FOLLOW  YOUR  HEART

The Beauty and the Beast 2003 Convention

Myhr (Jamie Murray's feline alter ego) under one of Chandler's gorgeous decorative panels

Friday

First the Con Virgins meet with Shelia and Myhr to get some special attention, their virgin hug, and virgin gifts. Then, we all get into the room for the opening ceremonies. I should have taken notes, it's a bit blurred in my mind. A song from Suze, a speech from Deb,  the whole Con team up on stage, and a lot of emotion, of that I'm sure!.

From left: DebS, SheliaK SuzeH, KarenQ, PatK, CathyM, JoAnnB, Sandy2

Missing: LarryB, Chandler, Lori and.....

This year our guests will be Roy Dotrice (Father), Jay Acovone (Joe Maxwell) David Schwartz (producer) and Jamie "Myhr" Murray, artist and friend of the fandom, whom we'd thought never to see again after his retirement in 2001.

After the ceremonies, a much expected moment: the opening of the dealer's room! Everyone rushes to buy their Con T-shirts (con sweat-shirts will be quite a success, too, SF is kinda chilly!) and rummage through the bins of zines and stacks of pics and art prints,  in search for  treasure troves.

Back in the big room we get to see a couple of Novtek's gorgeous music videos. Then we grab a bite at the buffet and it's time for our International Fan Panel. During an hour, we teach the participants words and lines of the show in our respective languages (Dutch, German, Italian, Japanese, and French) and have them come on stage to play a short scene. They seem to have fun.

Two other panels are taking place almost at the same time: Tunnel Tailers, or how to make your own tunnel clothes, and Chan's Miniature Workshop.

Then another panel we wanted to attend: the Novtek people, Phil, and Ron, tell us how they make their wonderful music videos. When they talk about it it seems so easy...Once you've decided what you want to do, all you need is the right software, the right hardware, and a lot of time! Sigh!

Then it's the Beastrivia, led by JoAnn and Shelia. Together with the candidates, we search our brains for details from the show;

Now what was the name of that lawyer, in Ozymandias?

Roy Dotrice seems to have a lot of fun asking questions.

Sorry, no more pics from Friday. I may have gotten a bit nervous as the Talent Show approached.

After Beastrivia, a first round of autographs, then the rehearsal for tonight's Fandango. We test our skit on Suze, and are somewhat reassured by her reaction (she's in fits).

As we come down with our costumes on, another buffet has been laid out, but I'm too nervous to eat.

First the Costume Parade. Lovely tunnel togs, KG and Don as Robin Hood and Lady Marian, Renee and Lisa as Uncle Sam and the Eagle. I'm sure someone less nervous than I was will post pics of all of them!

Then the talent show starts. And Talent is the right word! KG, Suze, Pixie, Lorraine are wonderful singers! KG's and Suze's duet "Dream" is accurately named, wow! Mycroft's comedy bit is hilarious, at least what I can get of it, for he's talking much too fast for my foreign ears! And for the finale, Judy, Karen and Maranda, this year as "Paracelsus' Hellcats".If I've forgotten anyone, I humbly apologize!

As for our skit...well, it's about Joe (Cecilia), Catherine (me) and a phone call from Joe's Italian Mother and aunt (Sobanme, off-scene). For those interested, you can find the text here. I'll leave it to others to talk about it. I'll just say that we were moved to tears by everyone's reaction. 

Then we get to see a wonderful slide-show, commented by JoAnn, about fandom's history and numerous accomplishments. Clubs, newsletters, conventions, fanfic, art, websites, and more, are evoked in words and pictures. Fascinating!

More fandom history with Betty Neiswender's panel. A true "fandom veteran", she tells us how she got to visit the sets of the show, and how she organized the very first B&B Convention, Tunnelcon. You'll find the details in other Con reports, for by then I'm beginning to be so tired  (jet-lag deprived me of sleep last night) that I can hardly keep my eyes open. Time to go to bed!

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