances are forged, and the fate of the Boar's Head itself is at stake in this no-holds-barred pub-fight free-for-all!

[The only thing to pull from this is a.) it's still here, yay; it's a good combat show and provides critical insight into the motives and personality of the participants, for which reason I consider it {and the Melee} a plot show, as the characters involved are, by nature of the rest of the plot shows, generally plot-important, and really I will actually make a proper post about that someday because I have OPINIONS; and b.) the fate of the inn / tavern itself hangs in the balance this season. Granted, I suppose that technically any fight taking place in a building could be considered to hold the fate of the building, as there is a risk of the building getting wrecked.]

[Also this is not relevant, but a thing I learned recently is that the Boar's Head Inn and MacGuffin’s Tavern are both extremely unusual in that they serve as both temporary lodgings (inn) AND public houses / restaurants (tavern). Generally speaking, inns would provide food and drink for the people staying there, but only to those saying there. Taverns, on the other hand, did not have sleeping accommodations, and functioned as restaurants and bars. Somewhere along the line, we have conflated these two concepts – inns and taverns/alehouses – and turned them into interchangeable places that put travelers up for the night and also serve food and drink to people not staying there. I'm not actually fussed about that in the cases of the Boar's Head Inn and MacGuffin’s Tavern, because Mount Hope is weird and it's not out of character for the place to have such abnormal institutions. But it's definitely a fun and useful fact to know for other settings.]

English Wrestling

Welcome to English Wrestling World: E.W.W.! (We don't have that backwards, right?) Today Mount Hope's reigning champion, The Hooded Revenger, will face off against Tiger Baroness of Bexhill! Townsfolk gather to cheer on their gladiators, and nobles gather to wager on the outcome. With Revenger's title and the honor of the town on the line, foul play may be a foot…or an elbow.

[This is the funniest gotdamn concept for a show I have ever seen. Shoutout to Pat Gill of Polygon for enabling me to understand a word of it. Judging by the other shows and lack thereof, I'd say this is filling the second combat slot (non-plot), which used to be filled by Bloody Best, and then the Redemption of Captain Thatch.]

Disasterpiece Theater

The shire of Mount Hope is home to many a local Treader-upon-the-Stage, and they'd honestly be good if they had a better budget… and training… and discipline… being literate might help… but boy do they have heart! Theatre will happen—It may be a Masterpiece, it may be a disaster, but it will always be a Disasterpiece.

[If I didn't already suspect it due to a different actor portraying the monarch {PLEASE pester me to talk about how I interpret universes, I've been meaning to since late 2017}, the lack of mention of Sir Walter in this description makes me about 80% sure that the continuity has rebooted, and this year is a different universe / version of reality from the Megan-Zach-Mary 'verse of 2016-2019+2020. I just hope that we occasionally get such long continuity again in the future. Anyway, Disasterpiece is still here, and I am exceedingly pleased. A show through which to divine the characters of the improv track is important.]

Trial and Dunke

At Trial and Dunke you're guaranteed two things: A trial in which a member of the shire is accused of something, and the dunking of guilty parties into the water below them. Join and help the authority of the shire decide whether someone's shenanigans have earned them a few dips in the pool of justice!

[Back again, yay; it's a fun show, with surprising potential to reveal character stuff.]

Whose Jest Is It Anyway?

Just because the Queen is on the shire doesn't mean the people of Mount Hope need to take themselves seriously all day! Come join the shire folk as they engage in some games of Wit, Hilarity, and Downright Silliness; all based on suggestions from the audience, so every show is different! Here are some testimonials from real audience members: • "I laughed until I stopped!" - Bern D'bread, Baker • "Seriously, whose jest is it? They never answer that blasted question!" - Yuri Gnollcakes, Privy Attendant

[WHOSE JEST IS BACK AGAIN STILL, BAYBEE! As I've mentioned before, my issue was never with the absence of this show, but rather the lack of a show through which to divine aught of the characters of the improv track; but that was fixed with the addition of Disasterpiece back in 2018. But it's always fun to filter short-form improv through characters and dialect. Or at least it's fun to watch. As far as what we can divine from this description, it is exactly the same as the 2020 description, but missing the testimonials of Leonardo Da Vinci and Bridget Moorehouse. The missing Leo testimonial is whatever. The missing Bridget testimonial, however, solidifies for me the impression that this season is a reboot, that we are beginning a new continuity. It had to happen sometime. Four-or-five years of coherent continuity is astoundingly long, and we have been quite fortunate to have it. My hope, besides getting later continuities of similar lengths, is that the fandom doesn't forget the characters and events of the Megan-Zach-Mary 'verse, because it's sure gonna be awkward for all of us if nobody but me and the Germanos understands or cares about the headcanons and memes and {really, someday, I swear} fanfic I post about that universe {this is your regular unsolicited reminder that I have finished and posted one short PARF fic on ao3 and I know damn well most of you haven't read it 'cause it only has fifty hits and at least half of those are from me, what the heck, go read the bloody thing}.]

Taming of the Shrews

The Queens have arrived. Everyone's favorite Renaissance Drag Show is back for another season! Join The Lady Lilith Rose, Shakespeare's Reigning Premier Female Illusionist as she searches for the individual who possesses the Bravery, Resilience, Elegance, Ambition, Strength, and Talent to be crowned 'Shakesqueer's Next Drag Superstar!'' God Shave the Queens! (Trust us, some of them need it.)

[Very good, very good, this is returning, and I suspect it shall be even more polished than before. {If any patron/s use/s it as an excuse to be transphobic, the cast involved with the show are legally allowed to yeet said patron/s over the village walls.}]

Tea Time

They say the only certainty in this world is death and taxes; well we would wager there is one more…gossip. Tea is served dears, and it is piping hot. Join two of the most in-the-know nobles as they discuss and divulge the shire's secrets and spill the tea.

[Oh hell yeeeeaaahhhhhh.]

The Rakish Rogues

Zounds! William Shakespeare and three of his most prized actors have taken a hiatus from London's stages to share their many musical talents with Mount Hope. Their verse will be in song, their jests wickedly icky, and their character charming enough to turn any frown upside down.

[You're telling me that after finally, finally hitting upon the perfect unifying thing for the Rogues – highwaymen – after forty years {less in actuality, but I don't know how much less}, they're changing it again already?? They couldn't at least give us a few years with it first? Highwaymen makes SO MUCH sense for these archetypes, and gives them perfectly equal footing with the Sirens {so long as the Sirens are pyrates, which again is perfect}. I'm not saying that the Rogues as the Queen's Men will be bad, simply that I can conceive of no way in which highwaymen wouldn't be better. That being said, it will be interesting to see whether or not Shakespeare is portrayed by Rob Condas again. I’ve no idea of Rob’s musical ability or lack thereof, and a different actor would be in keeping with the continuity reboot.]

The Sirens

The crew of The Kraken's Kill are fearsome female pirates indeed, but they also make merry with jaunty shanties of the sea! Join Mary Killigrew and her crew as they sing magnificent harmonies, engage in some naughty nautical humor, and regale you with tales on the high seas.

[GOOD the Sirens are still a.) pyrates, and b.) simply the Sirens. It's a good way to guarantee a baseline of at least a few pyrate characters, and what patron doesn't like pyrates? {aside from the sort who are so uptight about anachronisms that they scold their teen offspring for playing on their phone while waiting for a show to start, but who I guarantee were wearing modern underwear under their also-not-period-correct costume, and I didn't hear them complaining about the sound-systems or flushing toilets, and I've gone on a personal rant, haven't I.} And like, when you come up with a unifying thing for a bawdy group of women called The Sirens that works as well and imparts as much autonomy as pyrates, then I'll concede that pyrates are not, in fact, the best unifying thing for this group, and that there is another unifying thing equally as good. The other things we can glean from this are a.) the Sirens are once more all from the same crew as in 2018 rather than united captains of separate ships as in 2019; and b.) the captain’s name is Mary Killigrew and her ship is called the Kraken's Kill. I wonder what the shouted response to that ship name will be, if that’s a thing again.]

The Rogues & Sirens Pub Show

When Mount Hope needs them most, when the people implore for more song and vulgarity, when drinking and revelry is only made better with jaunty tunes and double entendre, The Rogues and Sirens join forces to satiate the musical hunger and bawdy thirst of their patrons.

[These descriptions really are a masterclass in generics and vagueness. Not particularly a complaint – as I said at the start, it prevents anything even I would consider spoilers, and boy oh boy do I have an absurdly strict definition of spoilers – simply an observation. I wonder if there are plans to update them to be specific to this year once things are more locked in.]

Queen's Cavalry

Bring your nipperkins ages 5-11 to the Chess Board to become part of this most elite cavalry. They will learn how to impress our good Queen Elizabeth with the mightiest of bows and curtsies. And, of course, what cavalry would be worth its salt without mighty steeds! Ours happen to be "kid powered" but that makes them even mightier!

[As I have mentioned previous years: everybody who attends Queen’s Cavalry because they went to the Chessboard early to secure good seats, Y’ALL BETTER FUCKIN’ CLAP AND CHEER FOR THOSE KIDS, I SWEAR! Also, please note that the word “cavalry” has the 'V' before the 'L', and pronounce it correctly as such, else you will instead be referring either to a location of relevance for a certain religion, or to “an experience of usually intense mental suffering”, according to Merriam-Webster; and while I suppose the latter has the potential to also apply to Queen's Cavalry, I'm quite certain that is not the goal of the show.]

------------------------------

And that's it! My personal takeaways and opinions that were not already expressed in the brackets are as follows:

Ayo, where the fuck is the non-asterisk Bacchanalian music group?? Some people are children, and some people have children, and some people simply do not care for that sort of humor, or do not care for that sort of humor in such a high capacity as in a full-on asterisk show. And all such folk deserve the opportunity to enjoy the character-revealing professional-quality in-house music groups. It doesn’t have to be the Irish Revels. Would I like the Irish Revels? Yes. I would also like the Scallywags, or the Daughters of Ireland, or even Joyful Noyse. The issue is not the removal of the Revels, but the lack of an equal or greater replacement.

My only other takeaway / opinion / thought is surprise at the absence of Music With Her Majesty, particularly knowing the musical prowess and history of Jules Schrader . It’s not particularly disappointment – Music With Her Majesty comes and goes based on the actor portraying Her Majesty, and I am aware of this. It is simply surprise. (Though Music With Her Majesty could provide a non-asterisk in-house music show, so I suppose I am disappointed in a way; but it’s an extension of my disappointment in the lack of a non-asterisk group, not actually disappointment in the lack of Music With Her Majesty.)

I think that’s it. Maybe it’s not, I don’t know; I’m too tired to tell (but that is a matter between me and my 3am hyperfocus). I guess my other quasi-takeaway is to always analyze why you’re upset when something changes. Are you upset because the change lessens the quality of the result, or has significant potential to do so? If it looks like it may reduce the quality, can you articulate how the quality would be lessened? Because if not, you may simply be upset with the concept of change, or having trouble adapting to something different. Even with my personal gripes (which I would like to reiterate are the PERSONAL OPINIONS of one solitary fan of PARF who happens to have taken the initiative to sometimes make fandom content), I am perfectly aware that this season is still going to be spectacular, because that is what the actors and the rest of the creative team at PARF do. They’ll work within what’s new and what’s old to create an excellent and worthwhile experience, one that is a little different from past experiences, which is what literally every new season is.

#um i am far too tired and not nearly coherent enough for tags #i'll come back and tag this in the next few days when my brain works better #parf 2021 #parf 2021 news #parf news

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