My name is arica, and I've been a member of Help Me Mommy for the past 4 years. I remember meeting Fester at the Crossroads on my virgin night. He was a very large, intimidating guy, and like most rocky cast members, he could sniff out a shy virgin. I'll never forget him, his amazing Divine impressions, adult diapers, or tiny red panties. The night he died was the hardest night of Rocky Horror I believe anyone had to experience. The four years I knew this man, I wouldn't trade for the world. Not even the times I wanted to strangle him. Every single world in the preceeding articles about him is true. Ed and Shaun knew him well, and I'm honored to even be part of these three fantastic men's lives.
The night he died he was in rare form. On his way backstage, he passed everyone with a big, stupid grin, a wink, and a thumbs-up. I've never seen anyone perform Eddie as well since.
We had to put off doing a memorial show for a week, since our next performance was a Kung-Fu night. But on his mememorial show, we had a row of cast members in all black, holding those self-lighting Uncle Fester light bulbs. During hot patootie, we had a cast member dressed in all black carry around a male blow-up doll with Fester's face plastered on it performing Eddie. We found it very fitting and appropriate. I don't think his family agreed as they left during the scene. Ha ha ha!!! He would've loved that. During dinner scene, when the audience usually chants "his name was robert paulson", our cast to this day still says "his name was derrick dawson." It creeps me out how perfectly that fits. The bastard probably would've planned his death this way if he was given the chance!! xD
I love you, Fester, and miss you everyday. I hate you for going out like this, though. Do you know how hard it is to concentrate on performing when I have stand or pass over the spot where you died?? Bastard.
Much love, you silly fucker,
arica.