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10 + WATERLOU CHRONICLE + Wednesday, September 12. 2007 t would be nice to be king for a day, Iiusl ask Bernie Roehl. He‘s been King Bertram of Mearth for the last 10 years at the Royal Medieval Faire in Waterloo Park. The wellâ€"known local improv actor was tabbed to be the king of this fairyâ€" tale kingdom 10 years ago by the festiâ€" val‘s founder, Karen Lucas, and it‘s been his most famous local role ever since. "She called me up out of the blue and asked me if I wanted to be king," said Roehl. "I said ahh, sure, hesitating a little bit. "But she told me about the project and it sounded like a lot of fun, and it really was." Now he gets stopped on the streets of Waterloo â€" not by paparazzi or @utograph seekers mind you â€" but by kids of all ages who have been swept away to this magical land every. "I wish I could do it every day of my life," laughed Roeh!, who is still heavily involved with the Kâ€"W Little Theatre and once had an improv show on the local Rogers channel. "It‘s good to be king." But that can be a challenge someâ€" times as they bring up favourite memâ€" ories of the event, and Roehl has to remember all the significant plot lines that have happened over the past decade. "They ask whatever happened to so and so and I have to stay on top of things," he said. "You wouldn‘t want somebody knowing more about the show than you do." It‘s put him on the spot sometimes, but that‘s where all the improv training comes in handy as he once again assumes the veil of the role. "I‘ve got 10 year of memories to draw and over that time a lot of great stuff has happened," said Roekhl, "For me I‘ve always just enjoyed wandering around and interacting with the audiâ€" ence in charactet. "Little kids look at me with wide eyes open and say, ‘Look it‘s the King." They touch the robe and stuff like that â€" it‘s really cool." And it‘s something that families can enjoy together which has Roeh!, and most of the original cast, returning for another season. "It‘s great that we‘ve brought so much joy to so many people," said Roehl. "People have come out year after year." Royal Medieval Faire turns 10 of Runners . . . Not Just End Rolls | * Carpet * Berbers + Laminate * Ceramic * Hardwood ««"<.,| 50 Victoria Street N., Kitchener + 519â€"570â€"2722 [ |â€"â€"2 Thors.â€"Fri. 9â€"9 \ & & & t igiri | Canada‘s largest retail flooring chain‘! fi-fi By Bos VrBanac Chronicle Staff â€" moeassasses9smtrseissranss~s~~ Even the adults are able to suspend belief for one day. And over the years many more people have shown up in costume to be part of this little society of creative anachronism. Knights battle at a past Royal Medieval Faire in Waterloo Park. The annual festival of all things ancient celebrates its 10th anniversary this Saturday. "They let that adult cynicism go for a bit and just be a kid again," he said. The players have also formed a little family of their own, with Roehlt relating how his fictional daughters are now all grown up, married and having children of their own. "We have a real rich back story to the characters," said Roehl. "For instance, in the Kingdom of Mearth my daughters were single as were the actresses who played them. "Now they‘re both married and havâ€" ing kids and we‘ve worked that into the "I wish I could do it every day of my life. It‘s good to be king." â€" Bernie Roeh! King Bertram of Mearth LIFESTYLE story as well. So in a sense the whole cast has become a family of its own." Did Roehl think he‘d still be playing the king 10 years down the line? "After the first couple of years we realized that, yes, this is going to be an ongoing thing," he said. "It‘s going to be something we do every year. "And in some ways it‘s gotten easier because we‘ve learned so much more about how to make it happen." Also a little surprised about the fesâ€" tival‘s longevity is Lucas, who is still the main writer, organizer and booster for the now annual tradition. She started it with a friend named D. J. Carroll thinkâ€" ing it would last a year or two. "We just thought we‘d get through the first year or so, but to all of our surâ€" prises it was a big success," said Lucas. "And after that it had some momenâ€" "We had the same king and queen for the last 10 years, and a lot of the same knights and volunteers. It‘s been really supportive that way." Now she‘s looking to the next decade and not just the 10 years that have passed by so quickly. She‘s got a lot of material to work with. "I like the continuity of it," said CHRON The Area‘s LARGEST Selection Continued on page 1 1 RLE POTO The Crohn‘s and Colitis Foundation of Canada is hosting its Get Educated and Walk event Sepâ€" tember 16 at the University of Waterloo. The fundraiser features a 7.5 km walk, or three laps around the ring road at UW, to bring awareness of Crohn‘s and colitis. Pledge sheets are available, and the top pledge earner will win three platinum seats to a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game. For more ___ information c3hill@sciborg.uwaterl00.ca. The 19th annual Maryâ€"Allen studio tour is set for September 22â€"23 in uptown Waterloo. Stroll through some of Waterloo‘s original neighâ€" bourhoods, visiting local artists in their homes and studios. The Saturday tour starts at 10 a.m. and goes to 5 p.m. Sunday‘s tour starts at noon and goes to 5 p.m _ There is no fee for the tour. For more information call 519â€"743â€"3763 The City of Waterloo‘s Visitor and Heritage Inforâ€" mation Centre is offering fall walking tours of things of historical interest in the uptown core. _ Where it all began with some dodgy dealings: uptown Waterloo runs Sept. 1 1 at 6 p.m. and Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. _ 80 Waterloo Park: jewel of the city runs Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. and Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. _ Brews and beverages: Waterloo‘s past and present watering holes is on Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. and Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. _ The Mary Allen area through the ages: a century of architecture and a bit of the paranormal runs Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. and Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. The Visitor and Heritage Information Centre is at 10 Father David Bauer Dr., next to the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery. All tours cost $3 and run for one to two hours. Group tours can also be booked by calling 519â€" B85â€"2297. offer its heritage walks this fall Walk for Crohn‘s and colitis this Sunday City continues to ryâ€"Allen studio tour starts next week contact