| Whipboy | |
| by Jerry Eakin | |
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| Jerry Eakin: What's your name? |  |
| Whipboy: They call me Whipboy | |
| JE: Favorite color? | |
| W: Dark Blue | |
| JE: What is your quest? | |
| W: To search for the Holy Grail and to win the Kumate' and avenge my masters death. | |
| JE: What's your star sign? | |
| W: For many years I thought I was a Leo, but I am not a Leo but a Libra | |
| JE: How many years have you been performing? | |
| W: My first play was in 3rd grade, and every year from then on into High school, but I never knew you could go to college to be an actor, so I don't consider myself really "trying" until my sophomore year at WMU's Theatre Department (after switching from Criminal Justice). So that puts us at around 12 years. My first Renaissance Festival was in 1990. | |
| JE: What Faires/Festivals have you done? | |
| W: Off the top of my head in the past ten years, RPFS (CA), Michigan, Scarborough Faire (TX), New York, Georgia, Texas, Great Lakes (OH), Silverleaf (MI), Four Winds (TX), Ojai (CA), Escondido (CA) and a few more that escape me right now. | |
| JE: What shows other than WHIPBOY have you done? | |
| W: Well I stared as A Body Puppet, then a Toilet Troll finally in a three man Comedia Del Arte troupe called the Commidiots that I started (and we really sucked).. that transformed into the BYTE AND BANNISTER sword fight comedy show which was much more successful, then finally on my own as WHIPBOY. I also worked with the NATURE OF MERCY for almost two years and as a member of a Shakespeare shorts show THE BLOODY HORIBLE MASS STABBING AND BRUTAL DEATH OF JULIUS CEASAR! | |
| JE: What drew you to performing at REN-FAIRE? | |
| W: I didnt know anything about getting work as an actor. So the only Audition advertised in the Ortonville Reminder (my hometown newspaper) was for the Michigan Renaissance Festival. I Auditioned, and got cast as a $10 a day BODY PUPPET. | |
| JE: Is there any character you've played that you are really close to? Really enjoyed playing? | |
| W: For a very short amount of time, like about five weekends I was asked to play THE CAPTIAN in the NATURE OF MERCY show. That's the one with the evil Italian and all the kids get onstage to defeat him with the Captain. He has a great message about Bravery, Honor and Integrity that I have always believed in. I also have the Authoritative "Hero" type character very close to my heart ( IE: Henry V, Macduff, Cassio, Lancelot, etc.) but I have rarely gotten to play those types of characters after developing my sense of humor. It was a great chance for me to express myself as that type of character, plus I loved being able to deliver a message to kids that I believed in as well. | |
| JE: Is there any one moment that sticks out in your mind as a favorite (that you can share) | |
| W: Talking to Doug Kondalzolka (Miguel) of the Show DON JUAN AND MIGUEL. I was just a dorky guy backstage between his shows who had a habit of asking question upon question to every actor I could, and Doug was my most recent victim. The conversation that followed not only shaped my future in performing at Greenflies, but influenced my decision to Switch to an Acting Major in College, and further pursuits in the business. Years later we met up after my show took off, He doesn't remember talking to me that day, he is a quirky guy, but I have been able to share the stage with him and hang out with him socially, so that's cool. | |
| JE: If you could give any advice to someone thinking about performing at REN-FAIRES (or outside of them for that matter) what would it be? | |
| W: 1-Read the book TRUE AND FALSE by
David Mamet, and do everything he says. 2-Read the Books on Interactive theatre, especially THE ART OF PLAY by Gary Izzo, and do everything he says. 3-Figure out who you are and be that person. Be honest to yourself. |
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| JE: Performance wise, what have you done out side of faire? | |
| W: I did plays in college (a lot of Shakespeare), professional theatre outside of it as well. I was a Professional Fight Choreographer and Stuntman for about 4 or 5 years then that kinda fell by the wayside as I began touring with my shows more. I did shows in Canada and Asia for a year. I moved to LA about two years ago and have done some films and TV here. Got my SAG card. I have a deal with CBS for some comedy work with them. I am BATMAN this summer at Six Flags, so it looks like I haven't forgotten all my Stunt training yet. I may return to teaching Stage Combat this fall, maybe. | |
| JE: Is there anything you have yet to do at faire that you would like to? | |
| W: I always wanted to be on Court, or to Marshal the Joust. | |
| JE: What first interested you in faire, or were you even interested to begin with? | |
| W: I think I felt a sense of freedom in my performance that I had not had before. I also was in College training to be an actor, and here I was with most performers who where just "playing for a hobby", so while in College at that time I was feeling intimidated by the "better" actors around me, the Renaissance festival gave me an opportunity to stand. The more I succeeded the more my confidence went way up, and I ended up being a better all around actor because of it. | |
| JE: Do people who see you at the faire expect you to be in character when they see you on the street? | |
| W: Yes, I guess. Its actually a very touch subject with me. They either want you to be exactly that way, or the exact opposite. Either way they have a whole set of perimeters created in their mind of who you are... and when you don't fit that mold they get upset or confused. In the end I am the one who really gets my feeling hurt, and that's a bummer. | |
| JE: How did you get your character name? | |
| W: When I was doing the BYTE AND BANNISTER show, my name "Byte" came from Demian Krentz (Banister #1) and I slapping random words together, WHIPBOY came from a combination of the Poxy Boggards and David De Angelis, my show was called "Bytes Amazing Stunts", but at a TV taping for Channel 5 at RPFS 1999 David in his comedic wisdom introduced me as Whipboy! After that the Boggards got a hold of it while we shared a stage together and announced it over and over again. So it stuck! It's a better name anyway, for the show at least. | |
| JE: What is your favorite word? | |
| W: Honor | |
| JE: What is your least favorite word? | |
| W: Sorry. | |
| JE: What turns you on? | |
| W: People succeeding doing what they are good at. | |
| JE: What turns you off? | |
| W: Dishonesty, especially with oneself. | |
| JE: What sounds do you love? | |
| W: That explosive sound that people wouldn't expect themselves to make, that cheer, that joy, usually accompanied with a dance or arms thrust upwardsÉ the victory cheer! | |
| JE: What sounds do you hate? | |
| W: Cat calls. | |
| JE: What's your favorite curse word? | |
| W: Butt-F**king Idiot. | |
| JE: What profession other than yours would you attempt? | |
| W: Woodworking | |
| JE: What profession would you not like to participate in? | |
| W: Sales. | |
| JE: If heaven exists, what would you hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?? | |
| W: You're one of my favorites. | |