Shoreleave 2009 Wrap-Up
Posted By Kathleen David on July 12, 2009
It has been a good convention for us. We amused and were amused. We met new people and talked to old friends. We got caught up on a number of subjects including Torchwood (no spoilers please).
Friday started well but then Staten Island was turned into a parking lot the direction we needed to go so we ended up going through Manhattan. The trip took about 2 ½ hours longer than usual. We were late for the rehearsal for the roasting of Keith but we made it before the show started. I checked out what was what for the Keith Puppet and knew what I was going to do with it. Keith was properly amused by the puppet as was the audience. He used the puppet the rest of the weekend to speak for him. The roast went well and a lot of money was raised for the Red Cross. I signed a couple of autographs at the “Meet the Pros” gathering and talked to a lot of people I only seem to see twice a year. Fell into bed and slept until the wake-up call.
Saturday started with me as camera man on a short video piece we needed for Mystery Trekkie Theater. I then went to the art show and set up the Wyrd Sisters and the Gawblin boys. I had to transfer the video to a DVD. I tried it several ways but none were working for Lou. I tracked down Glenn (Yeah, I know he is rather hard to lose) and asked my Mac guru what I needed to do. I kinda felt stupid as the answer was staring me in the face. I need to use two programs to do what I wanted to do. I got the DVD to record and Lou got it to work for him. So one problem done.
The sketch we did this year was one we had put off for a while. Originally it was suppose to be Robbie and Ariel as Ragetti and Pintel and I was going to be Barbossa. It was shelved after Robbie got sick and stayed shelved for quite a while. We have been talking back and forth and we decided to go for it. We would do generic pirates for the pirates rather than specific characters. And “Pilates of the Caribbean” was resurrected. At the Shoreleave Masquerade for as long as I can remember there have been these onstage helpers who are Ninjas. So we decided to use the Ninjas to our advantage.
The Sketch:
The MC says “Entry number 6 Pirates of the Caribbean” Ariel comes running out and points to the paper he is reading. The MC says, “Sorry that’s Pilates of the Caribbean.”
Tia Dalma comes on to the song “Voodoo Child” by Rogue Trader and she gets the audience to clap along. She pulls out a pirate voodoo doll and starts moving the legs. The pirates (Ariel, Caroline, and me) come out as if against our will and are forced to execute Pilates moves as done by Tia Dalma. The Ninjas come on to pick a fight. The Pirates motion the Ninjas to get out of there. Tia Dalma sees the Ninjas and pulls out a Ninja Voodoo Doll and forced the Ninjas to do Pilates too and we all dance off. Everyone hit their marks and did great. Caroline takes direction very well.
We won most humorous and are very happy with it. I got to talk to Christopher Heyerdahl afterwards and we chatted about Sanctuary and Supernatural. Lovely fellow. I went to 10 forward and the poker tourney and the bar to talk to various people about various things. I had a nice time but I was ready to go to bed by 1 although I didn’t fall asleep until 2.
Sunday started a little early but not that early. Ariel and Peter went to breakfast and I stayed with Caroline as she slept in. Caroline and I went to the pool to meet up with her cousins and they splashed around a while in the pool. I went to the art show to pick up my art and found that Nanny Og and Greebo won 1st prize 3-D in the Art show. I was so pleased. I ran out and got a couple of things that we needed for Mystery Trekkie Theater and fixed the costume. I then spent an hour and half to get two club sandwiches from the bar.
Mystery Trekkie went very well. Robert Picardo was a real sport and kicked the opening sketch to a whole new level. It was well received. Afterwards we went out to dinner with some friends and said our good-byes to the con committee. Peter took Caroline to the pool for a swim.
Now I am watching Entourage and sorting out the packing. Tomorrow we pack up and go home. Then in a week Peter is off to San Diego. And our summer continues.
I am grateful for all my friends here.
The Keith puppet was great. Mystery Trekkie was lots of fun as usual. I think most of the audience was pleasantly surprised by Robert Picardo taking part in the opening sketch. You didn’t mention the Saturday morning Doctor Who panel you were on. That was quite lively and informative.
I have photos from Shore Leave at
http://picasaweb.google.com/neil.ottenstein/ShoreLeave2009#
including some from the Doctor Who panel and a slightly blurry one of Peter holding the baby who wouldn’t let go of the microphone from Mystery Trekkie.