It started for me Thursday afternoon, when I arrived at the Sheraton Oaks
Hotel in Novi, Michigan after a 6 hour drive from Chicago. I started seeing
familiar faces right away and it was not long before I saw Chris and Denise.
They told me what was happening that night and then I checked into the
hotel. After determining that two of my friends were there but otherwise
occupied, I was on my own for a couple hours. (The calm before the storm, as
it were) I ended up going down to the restaurant around 6 to have dinner,
then at 8 we started gathering by the boardroom for a staff meeting cum
party. Ray came in a bit later, and plopped down right next to me. So,
although I did not initiate any conversations with him-I am so shy-I was in
on a couple discussions he had with other people. He smokes, so he asked
around to make sure it would not bother anyone, and the polite person I am,
said no (even though it did
Friday morning, we had a staff meeting at 8am, mainly just to make sure
everyone had everything covered and did not need any extra help. I was
really amazed at how everyone had their responsibility well in hand, and at
least from my perspective, everything went very smoothly. Since my duties
were over, (I had been handling publicity for the con since last November) I
volunteered to help with the Spirit of Sherwood table in the Dealers Room.
So, after the meeting, I helped Chris and Denise set it up, and although the
dealer room was not scheduled to open until noon, it was open right away. I
stayed to watch the table so that Chris and Denise could see to the con itself.
(Much appreciated-grin!!!-C&D) While I was in the Dealers Room a few Fan
Panels were held: Ethics in Sherwood and Glitches in Sherwood-both sounded
really interesting. Also that morning, was a workshop on Storytelling. One of
my roommates, Laura, arrived that morning too, and got herself ensconced in our
room.
At 1pm, I close the table to attend the opening ceremonies and the first guest
panel with Ray. Mark Ryan was scheduled to come, but at the last minute had to
bow out because he is working as the Assistant Swordmaster on the movie FIRST
KNIGHT starring Jasons dad, Sean Connery and Richard Gere. He also has a small
part in the movie, but I guess he gets killed in the first scene or something.
Anyway, Mark felt really bad that he could not make it, so he sent along a
taped message for us which was played during the opening ceremonies. It was
really garbled, so I could not understand exactly what he said, but I thought
that was really sweet of him to do that. A lot of actors would not care enough
about the attendees to a con enough to send a personal message. I think he has
been invited to Visions and I believe shooting on the film will be done in the
first part of November, so hopefully he will be able to make it.
(TRANSCRIPTION OF MARK'S MESSAGE:
Hello everybody! (in a kiddie voice) Hello Uncle Marky! Come on, hello
Uncle Marky! Yeah, I'm here and you're there. I hope you're having a good
time. I'm working very hard, as you know-I'm back in harness, swords
swinging, swinging about in the trees, lots of horses, crashing about into
wild stuntmen, all that kind of stuff. It's like being 10 years back. Terry
Walsh, who swears I've stolen his job, Dinny Powell, Nick Wilkinson,
Stevie Dent, all the boys, the same guys-even the same horses! Even Fury,
would you believe?! Fury of course recognized Terry Walsh straight away and
stomped on his big toe, so he's running around with a big black toe and we're
just getting stuck into it, it's great fun. Of course, we're waiting for
"BIG SEAN" (doing Sean Connery imitation now-) Who's got the biggest Winnebago
on the set and of course he flies everywhere in a helicopter! Anyway, I
don't know if I'll get to do any fighting with him, but I don't want to
anyway! What can I say? I'll miss it! I mean, I'[l miss it, this is the
first time, so...Have a good time! Everyone have a large Jack Daniels and
coke on Raymond. I'm sure he won't mind spending lots of money. Try and
keep Lois out of trouble. In fact, forget that-Lois will get you all into
trouble but have a good time, enjoy yourselves, lots of singing 'round the
pool, lots of Wallyball or whatever...Love to everybody, I'm really sorry I
can't be there but unfortunately, what can I say? I'm working! (Laughter)
It comes as a shock! It comes as a surprise! Anyway, God bless, look after
yourselves and NOTHING IS EVER FORGOTTEN!!! Bye!)
Back to Ray. This is the hard part, trying to remember all the good bits
that he talked about. He did talk more about Robin of Sherwood than I
remembered Mark and Kip did last year. I think maybe because this was his
first con over here in five years and people wanted to know HIS side of a lot
of the stories we have heard.
Lois came up with some great questions for her dad, too. I guess Ray will
not let her watch one of his first movies, SCUM, but she had a poster from
the movie in her room. So she had to ask him questions about a certain scene
that was portrayed in the poster-Dad, you know the scene where you have the
snooker balls in the sock and you hit that guy with it, how did you do that?
Were there real snooker balls in there? Ray jokingly answered yes, then no and
tried to quickly get on to the next question. Lois was also making things with
Play-doh during the panel, (I assume they do not have it over in England) and
would present her creations to her dad. By the time the second panel was held
on Saturday, she was up on the platform with her dad, answering questions along
with him...This is a question for Ray and Lois...
After the guest panel, I went back to the dealers room to mind the table. As
the Autograph Session was about to begin, we did brisk business. And a lot
of the other pictures we had for sale went quickly too. They also had
WEEKEND IN SHERWOOD III T-SHIRTS for sale, which a lot of people had to buy,
including me.
After a few hours off to relax and get dressed in my long dress, I went down
to the ballroom for the Medieval Banquet. Before we ate, the Pavanne dance
from Hernes Son was performed by about a dozen folks, led by Julianne Toomey.
It was done very well. The banquet itself was relaxing and fun-good
conversation and good eats! Following the banquet was the Costume Contest,
and although there were only about 5 contestants, they were all very good.
The best presentation award (and the funniest costume I have ever seen!) went
to Lisa Halsey (a.k.a. Guido) for her take on our favorite saracen...except
that she was called BRASSIERE! Suffice it to say that Madonna would have been
very jealous of this costume! The topper to the costume were electric
propellers on the bustiere! There was a baseball tournament going on that
weekend, and when some of those baseball players came by the ballroom that
night and saw Guido running around with her propellers...they just lost it!
They were coming in and taking pictures, we invaded the bar, it was wild!
Later on that night was a time for Filksinging, and I guess Ray and Lois both
participated by singing some songs. I missed it, although I understand that it
was captured on video, so when the videos from the con are released, you can
hear Ray singing Harry Connick Jr. songs.
On to Saturday...(All that just for one day? Oy. I hope this goes quicker
At 2:30 we closed down the table so that we could participate in the Art and
Charity Auctions. They were great fun , as always. I ended up getting a
poster for Michael Praeds recent play, September Tide, (I always end up
picking those posters up! I guess because they are usually the only things
within my price range
Sunday went by really quickly-started off with another Fan Panel-Men in Tights,
or Why We Really Watch the Show-
(Anyone wishing to send cards, letters, etc. to Ray and/or Lois should put on
the appropriate postage and send it to the club address for forwarding--
Spirit of Sherwood, 1276 W. Marshall, Ferndale, MI 48220, USA!)