I suppose you would call it a FridFest.
No matter what anyone called it, I can tell you it was some event.
Jonathan arrived on Friday afternoon along with his webmaster, Mark, who drove them down from Canada. Despite his back being sore from the 7 hour journey, JF was full of beans.
When JF went to register at the main desk, he was told that his mother had called and left a number for him to return the call. Of course Mrs. Frid has been dead for twenty years and it was a ruse some fan was using to get JF to call him or her. It was amusing to say the least.
We went into the main ballroom where he would be appearing on Saturday and did a long technical rehearsal. By the time we got out of there, the registration had opened and fans were lined up along the corridor and around the next corner and the next corner after that into the lobby. As JF emerged from the ballroom and walked along the corridor, fans started applauding and cheering, some shouting "We love you!" and "Thanks for coming!" That continued each time we turned the corner and started walking down another corridor. I have never seen anything that before at a Fest. JF was a little taken back but pleased at the reception, even touched I think.
JF got together with Marie Wallace, Lara Parker and KLS later that evening for about 90 minutes in a private setting to touch base. They all seemed to enjoy that time together to smooze. KLS jumped onto JF's lap when she came into the room. Yes, he was sitting down at the time.
About 11 p.m. JF went to bed. He was tired and a little sore from the journey down.
Saturday morning JF headed for the empty ballroom to do another tech rehearsal. In the halls around the ballroom fans were gathered, talking and buying things from the few merchandise tables there. Again, the fans applauded and cheered as he made his way through the throng and into the ballroom. The same thing happened again when he left the tech rehearsal to have lunch.
At 1 p.m., JF was formally introduced and the packed ballroom erupted. It was amazing. JF had his Barnabas can with him, pretended to be hobbling as he got up on stage and then danced across the stage twirling the can with one hand. It was hilarous and the fans loved it. He watched and commented on several scenes from DS that he selected beforehand and he did so with wry humor.
After the DS scene commentaries were over, JF went to lunch and then took a brief nap before his readings/performance at 4 p.m. where, once again, he was greeted with great excitment from the audience. It was standing room only once again. JF did readings, played some clips from readings done years ago from the new DVD produced and released for the weekend. After the performance, Jonathan participated in a Q&A. Naturally there were questions about the upcoming planned project by Johnny Depp; JF admitted he didn't really know who Johnny Depp was. The audience laughed. He talked about how awful most television is and Americanized Canadian news and television had become. He said he watched very little TV.
At the end of the Q&A, JF was surprised by guest actor Larry Storch, with whom he co-starred in the Broadway tour of "Arsenic and Old Lace." They spent some time hugging and chatting, Storch told the audience a story before leaving with JF to chat briefly. JF went back to his room for awhile and then had dinner before heading to the banquet hall. Again, as JF passed through the corridors, fans applauded him.
At the banquet, JF started signing photos almost immediately. As fans dined, one table at a time was called up to have their photos personalized. These photos were distributed to all fans when they registered. After about three hours of doing this, JF took a break as there was a video tribute to him that Jim Pierson put together. It was quite nice. After the documentary was over, Marie Wallace, Lara Parker and KLS got up on stage and each spoke about JF's contribution to Dark shadows, their own performance and the obvious electricity his attendance this year generated throughout the audience. JF was flattered, of course, but a little embarrassed because in spite of his having a healthy ego like anyone else, he's a modest person. I think this is party of why I like him so much: he's a grounded individual and even though he was brought up in a well-off and prominent household with servants, he isn't a snob. His great wry humor was in evidence most of the weekend. When fans didn't move fast enough in the autograph line, JF threatened to tickle some of them if they didn't get a move on. He was in a good mood, appreciative of everyone's kindness towards him. At 11 p.m., JF ran out of gas. He was exhausted. He asked that he be permitted to sign the remaining autographs (personalizing the already signed photo fans were given when they registered) early Sunday morning before he returned to Canada.
On Sunday morning, JF personalized the remaining pictures belonging to fans who didn't get up to him the previous night.
He did have the usual issues of some people not leaving him alone but overall, fans were gentle and appreciative of his efforts. Most of us have or had parents or other loved ones of JF's age and we know how tired they can get from a lot of effort.
JF truly enjoyed the event and being with the fans. He was most appreciate of their support and kindness throughout the weekend.
Nancy