"There's Magic In The Web Of It." - from William Shakespeare's 'Othello'
Long ago, when there was a sense of safety and understanding and courtesy between outdoor street performers who were gifted actors, singers, muscians, acrobats, combat-trained swordsmen and women, and jousters-on-horseback who would ride the streets of a local village to whip up and energize the common craftsmen and villagers to come watch a good battle...and The Paying Public, who could only imagine what life was like for someone who might suddenly be put on trial for WITCHCRAFT ...there was a place of special interest known as King Richard's Faire, an outdoor Renaissance Festival nestled between the two great American cities of Chicago and Milwaukee at a site location which was just a little west of a once charming, sleepy hamlet ( now a place of infamy ) known as Kenosha, Wisconsin.
But, again, this is not a tale about the present. It is about something special that happened long ago.
During his early career, specifically the 1980s, Darryl Maximilian Robinson appeared as A Comedic Renaissance Faire Performer and served as an Instructor of Performers at the popular King Richard's Faire of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
In 1986, he appeared as Tomas de Torquemada, The Grand Inquisitor of Spain ( who was a bit of both detective and suspect ) in "Murder, They Quoth," the musical comedy mystery Grand Scenario that starred Chicago Emmy Award-winning actor, singer, comedian and master puppeteer the late, great Ray Nelson as King Richard of the faire that year.
Darryl Maximilian Robinson had previously worked with the multitalented Ray Nelson in 1981, when he played the title role of "The Mikado" ( as a Puppet ) opposite Mr. Nelson ( in human form ) as Koko in a revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera classic starring "Puppets and People" at Mr. Nelson's to-this-day, still successful, family-friendly venue, The Puppet Place Theatre ( then located in an intimate and charming storefront space on the near-northside of The Windy City ).
Mr. Nelson ( who had played the title monarch at King Richard's Faire for multiple seasons ) recommended Mr. Robinson to audition for KRF and endorsed him ( to the imperious, all-seeing, all-knowing, comic showman KRF Artistic Director John T. Mills and his skilled and experienced comedy writers Patty McKenny and Doug Frew ) for a strong comic and musical role as a member of The King's Court.
Those who knew and worked with Ray Nelson know of his generosity and support for his talented fellow performers. He was beloved by many and is much-missed.
Improvisation ( and Improv Comedy ) was the standing directorial order of the day in performing and acting a character of the Renaissance Era on the grounds of the expansive and lively southeastern Wisconsin KRF fairesite, visited by thousands of guests per day.
YES, THERE WAS RELENTLESS TORTURE, MURDER AND MAYHEM, TO BE SURE! BUT BACKSTAGE IS WHERE THE INQUISITION STARTS! With a very funny base script and storyline by skilled comedy writers Patty Mckenny and Doug Frew ( who also wrote clever adapted lyrics to apply to Broadway and pop tunes and classic rock and roll, and for Mr. Robinson's Torquemada, a riff on Bizet's "Carmen", it was hilarious stuff )! And with Artistic Director John T. Mills' command: "If it's not funny, I don't want to see it on my stage!", all concerned knew they had to step up their game. And writer / scene director Patty Mckenny gave the best advice ever to a musical theatre performer: "If the joke's not all the way done, if the punch line's not perfect...VAMP UNTIL READY!". The summer of 1986 may have seen MORE VAMPING than in The History of ALL THE GRAND SCENARIOS presented on the grounds of King Richard's Faire COMBINED! But, when THE VAMPING WAS OVER, and the joke scored laughs and applause from The Guests, That Moment Was Pure Gold! And, no matter where you were, what stage on the fairesite, what open area, what village street, if John T. Mills caught you getting a big laugh, he would say: "That was good. That was really funny...I guess you can come back and work next weekend." Even if you were already under contract.
God...HOW MR.ROBINSON MISSES THE GRAND SCENARIO! Long Live The Faire!
And this acting challenge came into sharp focus when during a summer day in 1986, Darryl Maximilian Robinson as Tomas de Torquemada was the nearest and only Member of The Royal Court available to meet VIP Guests Former President Jimmy Carter and Former First Lady Rosalind Carter and their Secret Service contingent.
But Mr. Robinson followed his KRF direction and training, and escorted The Carters to His Majesty's Jousting Field and ( as The Grand Inquisitor ) regaled them with tales of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain ( creatively composed with an eye on his and their known histories ) until Mr. Nelson as King Richard and the rest of The Royal Court could arrive and The Jousts could begin! Yes, Darryl Maximilian Robinson as Tomas de Torquemada DID VAMP UNTIL READY!
Recommended to the Faire by their daughter Amy ( who had attended the year before ), Mr. and Mrs. Carter were entertained by The Jousts ( performed with great physical effect and gusto by the Members of The Hanlon-Lees Action Theatre ) and they were eagar to see the antics of KRF's notorious MUDDY BEGGARS! A visit to King Richard's Faire is not complete without seeing THE MUDDY BEGGARS!
After passing the Ultimate Celebrity VIP Guest Test, Darryl Maximilian Robinson thoroughly enjoyed the rest of his first summer at the Faire and later would return for more.
Working and improvising comic moments while belting out Renaissance-Era style versions of Broadway hits and pop tunes ( while giving live audiences the chance to figure out which visiting foreign dignitary or in-house member of The King's Court had murdered The Prince of France ) was incredibly fun.
Audiences loved the various, multiple site location scenes and adapted, parodied, musical numbers of "Murder, They Quoth"!
During the years of The Grand Scenario being a centerpiece of entertainment at the Kenosha, Wisconsin Renaissance Festival, some of the most striking and effective costumes seen at King Richard's Faire were the work of skilled Costume Designer Richard D. Weber, who proved not only a wiz at wardrobe for the large court and cast of King Richard's Faire, but a wonderful actor-singer-comedian and swordsman. Mr. Weber became noted over the years at both KRF in Kenosha and KRF in Carver, Mass. for his outstanding portrayal of Sir Percival Degage'. And having had the pleasure of playing His Eminence, Tomas de Torquemada, The Grand Inquisitor of Spain in the 1986 musical comedy mystery Grand Scenario "Murder, They Quoth", opposite the truly multitalented Rick Weber, Mr.Robinson can state without fear of contradiction, you don't want to ever, ever, EVER get into A MID-DAY, HIGH NOON, FAN FIGHT ON HIGH STREET WITH SIR PERCIVAL DEGAGE'! Unless, of course, you know someone who can, on short notice, replace a really ELABORATE FAN!
During that summer of 1986 at Wisconsin's King Richard's Faire, one of the delights of the performance day for Darryl Maximilian Robinson as His Eminence, Tomas de Torquemada, The Grand Inquisitor of Spain, occurred at The Gypsies Cove at about 4:30 pm. each faire date when he would arrive to meet Her Majesty, Queen Katherine ( Bodge ), played by the lovely and talented Faire Vet Barbara Burinski, and to engage in a lively and provocative dance ( The Grand Inquisitor of Spain, Torquemada, was, after all, a monk ) accompanied by the skilled and robust Gypsy musicians. Like working with the late, funny and talented Ray Nelson, who played King Richard ( as Mr. Robinson as Torquemada did every show with the 3:00 pm Trial Scene And Number upon His Majesty's Dance / Chess Stage ), engaging in that regularly scheduled moment with the gifted Barbara Burinski as Queen Katherine was truly great fun. It made The Grand Scenario "Murder, They Quoth" even more of a musical. And during that time of playing His Eminence, Tomas de Torquemada, The Grand Inquisitor of Spain in the musical comedy mystery Grand Scenario "Murder, They Quoth" at the 1986 14th Annual King Richard's Faire of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Mr. Robinson noticed something about the late, much-missed and terrifically talented actress Barbara Burinski who was starring as Queen Katherine of The Faire. In Ms. Burinski's 1986 interpretation of Queen Katherine for the musical comedy mystery Grand Scenario "Murder, They Quoth" she was a Great Dame, who liked a good song, liked a good story, but who most of all, liked a good dance.
Her Majesty, Queen Katherine of The Faire really liked to Dance! And Mr. Robinson found it truly a joy to work with her.
The very end of each King Richard's Faire Day was the best time for Mr.Robinson as The Grand Inquisitor to take part in a real and fun conversation with Mr. Nelson as The King, as His Majesty ( who had presided over the court's trial and discovery of The Killer in the faire's musical comedy mystery Grand Scenario "Murder, They Quoth" ), finally had a moment to have a Royal Chat with his Emissary from Spain! His Eminence Tomas de Torquemada was many things. A TORTURER, A MASS MURDERER OF TENS OF THOUSANDS, A MERCILESS MONK EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SEE AND THEIR MAJESTIES KING FERDINAND AND QUEEN ISABELLA OF SPAIN TO CLENSE THEIR REALM OF UNDESIRABLES! But he was never A PEST! The same, however, could not be said of those poisonous and obnoxious BORGIAS, the Slammin' Drunkin' BARONESS DONNA VON BLITZEN, OR, the truly Death-Deserving PRINCE OF FRANCE! Tomas de Torquemada thought the constant beseeching and pandering of his fellow nobles before The King beneath him. He always highly respected The Crown, but he always put THE NEEDS OF THE CHURCH FIRST! There are some who would say, including His Holiness, The Pope, that His Eminence went too far. BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE A REAL SPANISH INQUISITION WITHOUT BREAKING A FEW EGGS! Besides, there were some who found His Eminence to be quite a charming person, if one were to look past his considerable nefarious and notorious reputation and take the time to get to know him, as many happily-surprised visitors to The Faire discovered. Indeed, the once-popular and acclaimed entertainer Ye would have no doubt liked Tomas de Torquemada! But, again, this is not a story about The Present. This is a Tale of Long Ago! At the end of each and every faire day, Darryl Maximilian Robinson as The Grand Inquisitor would love his Royal Chit-Chats with the unforgettable Ray Nelson as King Richard.
The 1986 14th Annual King Richard's Faire of Kenosha, Wisconsin would prove to be the one and only occasion that Darryl Maximilian Robinson would have the great joy and honor of working with the late and wonderful Ray Nelson as a Member of His Majesty, King Richard's Court!
In 1988, however, the ownership, management and Faire name had changed to become The Bristol Renaissance Faire. And, for a brief summer season, Darryl Maximilian Robinson returned solely as a Featured Event Performer ( under a limited engagement contract offered by KRF veteran, now Bristol Renaissance Faire Entertainment Director Michael Dvorak ) and happily appeared at the Fairesite to make his debut performance as His Most Revered Lordship, Sir Richard Drury Kemp-Kean in his critically-praised, original one-man show of Shakespeare and time-travel comedy "A Bit of the Bard" upon the faire's Minstrel's Glen Stage. Audiences cheered the Shakespearean speeches and comedy bits of his one-man show.
SIR RICHARD DRURY KEMP-KEAN EXPLAINS THAT TIME-TRAVELING BY LIGHTNING BOLT CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH!: Attempting to explain time-travel by lightning bolt forward to the 20th-Century and back to the 16th-Century, when you're originally from the 17th-Century, all while cramming in at least 7-8 great speeches from the plays of the immortal Bard is no simple task. But it can be done in 35-45 minutes because the act that follows you will make quite a fuss if you go overtime, and you need at least five minutes after your set built into the act to have your Immediate Entourage Members collect YOUR TIPS! Let's face it. Sir Richard had a couple of ( unofficial ) supporting actor mouths to feed after every show, and those turkey legs at that 1988 Bristol Faire were not cheap. Neither is a pair of new boots or gloves! And though its far from a well-kept SECRET, a single post-performance DRAM OF ALE COSTS A SMALL FORTUNE! But playing "Bard" at The Faire that summer, outdoors on the OLDE MINSTREL'S GLEN STAGE was great fun. Good laughs from the guests. Lovely response to the Shakespeare speeches. Good tips on top of a regular daily rate. It was Great Fun. Except....if the weather at The Faire suddenly turned towards RAIN. FOLLOWED BY THUNDER AND LIGHTNING. His Lordship can tell you from real personal experience that being struck by a bleeding lightning bolt ( particularly while holding a sword and presenting a speech from William Shakespeare's "Henry V" ) can be hazardous to your health. Long Live The Faire.
By the summer season of 1989, however, even the tone of the Faire had changed.
There was no Grand Scenario.
There was less emphasis on Comedic Improv, few musical numbers, and more focus on historic accuracy and pageantry.
Though still a lively and fun festival, some of The Magic of The King Richard's Faire Days was missing.
But not all The Magic was forgotten or gone.
Under a full season contract ( offered by returning Entertainment Director Michael Dvorak ), Mr. Robinson returned once again to play time-traveler and Shakespearean actor Sir Richard Drury Kemp-Kean in "A Bit of the Bard" for one, and then two outdoor performances ( at 2:45 pm at the beginning of the season, and later at 11:30 am and 3:00 pm ) upon The Minstrel's Glen Stage each weekend show day, and he was also contracted as Director and Instructor of Shakespearean Theatre for the faire's 1989 Bristol Theater Academy.
Mr. Robinson took quite seriously his work for The Bristol Theatre Academy, whose Bard Acting Class group of more than a dozen students and young professional participants ( after real rehearsal and performance training ) assumed Faire Roles roving as The Shakespearean Players of Bristol, and daily and dutifully presented seven famous selected scenes from the plays of William Shakespeare ( including moments from "Romeo and Juliet," "As You Like It," "The Taming of The Shrew," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and "The Merchant of Venice," among others ) throughout the Fairesite. The talented, young and energetic performers who would proclaim at each of the seven scene locations at The Bristol Faire that they were "The Shakespearean Players of His Most Revered Lordship, Sir Richard Drury Kemp-Kean" included: Liza Balestrieri, Utpal Dighe, John Erickson, Charles Lotta, Mary Mascari, Scott Metzger, D. Ogas, James Silverstein, Kevin Swinehart, Robyn Tischmann and Adam White. Each and every one was a valiant player and committed performer and did the text of the immortal Bard PROUD!
During this challenging, daily performance period, Mr. Robinson's character, Lord Kemp-Kean, was allowed a support group of 4 Roving Shakespearean Associates, who made up Sir Richard Drury Kemp-Kean's Immediate Entourage, including the lovely and talented Amy Ladley as Kemp-Kean's charming ward, The Lady Lillith, capable comic performer David Schmidt as Kemp-Kean's problem-solver David of Offcum, focused actor and swordsman Robert Wilson as Kemp-Kean's bodyguard, Ceasar, and KRF vet Tony Hrubes as Kemp-Kean's chief aide, Master Sebastian Harlock, who was quite talented and invaluable to the success of Mr. Robinson's roaming troupe, The Shakespearean Players of Bristol ( even though he took a couple of performances off to moonlight at The Fairesite as a Wood Elf. But that's beside the point! ).
All were adept at street improv scenes. All were fine supporting players to Sir Richard. And each and every one helped guide the young members of the Shakespearean Revelers troupe whenever they needed assistance. Especially when Director Darryl Maximilian Robinson was occupied in performing his signature solo work "A Bit of the Bard" upon the faire's Minstrel's Glen Stage. And the actors who were part of His Lordship, Sir Richard Drury Kemp-Kean's Immediate Entourage effectively presented a dramatic reading of Shakespeare's Sonnets daily at The Faire's Black Swan Inn.
And a talented young man with a light touch on his string instrument and very pleasing and tender voice named Peter Mulvry provided fitting mood music and pleasant songs for The Immediate Entourage, for The Shakespearean Revelers, for the Guests and yes, even ( for His Lordship, Kemp-Kean ) in his effective and much-needed role of The Balladeer Peter. Props and huzzahs to Entertainment Director Michael Dvorak for letting The Shakespearean Revelers have that gifted young man. It was a lot of hard work by all concerned. But during the summer of 1989, Faire visitors knew that The Immortal Bard could be FOUND AT BRISTOL! And, The Bristol Renaissance Faire's very first IN-HOUSE SHAKESPEARE TROUPE HAD BEEN BORN! Those were truly fun times, serious outdoor stage acting commitments and three great summers ( only a short car ride to Lake Michigan ) in southeastern Wisconsin near the place where the late, great Orson Welles was born.
Yes, long ago, Darryl Maximilian Robinson loved being part of The
Faire. And that's really all an old Shakespearean actor and musical comedy performer has to say about that.
LONG LIVE THE FAIRE!
Kenosha News (Newspaper) - June 26, 1989, - Kenosha, Wisconsin - Shakespeare play to highlight Faire - BRISTOL — The Bristol Renaissance Faire will open its 1989 season this weekend, with a Shakespearean play, “A Bit Of The Bard,” highlighting the schedule. Gates will open at IO a.m. and close at 7 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday, from July I through August 20. The fair is located at 12420 120th St., one quarter mile west of 1-94, at the Wisconsin-Illinois border. -
“A Bit Of The Bard,” an original one-man show of Shakespeare and time-travel comedy, is scheduled each show day at 3 p.m. on the Minstrel’s Glen Stage.
The critically-aclaimed theatre piece is written, directed and performed by Darryl Maximilian Robinson as His Most Revered Lordship, Sir Richard Drury Kemp-Kean. It concerns the misadventures of a 17th century leading man, who during a performance of “Henry V” is struck by a bolt of lightning and is mysteriously and magically transported 327 years into the future, landing in the Reagan era United States.
“The Sonnets,” will be presented each fair day at 6 p.m. at The Black Swan Inn. - Also new this year is Queen Elizabeth, who begins her rule as sovereign of the fair, the Royal Falconer, the Children’s Theatre, Locksley, better known as Robin Hood and his Men of the Greenwood. -
Two new stages have been added, as well as 17 games of skill and daring.
A SIR RICHARD DRURY KEMP-KEAN RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL ENCORE:!
In the early winter of 1990, less that a year after serving as a Director, Instructor and Performer at the 1989 2nd Annual Bristol Renaissance Faire of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Darryl Maximilian Robinson as His Most Revered Lordship, Sir Richard Drury Kemp-Kean toured his original one-man show of Shakespeare and time-travel comedy "A Bit of the Bard" to Seneca High School in Louisville, Kentucky, and after his well-received performance, made the rounds at that educational facility's student performer featured Renaissance Festival.
His Lordship was pleased to see so many young people in Louisville, Kentucky take such a strong interest in The Renaissance Era. LONG LIVE THE FAIRE!
Darryl Maximilian Robinson is a Chicago-born and stage-trained actor and play director who has been involved in more than 250 theatrical and literary arts presentations around the country during 48 years of participation in The Performing Arts. Darryl Maximilian Robinson has become noted as the very first black actor in American Theatre History to portray on stage a trio of classic dramatic roles including: Sir Thomas More in Robert Bolt's "A Man For All Seasons" ( in a 1984 revival presented by The University Players of The University of Missouri-St. Louis and directed by AEA Member John Grassilli at The Benton Hall Theater ); King Henry II in a 1992 multiracial cast revival of James Goldman's "The Lion In Winter ( directed by Mr. Robinson for his chamber theatre Excaliber Productions, Ltd in St. Louis and staged at The Wabash Triangle Cafe ); and Andrew Wyke ( opposite the talented actor Sean Nix as Milo Tindle ) in a 2000, 30th Anniversary, all-black cast revival of Anthony Shaffer's "Sleuth" presented under Mr. Robinson's direction by his chamber theatre The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago at The Harrison Street Galleries Studio Theatre of Oak Park, Illinois. He is an award-winning theatre artist who has served as The Founder, Artistic Director and Producer of the multiracial chamber theaters Excaliber Productions, Ltd in St. Louis, The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and The Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project. Most recently, he was named winner of a 2022 Making The World Happening Award for his numerous online theatre-related offerings at Allevents.in.
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