  |  Me as Ale Mistress "Ann Hauser Busch," 4/3/05 |
In 2005, I made the cast and the chess match cast for the Renaissance Festival. It was no longer in Largo, but now in Tampa, FL (it moved before the 2004 year). I was cast as the Ale Mistress and I named myself "Ann Hauser Busch" which I thought was pretty clever. My character was an upper middle class character, so I had a nice dress to wear, made by a former cast member, Kathleen. I picked out the materials and the colors and am very happy with how it came out.I parted my hair and braided it every day, which took quite a while since my hair is so long. I didn't get a featured fight this year, either, but I know I have a lot more to learn before I'm ready for that. So, from January until mid-April, every single weekend was spent either on chess match rehearsal or the actual show, so it takes up 1/4 of the year and is a huge commitment. I had a lot of fun and met great people, just as I had in 2003.
For my character, I decided I should be drunk all day, which was fun, but tiring. I most enjoyed pulling people over with by making a siren sound and then stumbling up to them telling them to "Pull over" and that they are walking much too fast or too straight to have been to the pub, yet, so they should go directly there and get some ale. I made it funnier than it sounds in type and everyone laughed at it, so it worked and I drove business to the pubs. One guy even tipped me $1 for it. I also made "Ale Stars" out of wooden stars that I painted yellow and then I painted "Ale" on each of them. I glued pins on the back and blue ribbon the color of my dress on them and handed the stars out to those most deserving, like the people carrying 3 or more empty cups of beer under their current beer. I'd say something like, "Oh my! It be a three cupper, we have here!" and ask to give them a star for it. Most would think I was trying to sell them the star, but I explained it was free and most were so proud and happy with their stars! One guy, a 7 cupper, told me that he'd had more beer besides those 7 and that he'd been to every privy (bathroom) at the place and it was only about 4 in the afternoon. I suggested that he try the Mead and he did. He didn't like it much, so gave the rest to his father-in-law who was with him. He acted like I was his best buddy after that suggestion, though.
I will still say, though, that the chess match was still my most favorite part of the day, both in 2003 and 2005.
