Today's 1989 Wisconsin Renaissance Faire Flashback!:
His Most Revered Lordship, Sir Richard Drury Kemp-Kean, Had A Lot Of Explaining To Do!
Theatre Lovers and Supporters,
Long ago, during the summer of 1989, on the site of the 2nd Annual Bristol Renaissance Faire of Kenosha, Wisconsin, your humble servant in The Theatre, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, had the great honor to serve as Director and Instructor of Shakespearean Theatre for The Bristol Theatre Academy of BRF.
He directed a group of young and talented student and professional actors in Shakespearean scenes presented each faire day at multiple locations throughout the sprawling faresite.
He also, daily, on the then there and now much-missed Minstrel's Glen Stage of BRF, appeared as His Most Revered Lordship, Sir Richard Drury Kemp-Kean in his original one-man show of Shakespeare and time-travel comedy "A Bit of the Bard."
After his 30-40 minite performance in "Bard" was completed ( performed twice a day during the closing weeks of BRF ) he would retire to his official BRF Residence The Black Swan Inn to repose before an outdoor dramatic reading of Shakespeare's Sonnets I through XV at the rear of his home joined by His Lordship's Immediate Entourage, which included the fine and talented young actors Amy Ladley as The Lady Lillith, David Schmidt as David of Offcum, Robert Wilson as Ceasar, and if he could be convinced to transform from his magical Wood Elf back into a mere mortal human being performing Shakespeare, Tony Hrubes as Sebastian Harlock.
Yes, Theatre Lovers and Supporters, long ago, during the 1980s, your humble servant in The Theatre, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, was a Renaissance Faire Actor.
Believe It Or Not!
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 50 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. Winner of a 1997 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Award for Outstanding Actor In A Principal Role In A Play for his critically-praised performance as Sam Semela in The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago revival of Athol Fugard's "Master Harold And The Boys presented at The Heartland Cafe Studio Theatre of Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood and a 2015 / 2016 Los Angeles Elate Season Ticket Holder Best Actor Award nomination for his performance as the debonair, but aging leading man Ernest in Tad Mosel's "Impromptu" as part of an evening of short works entitled "Just 4 Fun" presented at The Lincoln Stegman Theatre of North Hollywood, California, most recently, Darryl Maximilian Robinson 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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