Reflections on this year at Scarborough
When I found out that I was to be this year's Fight Director I was filled with excitement but was also very nervous. This was my first experience being in charge of something so big. I focused myself and gave the task my all, and it paid off in spades.
Things in workshops were great; the fighters were creative, active and willing to take direction to help them look the best they could. I was in great physical health and was actually looking to getting into a few fights myself. Then the fateful day came when Mono kicked my butt, it was the dress rehearsal weekend and it hurt me deeply that I could not be there for my fighters. I had a really hard time forgiving myself for being sick.
Mono for those of you that do not know is a sickness that hits you in waves and causes extreme fatigue. Energy levels drain to minimal levels and in the beginning stages getting up from the couch to fetch a drink of water will cause you to be exhausted for hours. We get better but it does take a long-term toll on your body. There are times when you feel fine for three hours and then suddenly you need a nap because the reserves are drained. The initial symptoms last from 1 to 3 months and the sickness stays in your system for 1 to 3 years, during which time you can relapse if you push yourself too hard. It went around a lot in the faire family this year and it kicked a lot of butts.
The following weeks were extremely hard as my energy fluctuated a lot. This sickness is incredibly frustrating for a person who is used to being very active. I was used to doing three to four shows a day on a blazing hot stage in one of the fastest, most active sword-fighting shows on the circuit. This was tough on my self confidence and it was hard to make it through. My handfast-wife was the strongest influence on my recuperation, I would have either given up or run myself into the ground if she was not there to monitor me and give me encouragement (and water, and vitamins...). She did a great job of getting me healthy and reminding me to rest when I was pushing too hard. (Thank you sweetheart you saved me, I love you)
The fighters did a great job this season and the fights were fanstastic. Every one of them was a showcase for that actor's talents. I received several compliments saying that the Chess Match was the best they have seen in a very long time and that the fighters looked really good. I had a few Fight Directors tell me that our fighters have acting intent (yay!) and that the fights seem more realistic due to it. I explained my belief that fights are not just about the moves but the characters behind the moves. If you let your actors keep their characters while they are building the fights and make the fights specific to and consistent with the characters then you have actors engaged in compelling physical drama on your board.
We teach our actors to get into a character that they stay in for almost 10 hrs a day; it is not fair to the actors to have them drop the character when they step on the board. If they keep in character they can have action even when they are not in a fight. The interaction between characters is noticed from the audience and if there is tension between 2 characters they feel it. In doing this those 2 characters never need to fight to have a physical conversation that the audience reads and loves. Not one of our actors dropped character on the board, and I was so proud of them for their commitment and versitility.
I love this crew of fighters; they are a group of amazingly talented and caring individuals. I am proud of each and every one of them.
They gifted me with a great season. They gave me their trust and I am honored to have been given it. I feel that I rewarded their trust with drive and focus, I wanted every one of them to shine and they did; they shined so bright that it caused thousands to notice.
I reached out a hand to help offer guidance and support where it was needed and they gave me back a Saber, a beautiful tool of my trade and a completely unexpected gift . This saber is a treasure to me, it will always remind me of a wonderful group of fighters that gave me all I asked for and to whom I will give my all.
Hats off to you, I love you all,
Bill Riddle
Scarborough Faire Fight Director
Things in workshops were great; the fighters were creative, active and willing to take direction to help them look the best they could. I was in great physical health and was actually looking to getting into a few fights myself. Then the fateful day came when Mono kicked my butt, it was the dress rehearsal weekend and it hurt me deeply that I could not be there for my fighters. I had a really hard time forgiving myself for being sick.
Mono for those of you that do not know is a sickness that hits you in waves and causes extreme fatigue. Energy levels drain to minimal levels and in the beginning stages getting up from the couch to fetch a drink of water will cause you to be exhausted for hours. We get better but it does take a long-term toll on your body. There are times when you feel fine for three hours and then suddenly you need a nap because the reserves are drained. The initial symptoms last from 1 to 3 months and the sickness stays in your system for 1 to 3 years, during which time you can relapse if you push yourself too hard. It went around a lot in the faire family this year and it kicked a lot of butts.
The following weeks were extremely hard as my energy fluctuated a lot. This sickness is incredibly frustrating for a person who is used to being very active. I was used to doing three to four shows a day on a blazing hot stage in one of the fastest, most active sword-fighting shows on the circuit. This was tough on my self confidence and it was hard to make it through. My handfast-wife was the strongest influence on my recuperation, I would have either given up or run myself into the ground if she was not there to monitor me and give me encouragement (and water, and vitamins...). She did a great job of getting me healthy and reminding me to rest when I was pushing too hard. (Thank you sweetheart you saved me, I love you)
The fighters did a great job this season and the fights were fanstastic. Every one of them was a showcase for that actor's talents. I received several compliments saying that the Chess Match was the best they have seen in a very long time and that the fighters looked really good. I had a few Fight Directors tell me that our fighters have acting intent (yay!) and that the fights seem more realistic due to it. I explained my belief that fights are not just about the moves but the characters behind the moves. If you let your actors keep their characters while they are building the fights and make the fights specific to and consistent with the characters then you have actors engaged in compelling physical drama on your board.
We teach our actors to get into a character that they stay in for almost 10 hrs a day; it is not fair to the actors to have them drop the character when they step on the board. If they keep in character they can have action even when they are not in a fight. The interaction between characters is noticed from the audience and if there is tension between 2 characters they feel it. In doing this those 2 characters never need to fight to have a physical conversation that the audience reads and loves. Not one of our actors dropped character on the board, and I was so proud of them for their commitment and versitility.
I love this crew of fighters; they are a group of amazingly talented and caring individuals. I am proud of each and every one of them.
They gifted me with a great season. They gave me their trust and I am honored to have been given it. I feel that I rewarded their trust with drive and focus, I wanted every one of them to shine and they did; they shined so bright that it caused thousands to notice.
I reached out a hand to help offer guidance and support where it was needed and they gave me back a Saber, a beautiful tool of my trade and a completely unexpected gift . This saber is a treasure to me, it will always remind me of a wonderful group of fighters that gave me all I asked for and to whom I will give my all.
Hats off to you, I love you all,
Bill Riddle
Scarborough Faire Fight Director