1. Historical Facts, as far I can remember them:
Katherine of Aragon was the daughter of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile the "Most Catholic Kings of Spain". Kathy married Henry after her first hubby Arthur (who was also Henry's older brother) died, although quite a few years passed between both events. I'll write more about the historical goings-on during that time later, as they helped to shape Katherine's character and taught her to be patient and endure.
Come back in a few weeks, and you'll read more, I promise!
2. Some thoughts about my portrayal of this Queen:
Again, I'll write more as I can, but for now I'll say that my fist challenge was to develop a suitable pattern of speech for this Spanish princess turned Queen of England.
I came up with an accent for Kathy that's a mixture of Spanish and "old" English. I think it sounds cool, and every time I have played her, I have been approached by Spanish-speaking patrons who ask me questions in their native tongue. Oh, NO!!! (Ha! Naught to fear! Read on.)
Since I happen to be fluent in Spanish myself, the challenge was to respond in "old" Spanish, and with a convincing "Spanish" accent to boot! I think I pulled it off...I got hired twice...and I would've still been Queen if that whore of a witch Boleyn hadn't enchanted my Royal Husband's eyes away from the Truth...to the peril of his eternal soul. ...But I don't blame him. I will love him to the end of my days...he is bewitched, that it all...(can you say DENIAL?)
O.K., so I hope you get the idea. Katherine also has a couple of nice gowns, though I should probably do some more beading on them. I hate hand-sewing...but I'll tell you more about her gowns later, too. Right now you'll have to be content with the pictures. They're worth a thousand words anyway, right?
If you're running or planning to run a Tudor festival where you plan on (like Henry) going through a sucession of Queens, I believe my portrayal of Katherine of Aragon is what you're looking for! Of course, you'll just have to take my word for it until you contact me and find out for yourselves!
3. Forget the intellectual gibberish! Show me the pictures!
