Interview with the Lords
Thee Bluebeard adventures Augus, 2015
Star~Dust
Editor, Motivator
Timber Gray Wolf
Editor Chef, Designer, photographer
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Contents 06) Treasure Planet 08) Interview With the Lords 11) The Bluebeard Adventures 16) Pirate of the Month 18) Michigan Pirate Festival
For those that have either read or watched the great story of Treasure Island in some form or another based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure novel. Here is a twist of taking an island full of treasure and turning it into a full planet. Before you think of the typical space ship, toss that out. We are talking about classic nautical ships with . . . solar sails? Only being ten years old when it came out and growing up owning Muppet’s Treasure Island, I loved Treasure Planet when my grandmother took me to see it in theater.
The story follows the same basic story line and list of main characters that we loved in the original story. Treasure Planet was released by Disney in 2002, a science fiction adaptation. The story is set far into the future, follows 15 year old Jim Hawkins (voiced by Austin Majors). As a young child Jim is enchanted by stories of the legendary pirate Captain Flint and his ability to appear from nowhere, raid passing ships, and disappear in order to hide the loot on the mysterious “Treasure Planet”. He is shown begrudgingly helping his mother Sarah (Laurie Metcalf) run an inn and deriving amusement from “solar surfing” (a hybrid of skysurfing and windsurfing atop a board attached to a solar sail-powered rocket), a pastime that frequently gets him in trouble. After a rough day, a spaceship crashes near the inn. The dying pilot, Billy Bones, (Patrick McGoohan), gives Jim a sphere and tells him to “beware the cyborg”. Shortly thereafter, a gang of pirates raid and burn the inn. Jim, his mother, and their dog-like friend Dr. Delbert Doppler (David Hyde Pierce) barely escape. While at Doppler’s study, Jim realizes that that sphere turns out to be a holographic projector, showing a map that leads to the location of Treasure Planet. Doppler commissions a ship called the RLS Legacy, on a mission to find for told Treasure Planet. The ship is commanded by the cat-like, sharp-witted Captain Amelia (Emma Thompson) along with her stony-skinned and disciplined First Mate, Mr. Arrow (Roscoe Lee Browne). The crew is a motley bunch, secretly led by cook John Silver (Brian Murray), who Jim suspects is the cyborg of whom he was warned. Jim is sent down to work in the galley, where he is supervised by Silver and his shapeshifting pet, Morph (Dane A. Davis). Despite Jim’s mistrust of Silver, they soon form a tenuous father-son relationship. So far many of the names and events line up with the original story but it still keeps you interested enough to see what twists will be in the next frame. I don’t want to give too much away, just would hate to ruin the story for you.
This month, we are happy to be interviewing Morgan Ramirez or better know as Admiral Morgan, the Pirate Lord of Lake Michigan.
Q
How long have you been into the pirate life?
A: Well pretty much fancied meself a pirate all me life…as a kid my favorite movie was Captain Blood. Always loved pirates but portraying one didn’t happen until the mid-nineties when I started working with bands and dressing up – it’s all about rock star hair mates! In fact Bristol folk swear Depp saw me playing a drunken pirate and was inspired …either way ….love doing it! In fact I still have the original photo that a buddy did for the Michigan Renaissance Festival program cover back in the late nineties with me as a pirate.
Q
What made you want to be a pirate?
A: Well… love me some Errol Flynn!! I always say we do this for the kid out there and the kid inside us all. I am never going to grow up. Funny story about how it came about….I played my Dad – Captain Henry Morgan Esquire for Halloween one year and it was so popular I was asked to do it at faire. People I knew had no idea it was me. Playing a guy for one night isn’t a big deal but if you continue to do so –it takes a lot of research to pull it off correctly – you have to study the mannerisms, the walk, the talk et al. The costume had to be custom made with extra shoulders and big to hide the chest. In fact I was hired on by a talent agency to play Captain Morgan at various bar gigs. It was all really very interesting and fun but I got tired of wearing the makeup and wanted a strong female character. So at my annual Halloweenie party – we were informed by our friends that there was a new Lundegard guild starting up …called aptly the Guild of St Errol – the privateers guild. I of course had to have #42. At that moment I became the daughter of Henry and the ship’s doctor….officially Morgan Ramirez aka Doc – crew of the Scarlet Harlot – International Fellowship of Privateers.
Q
What made you want to be the Lord of Lake Huron?
A: Well when we were crafting the legend – there are five lakes of Michigan so each Lord needs to have a lake – an ambassador of sorts…an emissary if you will. I grew up off of Lake St Clair which is the smaller part of Lake Huron. Since the Count and I created the mythos, we got first dibs.
Q
Q
A: Lords tend to keep the peace amongst the crews handle any disputes – negotiate alliances. We handle the politics of planning events and managing people. The Brethren has an orientation for the pirates that work the events and we train pirates to perform at events depending on the nature of that particular event. Event planning is an integral part – so we do create events – some work – some don’t – we determine the location that is best suited to house the events and which pirates should manage said events. We try very hard to keep the drama at a minimum and only get involved in crew politics if necessary. We study our pirates and determine who is best suited to lead and tutor them in how to manage people. This is how we nominate captains. The captains choose their own crew with some recommendations from us when asked for input. We encourage crews to grow and help give advice. Another duty is being larger than life – that was a major requirement for the position – ask yourself – who can hold the room’s attention and be the host or m/c of the event. This year we hope to have a meeting of registered captains towards the end of the year and get the captains ideas on how to plan ahead for the future.
A:The Booty store sells Brethren merchandise but our newest venture is the Brethren Armoury which sells all manner of weapons.
What are the duties of being a pirate Lord consist of?
Q
Do you have a ship of your own and do you have a picture to share of it?
A: The legend is my Da aka Henry Morgan had the Dutchmen build me a ship called the Sea Queen she can be crewed by the original 12 but can house many more. She is a corvette a three masted sloop of war – built out of Lebanon Cedar renown for being the wood that the toredo worms of the Caribbean do NOT like to gorge themselves on – in fact they hate it. The bow and keel are plated in thin sheets of copper and cuts through the water easily. She has at least 8 rail guns at any time and 14 cannon. She ain’t the biggest of the fleet but she sure be easy to maneuver.
Q
What do you like the most about going to the events and what is one of your favorite so far?
A: We love all the events we attend otherwise we wouldn’t go to them. My favorites are Michigan Renaissance Festival as it is my first love and I can see many of my friends in one place…. it’s also where I met me quartermaster and beloved husband Hookah Joe. I love interacting with people and the kids. St Louis also holds a special spot in my heart because we have vended there since the beginning but I especially love Shiver Me Timbers and Frankenfeast!
Do you vend at the events, if so what might your booth consist of.
Q
What might be our “day job”
A: Hahaha – I am a Safety Director – my forte is transportation Safety but I handle all DOT, OSHA, and EPA matters as well as various taxes and legal matters.
Q
Is there anything you would like to share with our readers?
A: I encourage everyone to share the life of piracy. Come have fun with us and learn a little something too!
FEATURING Captain Ragnar Greybeard
Q
How long have you been into the pirate life?
A: I started performing as Greybeard the pirate about 5 years ago.
Q
: What made you want to be a pirate?
A: I enjoy the carefree spirit that comes with playing this persona...the character has grown to represent a childhood dream realized...not many ppl canvsay that.
Q
: Does your pirate prosoma have a back story?
A: Greybeard is the fictional brother to a less grey bearded pirate...ive based him loosely on that character
Q
Do you have a ship of your own?
A: I dont have a real ship but my charaters ship is named “The 82nds Revenge” which b us in homage to my brothers and sisters in arms.
Q
What might be our “day job”
A: I love to teach a bit of history. My group “The Brotherhood of Steel, Inc” (find us on Facebook) sets up a huge living history encampment and we try to pass on any lessons and knowledge that we have gained. Its hard to pick a favorite faire...we perform at many across the Midwest yearly...im quite fond of my home fair “The Kansas City Renaissance Festival”
Q
: Is there anything you would like to share with our readers?
A: Do what you love and love what you do... and always...be honorable
The Michigan Pirate Festival was my first pirate event. It was a great experience filled with a great community that I have gotten to know better. Talking with the vendors and fellow pirate goers, I learned and felt more welcome to come back again and go to other events. This event leads to many more events and the birth of my crew the Silver Moon Pirates. Michigan Pirate Festival invades Grand Haven August 3-9 Pirates plan “capture” of local citizen during Friday’s sail-in GRAND HAVEN, MI., July 13, 2015 -- Loutit District Library (LDL) and Harbor Island will be the port of swashbuckling, piratical fun for the whole family as the ninth Annual Michigan Pirate Festival invades Grand Haven, August 3-9. With their theme, “Pirates through the Ages,” pirate re-enactors from historical to fantasy personas come from around Michigan and the Mid-West to entertain everyone from young powder monkeys to seasoned buccaneers. The pillaging’ and plundering’ begins August 3 at 9 a.m. when LDL opens. Kids are invited to pick up a treasure map from the chest located at the Library’s Youth Services Area. This treasure map will lead young pirates and their families around downtown Grand Haven in search of fortune. Visit www.loutitlibrary.org, this year’s home port for festival events. New this year is the “friendly abduction” of a city dignitary during the sail-in on Friday, August 7 at 6 p.m. as the pirates hold their victim for ransom throughout the night. Everyone is invited to bailout
their captive during a public meet and greet at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 20 N. 2nd St., Grand Haven. The band McSpillin will provide piratical music. Adults may purchase beverages provided by The Eagles. There is a $5 cover charge with a silent auction of donated items from local businesses throughout the evening with the funds going to ransom their captive. The pirates will donate the proceeds to the Waterfront Stadium Project. For an exact location on the waterfront for Friday’s pirate sail-in, visit www.loutitlibrary.org prior to the event. During the weekend, the pirate festival moves to Harbor Island on Coho Drive with family activities from Saturday, August 8 through Sunday, August 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days. Admission is $5 for adults. Children under 13 years old are free.
MPF is sponsored by the Brethren of the Great Lakes and LDL. Festival brochures may be picked up at the Loutit District Library, 407 Columbus Avenue, Grand Haven, and Michigan, during normal business hours, otherwise visit or www. loutitlibrary.org. Loutit District Library is located at 407 Columbus Avenue in Grand Haven, Michigan. LDL serves 35,540 residents of the City of Grand Haven, the City of Ferrysburg, Grand Haven Charter Township, Robinson Township and that part of Port Sheldon Township in the Grand Haven Area Public School District. LDL offers a collection of over 145,581 items and provides educational, informative, cultural, and recreational programs for all ages. LDL is a member of the Lakeland Library Cooperative.
The following is a list of characters, events and activities for Saturday and Sunday on Harbor Island. Entertainment by: • • • • • •
Thee Bluebeard Gypsy Raqs Bocca Musica Drunk N Sailor Wonder Elixir of Life Morgan’s Privateer Pub provided by the Grand Haven VFW • Members of the Brethren of the Great Lakes • Jackie Sparrow • Crew of the Laughing Corpse
Admiral Morgan, on the Morning News to spred the word on the Festival
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Thank you all for checking out another month of Great Lake Pirates. Look forward to September’s!