Whither Pudding?
Many times this past summer gleaming and dazed patrons would stumble up to us Pitside and ask in sincere, slurred concern, "Hey, where's Figgy Pudding?"

Yes, Figgy Pudding, truly a beggar of legend, a pillar of the modern Mud Show®, an audience fave at the Bristol, New England and Texas Renaissance Festivals for nigh on two decades… the strikingly visual beggar also known as "Mr. Clean," "Little Debby," and "Jesse Ventura's Stunt Double." Figgy Pudding is a fixture of the show, and suddenly there is a sucking void where he once perched. He was not struck from our roster by scheming nor free will, rather, it was a little thing they call open heart surgery. Quadruple bypass, that is.

Now if that don't age the show and his compatriots, nothing will. Yes, dear old Figgy had been in less than stellar health for some time but still able to bound up on the Mud Pit and entertain the seething throngs, but then, right prior to the start of the 2002 season, wholly unexpected lightning struck: his fellow mud-men received word from his wife (yes, sorry ladies, he's married) that our long-time comrade had been suddenly felled when a suspicious medical specialist ran some stress tests, exclaimed loudly and immediately threw Figgy upon the nearest table and cracked him open like a big bald lobster. OWWIE! Some would question making light of such serious surgical circumstances, but what can you do in the face of daunting fate? We are but silly beggars after all, and good news followed… Figgy came through the unexpected surgery just fine and has been in slow physical rehabilitation since. Later in the season, Sparky Maggot, Fitzhugh Nicely and the other boyos at Bristol organized a little benefit and raised some scratch to aid Figgy and his lovely wife in the aftermath of his unforeseen removal from his well-worn Pit stump. In the meantime, he works to recover and get back to fighting trim as soon as possible.

SO good folks and fans, take care of yourselves and get your tickers tested whenever you might question their status. From the mightiest king to the lowliest beggar, we are all subject to the whims of fate and the state of our arteries. We all missed Figgy over the course of this last season and hope to see him back someday… in the meantime, please beam good thoughts in his general direction and never forget his inimitable presence at the Mud Pit, and if you are so inclined, you could send a message wishing him well - it would be a much appreciated gesture. Send any Get Better Figgy e-mails to Figgy@mudshow.com and we'll see that he receives them. Bless you, Mister Pudding, and lay off them Italian Beefs, for all of us. Thanks.