I managed to make it to the Fest on Sunday, although I did not get to spend nearly as much time as I had hoped. Of course, I tried to fit in the Fest and some sightseeing, so I shouldn't be surprised.
Anyway, I arrived back at the hotel just in time to wait in line for RETURN TO COLLINWOOD. To my very pleasurable surprise, I found myself practically standing next to Julia99, Bette, and Nancybe! Such a treat to connect with some of my fellow posters and Grayson fans!
Overall, I really enjoyed RTC. The script struck the right balance between comedy and drama. I must confess that I was moved by the ending, and the entire production. The actors' willingness to participate indicates that they still have a good deal of affection for DS. Such a refreshing attitude in this era of irony and hipper-than-thou smugness.
I'm hoping that this isn't the end of the Fests as they currently exist. The actors seem to enjoy them, and obviously the fans do as well. I certainly can understand that after 20 years, the organizers are tired of putting these things together. Perhaps they could recruit new people to take over, or hire a professional event planner to handle the details. Granted, hiring someone would increase the costs, but I suspect that many fans wouldn't mind spending a few extra dollars for registration in order to keep the Fests going.
Anyway, I had a great time, and hope to have more such opportunities in the future.
Regards,
John