thefairweatherbelle: Recent Episodes
Shane Portman
A collection of sepia-tinted tall tales that follow a malleable character on his journey through the early 20th century. Each story is musically scored by a different guest musician.
The boundary between knowledge and assumption can be so subtle that we can’t see the difference. But, an occasional perfectly-timed toss of a stone can hit that wall just right and shatter it.
This is the story of Allister’s little cousin Benny and his perfectly timed toss.
And, as always, feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided.
Written & Performed by Shane Portman
Music Composed by Joe Stile
Directed by Sam Rhodes
It's not always wise to take candy from strangers. But, who wants to always be wise? An adventure is an adventure. And Allister was never one to turn down an adventure.
And, as always, feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided.
Written & Performed by Shane Portman Music Composed by JC Brooks Directed by Sam Rhodes
Allister had an array of shadows and this is the story about each and everyone of them.
And, as always, feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided.
Written & Performed by Shane Portman Music Composed by Parry Adams
Directed by Sam Rhodes
When two people first meet, it's always an unpredictable concoction of spontaneous connecting, random pausing and aimless floundering.
And it was just like that on the fateful day when I first met Allister.
And, as always, feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided.
Written & Performed by Shane Portman
Music by John Alsop
Directed by Sam Rhodes
When dealing with fear, whether it comes in the form of assumed fear (an assumed "haunted" house) or actual fear (an actual haunted house), it is always important to have a plan.
This is the story of Allister's plan.
And, as always, feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided.
Written & Performed by Shane Portman
Music by Annabel (lee) & Richard E
Directed by Sam Rhodes
Love is not a very easy concept to understand. In fact, one could argue that it's not meant to be understood at all. But....if one wanted to understand it, one could (as Allister did) start by trying to love a tomato.
And, as always, feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided.
Written & Performed by Shane Portman
Music by Khary Laurent (aka KFJacques)
Directed by Sam Rhodes
With a name like Allister Cromley, you are bound to be mistaken for a certain early 20th century English occultist.
This is a story of how and why Allister came to an understanding with this discrepancy (among others).
And, as always, feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided.
Written & Performed by Shane Portman
Music by Tim Amos
Directed by Sam Rhodes
As the calendar ends and the world stares and waits for the clock's second hand to hit the year's final midnight, there is much anticipation. It could be anxiously joyful or anxiously...well...anxious.
But, whether one likes it or not, a change is coming.
This is the story of the turn of a century, a love of the past, a fear of the new and Allister's family waiting in a cellar.
And, as always, feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided.
Written & Performed by Shane Portman
Music by Scott Emerson
Directed & Edited by Sam Rhodes
The holidays are traditionally a time of...well...tradition. And tradition has a habit of bringing nostalgia with it. And nostalgia has the dual powers of being either warming or isolating.
This is the story about Allister, his holiday memories, a particularly cold and lonely winter and the visit of a little friend. And, as always, feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided.
Performed by Shane Portman & Ruth Gamble
Music by Adam LeBlanc
Directed & Edited by Sam Rhodes
Written by Shane Portman
There are times in one's life where one finds one self somewhere with nary a recollection of how one got there.
With nothing but the feel of a punch and the wafting scent of alcohol to give him clues, this was one of those experiences for Allister. And, as always, feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided.
Written & Performed by Shane Portman
Music by Skulk, The Hulking
Directed & Edited by Sam Rhodes
On October 29th of 1929, the stock market crashed in New York City. Many people did many things in desperation. But, this is the story of what Allister did.
And it is also the story of what a squirrel did.
And, as always, feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided.
Written & Performed by Shane Portman
Music by No'a Winter Lazerus
Directed & Edited by Sam Rhodes
Allister is eerily abducted by a crew of gangly-fingered aliens while fishing. He is poked, prodded, and left feeling like little more than a specimen. But, in the end, was the experience all that bad?
And, as always, feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided
Written & Performed by Shane Portman
Music by Saviour Self
Directed & Edited by Sam Rhodes
Allister combats a rather persistent nosebleed the only way he knows how-by relying on the classic pages of Leo Tolstoy, Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo, and the ancient art of origami.
And, while listening (or even afterwards), feel free to visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided
Written & Performed by Shane Portman
Music by Jon Allyn
Directed & Edited by Sam Rhodes
While visiting his childhood home, Allister reluctantly comes to accept the relentless advancement of modernity . . . but not before making a few changes.
Now, while listening, why don't we go visit www.FairWeatherBelle.com for some merriment and tea*.
*Tea not necessarily provided
Written & Performed by Shane Portman
Music by Mark August Spitznagel (Banjo), Martin Spitznagel (Piano), and Amanda Gookin (Cello)
Directed & Edited by Sam Rhodes