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The "Have You Met?" series introduces you to some of the people who make Faire a joy!

Have you met Emrys Fleet?

The white rose attached to his garb alerted the children that he held a clue in the quest. When they asked, he agreed but named as his price a riddle or joke. The youngsters ranged in age from three to ten and their mothers played along. An older child tried the old, “Are you smart? Spell it” joke and he chuckled, said “I T,” and took their clue sheets to cross out several lines. Standing, he took the ferret marionette, looped the line around his staff, and made it dance a jig for them, then sent them on their way. Let me introduce you to Emrys Fleet, The Rat Catcher.

Emrys, officially Jim Greene, of Dryden, New York, began performing at Renaissance and Medieval faires in 1980 when a friend got a job making costumes for the new show in Largo, Florida. Knowing that Jim had recently returned to St Pete and was not working full time, she called and suggested that he come out to a party she was hosting for those involved. She enticed him with the tidbit that Michael Marzella, who Jim knew and respected from working together at the St Pete Times, would play the king. During the party, the promoters encouraged Jim to come down and talk to them about being in the show.

Every faire needs street characters and, while lamp lighter and fishmonger didn’t strike a chord with him, the mention of Rat Catcher was intriguing. Jim thought a Halloween character based on Aqualung which he had recently done might fit right in, so he put on the makeup—the now well-known green snot, blood running from the ear, and dirty face—for his interview. The character was a hit and Jim’s Renaissance and medieval character, the Rat Catcher Emrys Fleet, was born.

In addition to performing as Emrys around the country, Jim and his wife, Tracey, own a production company, Scarlett Rat Entertainment, offering entertainment for corporate events and specialized shows. They produce a Dickens Show in Skaneateles, New York, during the winter holiday season with Jim portraying Charles Dickens. At Halloween, they provide production services to the Rosamund Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York, putting on Zoo Boo, a kooky spooky family event with interactive characters. Tracey gets many praises from Jim for handling things while he is gone so much, saying, “I couldn’t do any of this without her, she’s awesome.”

While Jim has taken acting classes, worked for Disney in Orlando, and done some movies and television, he credits Gary Izzo, long time Artistic Director of the Sterling Renaissance Festival, as the greatest help to his improvisational skills. The way that Gary explained the theory and formula of improv made sense to Jim and he works daily to exercise the brain muscles needed to “be” the character, not just act it.

Though performing is a job, Jim told me he couldn’t imagine a better way to make a living. It’s the opportunity to make a difference in peoples’ lives that keeps him going on the occasional difficult days. People sometimes stop him after a show and tell him what has been happening in their lives, then comment that through him they have been able to laugh a bit. It’s the awareness that sometimes he can take someone out of their trouble for just a few minutes—maybe for the first time in a long time—and offer some humor to lighten their mood in times of trouble that keeps it worth it.

Of course, with a character like the Rat Catcher, puppets, pelts, pouches, and a pucking stick are necessary accoutrements to fill out the character. With that many props, keeping track of things and having them on hand when needed can be a trial. It is hard to put on a puppet show or puck a rat that is not with you. Through the years, Greene has learned to clean and set up all his items in one location the immediately following faire. Now days, he seldom is caught without something, but “stuff” still happens.

Many faire goers avidly follow rat pucking, a game invented by Danny Lord and now exclusively owned by Jim. During a recent Rat Pucking tournament, I watched Emrys shepherd the puckers along the fairway toward the goal, a large stuffed mouse. Using a pucking stick, typically a bamboo pole with a notch cut in the end, beanbag rats fly in to the air in the direction of the target to the calls of, “Clear the furway” and “Cheese.” Puckers young and old participate, all seeking to win the coveted Scarlett Rat.

He once had a young boy who wanted to puck but had no rat. Always prepared, he reached in to his pouch for a loaner rat but found that the only thing he had not sold was the scarlet rat that would be the prize for winning the tournament. Not wanting to disappoint the youngster, Jim set him up at the starting point beside the small lake, carefully adjusting the angle of the puck to ensure that the rat went down the furway. Immediately following the call of “Cheese” the brilliantly colored rat flew straight up and over their shoulders, landing in the center of the lake. There was no harm done, the crowd cheered the youngster, and the game continued. “After all,” says Jim, “it’s just a piece of rug and a bootlace.”

Each faire is special, offering different furways and new audiences to please and Greene says that’s all that matters. You can catch the Rat Catcher Show starting February 23 in Tampa at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival. After that, he will possibly do guest appearances at the Colorado Renaissance Festival and Scarborough Faire. Then it is on to Sterling Renaissance Festival where he is also a show director. Maryland Renaissance Festival is also in the works.

Winding down the interview, I asked for one thing to pass on to the readers. Jim shared his favorite saying, the words he uses to close each of Emrys’ shows: “Embrace the day, it is a gift. That is why we call it the present.”

Websites of Emyrs Fleet included in this article:

The Rat Catcher Emrys Fleet
Scarlett Rat Entertainment

February 6th, 2008 Posted by | Have You Met? | 6 comments

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6 Comments »

  1. Comment by Wenchie | February 7, 2008

    Jim was the first performer I met when I first went to BARF in Largo. I always look for him for a hug and a smile.
    OK, Esc, if I may add a small story on his quick wit?

    I was sitting front row with Mark at the pub sing. Emrys handed me his mug to hold when he went onstage. I was looking for something in my pouch so I put Emrys’ mug between my knees while I continued to search.

    Emrys shouted out, “Thanks for keeping my mug warm, darlin’!”

    That’s just the kind of guy he is!


  2. Comment by Escarlata | February 18, 2008

    Thanks for adding the story, Wenchie, comments are always welcome.

    Emrys was a hoot to interview, we laughed throughout it. He even told me the secret to winning the coveted scarlet rat *chuckling*


  3. Pingback by FaireNews.com - Sharing the Joy of Faire!! | July 10, 2008

    […] old favorites and bringing in some new acts. It should be interesting to see how it all turns out. Emrys Fleet and Bob DaVinci will both be there, stop by and tell them Hi! If you’ve never seen Manolete or […]


  4. Comment by Escarlata | November 25, 2008

    One of Emrys/Jim’s other projects, Dickens Christmas held annually in Skaneateles, New York, was the subject of an article I read this week (yea, a little late but better than never). Check it out, I think you’ll enjoy reading about the 15th Anniversary of Dickens Christmas.


  5. Comment by Larry Alspaugh | March 2, 2010

    We’ve known and enjoyed Jim since the early 80s. Such a delightful entertainer. Three generations later, we are still laughing and more than ever. Lokking foward to seeing himin Tampa this season. Many thanks. Larry and Bobbi


  6. Comment by Escarlata | March 2, 2010

    Hi, Larry & Bobbi; welcome to FaireNews. Jim was one of my earliest interviews and such a delight. He had the patience of Job as he answered my questions. I’ve forwarded your comments on to him because I know he will enjoy them. Have a great in Tampa and, who knows, maybe … we’ll see you at Faire!


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