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    or, a Michigan Wolverine in the Lands of the Dragon





    Tales: A Magnificent Season
    Of being gifted by many kind friends with the chance to become a Player in Revel Grove



    Closing in on a half-million visitors attend the Maryland Renaissance Festival each season, the second largest in the United States. Tens of thousands get into the full spirit of things, costumes and all. Thousands are regulars who attend most -- or even all -- of the weekends, hanging out at the White Hart, forming fellowships and Households connected to the Faire. But only tinest fraction of a fraction -- even of the most hard-core fans -- ever get the extraordinary chance to join the fun as a *player*. Only the very, very luckiest fans ever get to go from enjoying the show, to getting to be *part* of the show, getting to make merry alongside veterans and legends of Revel Grove...





    But this autumn, thanks to the extraordinary kindness of many friends, old and new: I was lucky enough to get that wonderful chance, all across the season, all over Revel Grove. On the Gatehouse Stage. In Kenwood Lane. On the Boardwalk on Mary Dale's Way. Next to the Maypole. From just after the opening cannon to right before closing Pubsing, sometimes playing as many as five different shows in a single day.

    Across five different weekends in September and October, and thanks to so many generous friends, this Maryland Renaissance Festival season was *glorious*. :-)




    Maryland Renaissance Festival has always been special to me. It was the very first Faire I ever went to, my introduction to the magic of the Renaissance Faires by Lady Z's kind invitation nine years ago. MDRF was the first Faire I got to be a participant in, with veteran MDRF cast member Lady Eowyn kindly helping arrange an invitation for me to join the 2006 Danse Macabre. And four years ago, on the last Sunday of the Faire, dear friends William Larkin and Cydony Bowman of Cat and the Fiddle Morris very kindly lent me a fiddle and let me join their act for a day. Despite living over 800 miles away, MDRF in many ways was my "home" Faire, one I made the trek to every closing weekend, year after year, in many tales and much magic with many dear friends. And then, by sheerest coincidence, life brought me to Hopkins/NIH, and suddenly MDRF was also my *local* Faire.




    After years of Closing weekend magic with many friends, this season for the first time I was able to purchase a Pass, and be a part of the Faire across the entire run. William and Cydony (and their adorable little daughter) generously gave me the chance to join them at their official sets again and again as a Friend of the Fiddlers, having the privilege of playing second fiddle with Cat and the Fiddle Morris, performing for hyperkinetic crowds of dancing little kids and boldly flying Morris dancers, and having a marvelous, marvelous time.





    And thanks to their support and sponsorship, I got the further chance to join *other* acts as a spare fiddle. I got to join Maggie Sansone's act, playing fiddle with Maggie's dulcimer alongside my friend Brigid, a dear friend from the local Barony of Bright Hills and a musical student of Ms. Sansone (whose endorsement, along with Cat and the Fiddle Morris', helped me land the gig). I got to jam with Bob and Sue Esty of Clam Chowder, both on the Gatehouse Stage with Maggie Sansone and Brigid, and with Bob and Sue in quieter pathway gigs. I even got an afternoon with Misha of Wolgemut, fiddling with his viole. Over twenty different gigs over five weekends, performing in front of hundreds of MDRF visitors, fiddling and dancing and singing, all the way up to the last Danse Macabre with friends from Markland and Cynnabar and Bright Hills, and Wild Mountain Thyme at the White Hart.

    It was a *magnificent*, magnificent season. And my sincerest and warmest thanks, to the so many dear friends, who helped make it so. :-)





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All materials copyright Jeffrey Huo, 2012
jeffshuo@alumni.northwestern.edu