Monday, November 8, 2010

As the Fall becomes the Winter

It has been a week since we folded up camp and left Fort Fright, after 6 weeks of steady work performing Carnival Diablo. Now, I have started working diligently on my new project... Prof. Crookshank's Traveling Medicine Show. I had created the show the first time waaaaaay back in 1979, and have decided to revisit this little gem. The process is a slow one, and the style and grandeur of this project is going to be an exciting challenge. Back in 1979, I was 15 and I wrote the character of Crookshank to be around 45. I wore a fake mustache and wore make up to age my face... I am now 46 and I think that I am looking and feeling more the part then I ever have in the past.

I am working on 5 different NEW routines, or Acts that will be a major part of the new production. Each routine is a skit and a performance on its own. I want the audience to feel that they have encountered something truly strange and magickal when they watch this show. Comedy, ventriloquism, magic, automata and a dash of Snake Oil are the recipe for this strange world that I am creating.

As I had stated in an earlier post, I will be building a REAL fully working  Gypsy Caravan, or as some call it a Vardo. I have started building it at a ranch with a good friend, Ward Wright and my partner Jess. We have finished the base and will begin construction on the upper box in the next 24 hours. This will be a project that will take around 3 months to complete. I will be posting a photo essay of our progress in the next few weeks. But, for now, I want to keep what we are doing visually under wraps until we are closer to finishing the caravan.

Many of the acts are also being built from the ground up and will have the unique Diablo stamp to its look. (rather other-worldly and sinister)

I am also writing new dialogue and researching like a madman, so that when all is said and done... this will be another World Class Show. Costumes will be created by some of the finest designers in the industry and we will soon have a website for this NEW World that will give you ALL of the info you need to enjoy this mad romp into our glorious past.

We will be offering many EXTRA'S and Add On's to our package, so that Festivals and Carnivals can have many different versions to pick from ie: Gypsy Caravan with Show, the World of Wonders, Carnival Calliope's, Victorian Popcorn Machines and other Victorian gadgetry.

The best part of this is, it is being made for the whole family! Now everyone, no matter how young or old, can come out and enjoy a trip into our fabricated past.
Hell, this package can be set up as its own Event in a park!

For now, its FULL STEAM AHEAD!

I'll write more as we get deeper into the muck and mire of the building.
Tomorrow I am back at the ranch to work more on the caravan.

Strange Days ahead!