Well, I don't shock easily, but I must say that as someone who plans a lot of events myself in my own community, I'm simply staggered that nobody on the Festival committee had the courtesy to call or email the actors and let them know ahead of time about a decision of this magnitude.

I had also always thought that the actors were kept in the loop of the date planning for each year's Festival.  Another illusion shattered.

Given these revelations, I'm starting to think it might be just as well to say "Farewell" to the current Festival committee and let folks who know how to do their jobs take over.  (Just my opinion, quite honestly... I know it's been a thankless job for years, but if you're not going to do it right, why bother?  which presumably is the line of thinking that led to declaring this year the "Farewell" Festival.)

I do like KLS' spin on it as being like when a character would say "farewell" on the series and then the same actor would reappear shortly thereafter in a new role!

Gothick

John, doll, YOU ARE A GOD!

thankyouthankyouthankyou for that FABOU link.

You and I are SO on the same page about The Divine One.  One of the oldtime fans recalled on one occasion that her Dad also worshipped at the Shrine of Grayson and used to say:  "There's God the Father, God the Son, and Grayson Hall ... and the first two better watch Their Step!" (my apologies if this offends any individuals in the audience)

Gothick
A Senior Officer of Hall-o-holics Anonymous

Oh yes, John, I definitely want to see Julia's shopping spree. One of my favorite sequences in Satan in High Heels is the infamous "montage" clip where Grayson takes Missy out for her fashion makeover.  There are some hilarious, all too brief shots of Grayson in one of those early Sixties Paris knockoff hats with the huge wavy brim and a jacket with this big elaborate gilt fob hanging off one side puffing on her endless cigarette holder appraising her gal in the latest ensemble.  And all played to jazzy beat coffeehouse style music. FABULOUS!

I can just see Julia as they return to Collinwood:  "Chris, darling, it's so hot in here.  Don't you want to take your shirt off now???"

eee-vil Gothththth

Caleb is played by the luscious Nathan Fillion, who played the Captain on Firefly, a Joss Whedon series I'd love to see get off the ground again.

I have not been able to catch Fillion's appearances on BTVS, unfortunately.  I just adore his mouth, though.  mmmmmmm

purring provocatively,

Gothick

A brilliant critique, as always, Luciaphil.

My favorite comment on the character of Olivia/Amanda comes in a wonderfully played little scene between "Grant" and the lady herself.  At some point, completely frustrated with Olivia's antics, Grant bellows at her:  "Maybe I don't know at the moment who I am.  I don't think YOU EVER knew who you are!"

It kind of sums Amanda up in a nutshell.

Gothick

Hi again Maine Girl,

Cheep Productions did a gloriously demented series of parody episodes of Dark Shadows.  The production values were actually rather stunning, given that these were totally fan written, acted, and produced.

I won't print any names due to the understandable desire of the fans involved for privacy, but the actor who plays Julia (a very talented young man who has Grayson's vocal inflections and mannerisms down to a T) is hysterical!  And he plays Barnabas, too!

One of the shows was called Save Our Cemeteries.  If memory serves, the plot revolved around a (sadly perpetually off-camera) scheming Count Petofi's plot to bulldoze the Eagle Hill Cemetery and turn the premises into a peep-show.

There was another one where Julia had cured Barnabas and he had to learn how to sleep in a bed again.  He kept sliding out, while wearing the cutest bat-printed pyjamas.  At some point Julia shows up in a Madonna outfit and performs a slinky dance to one of those early 90s sexaholic songs of hers.  I literally nearly died laughing!

Ah, the memories.

Steve

well, MB, I guess it's a case of YaBB-a dab-a TWO!

you know I've been dying for a chance to say that...

Steve