More About Darryl Maximilian Robinson Notes His 1980s Renaissance Festival Roles!
2022 Making The World Happening Award Winner And Los Angeles-Based Theatre Performer Darryl Maximilian Robinson ( Who Has Starred In Plays And Musicals At Numerous Los Angeles Theatres ) Shares His Previous Experience As A 1980s Renaissance Faire Performer At A Theatre Location Far, Far, Away!
"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.
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 Rosalynn 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!
Reccomended 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"!
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.
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 two outdoor performances ( 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, for which he trained and directed more than a dozen student and young professional actors to present seven selected scenes from the works of The Immortal Bard at multiple locations throughout the fairesite.
During this daily performance period, his character, Lord Kemp-Kean, was allowed an Entourage of 4 Roving Shakespearean Associates including KRF vet Tony Hrubes as Kemp-Kean's chief aide, 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! ).
Those were truly fun times, serious hard work 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.
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.
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. 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.
"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.
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 Rosalynn 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!
Reccomended 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"!
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.
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 two outdoor performances ( 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, for which he trained and directed more than a dozen student and young professional actors to present seven selected scenes from the works of The Immortal Bard at multiple locations throughout the fairesite.
During this daily performance period, his character, Lord Kemp-Kean, was allowed an Entourage of 4 Roving Shakespearean Associates including KRF vet Tony Hrubes as Kemp-Kean's chief aide, 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! ).
Those were truly fun times, serious hard work 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.
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.
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. 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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January 25, 2023
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