Big Bill is back on his feet! - Dec 2012

Big Bill here. Travis is here with me, but let me type this part.



Travis, me (Big Bill) and Rosie



I just wanted to thank everyone for the kind letters, cards and well wishes after my injury at the Woodstock Vintage Camper Rally. The doctors and nurses did a fantastic job and I am now back on my feet.

One more thing, just to set the record straight... I didn't scream, I passed out as I hit the ground from the pain. It was Norm screaming like a little girl according to Travis and Joni.

Hope to see everyone soon,

Big Bill (and Travis)

P.S. Anyone in the market for a gently used wheelchair?

Travis here. BB is back but I had to show you a card that Joni sent. Some people say that Joni and her little family have too much time on their hands...

I say that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

 

White Pines Inn - Scrooge the Comedy - Dec 2012

Hello all, I must admit that I am in pain, but it hurts so good! I laughed so hard Saturday night that my face and sides still ache. We went to White Pines Inn on the 8th.

The whole purpose of the trip was to stay in a cabin and to attend the dinner theater with some of the friends we made vintage camping. A bit of winter fun since camping season is over for 2012. (At least in Northern Illinois.)

It also doesn't hurt to broaden the horizons a bit with some culture. A smidge of classy, high brow theater, plus a terrific meal. The meal part we knew already from past excursions to White Pines, fantastic food! We had been to the theater for a show too (see Travis Visits White Pines Inn April 2011 ).

This play was about Scrooge, you know "A Christmas Carol". We all know that one, right? Well, not quite!

The show wasn't A Christmas Carol, it was "Scrooge - The Comedy". I wasn't sure what that meant. So I read the program and learned that it is a "...hilarious Christmas comedy loosely adapted from Dickens' immortal classic." Another quote from the program described it perfectly, "Dickens' Classic meets Saturday Night Live". So much for high brow...

 

Brent Young (L) & Rick Johnson (R) & Me of course

With that sort of a build up I was expecting BIG things! It turned out that the show is actually just TWO actors, a narrator (Brent Young, who also co-wrote the show) and the lead character, Ebenezer Scrooge (Rick Johnson) and neither one of them was what I would call big. Vertically challenged like me? Absolutely! I can honestly say seeing just two folks on stage had me worried. What kind of show could just two folks do? Right?

FANTASTIC is what kind! I haven't laughed that hard in years. There is a lot of improv and banter throughout the show and a few audience members are selected at various times to help out. A lot of the presentations mojo is directly related to the audience's participation. What a great time we had! Loosely adapted though is as accurate a statement as I have ever read. Very loose as a matter of fact.

A word of warning though. This show might be just a touch PG for young kids, but so is Saturday Night Live. Overall, very family friendly.

Some audience members that were "selected" by the narrator to be carolers are confronted by Scrooge.

The ghost of Christmas past sat next to me for dinner. What a stitch! He couldn't get his lines right, which stymied Brent at times, but made for an uproarious time! He even had Scrooge laughing because the lines were all twisted.

I'm glad it was him rather than Norm or me. I know Norm doesn't hear very well so getting your lines and then having to spit them right back out... Well its like getting married, nerves WILL interfere.

From our group two people were selected to "assist" on stage. Here, Gabriella is playing the part of Scrooge's big sister, Fan, when he was a kid.

Kimberly was Mrs. Fezziwig.

She got to dance with "Mr. Fezziwig" and tell him a secret.

Knowing Kimberly as we do, it was a wonder that Mr. Fezziwig didn't turn four shades of red.

Since I didn't get picked to go up on stage during the show I went up afterwards and checked out Scrooge's bed. It was the most uncomfortable bed I have ever laid down on. Nothing like the beds in the cabins!

This was Scrooge's desk. Scrooge handed out a bunch of gold coins after the show which really surprised me, considering how miserly he was.

Well, it turns out that Scrooge was also a counterfeiter. His gold coins were made of chocolate, not gold! I'm not so sure that he won't be getting a visit from a Federal Agent Christmas ghost this year.

Me, Gabriella and her brother, Alex.

Notice the step we are sitting on? I told you Ebenezer (aka Rick) was vertically challenged.

Also after the show we stopped in the little pub. The sign said it was the moose lodge but I know that there is a secret handshake to join the moose lodge and since nobody was shaking anything it couldn't be an official moose lodge.

We had a couple of tasty beverages and sang a bunch of songs before calling it a night and heading back to the cabin.


All in all, one memorable evening filled with a lot of laughter.


Stay in touch,

Travis


P.S.  The current plan is that the show will end its 20+ year run in 2013. If you get a chance, do come see this show. It is worth every shilling! And say hello to Brent & Rick for me. (Denise too, the Queen of ValuChicMagazine .)