Jan 07 2009
Random Handfuls - the best “gigs” I ever saw
I’ve mentioned “gigging” a few times - A “gig”, for the three of you out there that aren’t RenFaire geeks, is a little bit of semi-improvisational theatre which is performed out on the street at Faire for the amusement of the audience*.
Today, in the spirit of “no sh*t, there I was!” I’d like to recount some of the best “gigs” I ever saw at the faires I attended…
I think he explains it concisely here on his Flickr page -
In 1987 I kept company with a hay bail. Not making eye contact with the growing crowd, a formula for a show was formed. It hasn’t changed much.
It has, however, formed a small empire for him - the number of Trols found at various faires grows and shrinks but this bit of low impact brilliance helps to bring a sense of wonder to the events he’s at. It also is the best example of what I call the First Law Of Gigging:
Inexplicable behavior… works.
The Cock and Ass Inn
Back when the Northern California Renaissance Faire was out at the Nut Tree in Vacaville, the site sported a big open area where several roads converged - just a big empty dusty spot. The consistantly amazing Bryce Byerly** took a handcart, a rug, several chairs and tables, a hatrack, and a sign from the props shed, hauled it out to this empty spot, layed out the rug, the table, the chairs, and hung the sign on the coatrack, proclaiming this odd place to be the “Cock and Ass” inn. With a picture of a rooster and a donkey on the sign.
He then proceeded to sprawl in a chair, tankard in hand, demanding service and complaining how the place just wasn’t the same since the fire.
This gig took on a life of its own for the three years the faire was at the Nut Tree. More and more performers would stop there, gig, demand service (asking a passing customer to bring you an ale and a haunch of mutton never pales in entertainment value) and creating bizarre, sometimes terrifyingly silly games. Bravo, Mr. Byerly. Bravo.
… there are others, of course. Faire is a hothouse for theatrical genius. Who are some of your faves? (And yes, I’ll talk about Flower Boy and the Shepard and the World’s Smallest Parade and and the Question Man and all that later… but the last two are mine and I didn’t want to toot my own horn for once!)
* That’s the theory. Sometimes they’re performed more for the amusement of the performers. But that’s another rant.
** Hunting for an appropriate picture, anyone have one from this bit? If you’re in the SF Bay Area, you can find him acting up a storm in lots of local theatre! Go Bryce!
