A Prairie Home Companion at Sea
Donna Fox & Loren Smith – dedicated Folk Alley listeners/supporters – just got back from a week-long A Prairie Home Companion Cruise that sailed from Boston to Prince Edward Island and ports in between. Read their blog from a week at sea with humorist Garrison Keillor, the Royal Academy of Radio Actors, the Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band, and special guests – BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, Robin & Linda Williams, Spider John Koerner, Gordon Bok, and more.
August 20, 2005 Boston
Perhaps you have dreamed of listening to Prairie Home Companion more than once a week. We are living that dream.
We left Boston harbor at 7:00PM on the Maasdam for a week cruise with Garrison Keillor and the cast of PHC plus many talented musicians. What a blast!
We have dinner and then it is off to the theater to watch the show. As all of you who have seen Garrison (yep, we are on a first name basis at his request) in person knows, he has a rather mobile face. Half the fun is watching him while other performers are on.
On Saturday evening there were auditions for Thursday night�s talent show. Folk singers, crooners, guitar, banjo, autoharp, and harmonica players performed for Garrison ala American idol. He not only critiqued their performances but also suggested clothing that would improve their acts. We have some amazing talent among the passengers. It was as much fun for the audience as it was for the hopefuls. This showcased Garrison�s great mind. His ad-libbing was insightful and funny.
Each day�s schedule is so jam-packed that we are constantly torn between events such as a writing workshop with Garrison, a radio play with Sue Scott and Tim Russell, and a workshop on improving your voice with Fred Newman.
Nighttime finds us trying to fit in BeauSoleil, Robin and Linda Williams, the Guys� All-Star Shoe Band, Butch Thompson, Gordon Bok, and so many others.
