Arts & Entertainment

Mischief Leads To Role At Renaissance Faire

Improv artist Jon Verkler is in his second season as part of the Bristol Renaissance Faire Fantastikals.

Auditioning for the Bristol Renaissance Faire started out as a joke for Jon Verkler of Libertyville.

“I had never been to a renaissance fair before, and I thought it would be goofy based on popular movies that portray it as a dorky, embarrassing place to be,” Verkler said. “I thought, ‘How funny it would be to get my friends to do this?’ ”

He texted all his friends, but only he showed up for the audition.

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“I did an open audition and was hoping to get a part as a nameless peasant who bales hay and talks in a funny accent,” Verkler said.

Verkler was surprised to get the role of Puck, part of the Fantastikals, a group of fae (or fairies) who gracefully wander through the fair interacting nonverbally with visitors. They are very popular with children.

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Verkler said the Fantastikals are a selective movement group and actors are required to have a dance background.

He asked the director if she was sure he was the right person and she told him he would make a good Puck because he was fearless.

Being selected as Puck was not the only surprise when Verkler joined the renaissance fair cast in 2010. He also discovered that his perceptions of renaissance fairs were wrong.

“It was such a 180 of what I thought. There are a lot of professional people; all the performers are topnotch. I went there thinking it was a joke and left with a life-changing experience,” Verkler said.

Verkler, 22, a graduate of Libertyville High School, got interested in improv acting while a student at Beloit College. He also graduated from the Conservatory, an advanced improv program at Second City in Chicago.

“Life at the fair is nonstop improv. You keep making things up all day,” Verkler said.

Verkler, a talkative person, believes performing as a Fantastikal has helped build his acting skills.

“You’re not talking your head off; you’re not constantly chattering. You have to interact with people in a whole different way. I’ve taken that to heart and can apply it to scenes, being aware of my body and eye contact,” he said.

The Fantastikals are popular with children and the story is that only children can see them. Of the group, Puck is the most likely to interact with teenagers and adults.

“I’m the only guy. I have horns and I end up making more kids cry. Little kids either hate me, they’re afraid of me or they’re all about me,” Verkler said.

He finds the interaction fun and fulfilling, whether he is acting mischievous and playing pranks or making a connection to individuals.

“We interact through movement connect with people on a whole different level. The most rewarding parts are when you’re interacting with a child or elderly couple, a handicapped person or someone who doesn’t speak English. We’re able to communicate with them so much more fully than the rest of the fair,” Verkler said.

Check Patch for more Renaissance Faire coverage.


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