12/08/2017
Due to some computer glitches, the following post is woefully tardy. However, as it is the season of giving, I'd like to remind others about this group and maybe inspire them to give:
Now that the dust has settled from our journey to New Glarus, we feel the need to point out some amazing things about this group.
Five years ago, Shakespeare on the Edge tried to expand from a single day faire to a full weekend. The weather had other plans. It rained so horribly that many vendors decided to head out before Sunday and the faire subsequently was not open Sunday. That was 5 years ago.
This year, the rain was torrential. The ground was so soaked that vehicles were getting stuck. Vendors did not flee. The Faire did not close. We stuck it out, trusting each other and our fervent love for Shakespeare and a desire to bring that love to the next generation, to get us through the day and safely home that night. Our hopes were not in vain.
During the day, people came out to see what was on offer. A local farmer had lent his land to be used as a parking lot, since the regular one was too flooded and dangerous to be used. Lamers Buslines was there with a shuttle bus to help save people the long walk to the faire site. Patrons and vendors alike rolled with the changes. They cheered the performers, bought from the merchants, and partook of all manner of food and beverage. It was a small crowd, but an energetic one.
When closing cannon sounded, Jen and Paula were right there with a plan! The local ATV retailer had provided a UTV with a back area for gear to ferry patrons and vendors up the hill to their vehicles. Vendors packed their things and once they were ready to go, they got on a list. One by one, up the hill everyone and their shoppes went, safely and efficiently. Everyone was being patient and not a complaint was made, other than the usual ones of being tired and wet and cold.
But just as we vendors were tired and cold and wet, so were the volunteers from Shakespeare on the Edge, most of them teenagers. They stayed just as long as the vendors were stuck there, which was 1:15am. They assisted in the loading of the trailer and the UTV. They were careful with product and displays. They showed an energy rarely seen by professional actors on screen for the task at hand of helping those who came together to help them. These kids showed us why we do this, year after year, even when we take a loss. They showed us why they deserve to have their community and the greater Faire community as a whole come together to get them funded.
While I did not catch everyone’s names, I did catch a couple. There was Jacob, who was only there because his girlfriend dragged him along, but he drove the UTV and did so with a cheerful smile on his face and a good head for conversation on his shoulders. Whoever his girlfriend is, we hope she knows how exceptional a catch she has in him. Calvin, who had wrenched his right leg somehow during the day, but still kept helping load and unload vendor after vendor, limping through it all. We hope he got some ice on that leg and some good rest for it afterward. Jen, our fearless leader, was not afraid to get her own hands dirty and was helping load and unload, instead of just giving orders. Truly a rare and wonderful find for any organization. Paula, keeping everyone updated as events unfolded and information needed to be communicated. It is our understanding that Jen and Paula and several others will be out at the site this week still, repairing the damage from everyone walking on the soaking wet grounds and from tires trying to get out before we realized how bad it had gotten.
Essentially, what Redcap is trying to say is that this is an amazing group of youngsters and their parents! We are honored beyond words to be a part of this festival and we look forward to many more years with them.
If you’re able to give a few dollars, or even a hundred or more, please do so. You will not find a more worthy group of kids to spend it on. If you can’t, but you shop on Amazon, please consider shopping through smile.amazon.com and making Shakespeare on the Edge the charity you choose.
To every member of Shakespeare on the Edge: THANK YOU! You are AMAZING and we LOVE you!
