Inside the mind of MooNiE the Magnif'Cent

When he speaks, it's almost strange to hear his voice.

See, MooNiE the Magnif'Cent at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Bristol Wis., does five shows a day while hardly saying a word.

Instead, the veteran of the faire located just over the border, five minutes from Antioch, uses a slew of whistling, pointing and strange noises to get people to do his bidding.

Mundelein resident Phil Johnson, the real man behind the faire's MooNiE, says it's that strange dynamic of communication between him and "volunteers" that keeps his act fresh.

And, because of it, his act has become a favorite of renaissance faires throughout the United States.

"The people I bring up onstage are the wild card in the whole thing," Johnson, 47, said. "It's the way they interact in front of the audience - and the way they interact with me - that keeps the act completely fresh. It's different every time because of the people."

To clarify, though, they may be called "volunteers," but they are more pushed into helping onstage after being selected. Johnson slaps the volunteer on the shoulder while saying "ding," walks up onstage, and waits for the person to join him.

Then, the veteran actor of 17 years uses whistles, funny noises and pantomime to get people to do his bidding, oftentimes with hilarious results.

When he wants his volunteer to lift a drum up to their knees, he pantomimes the movement while using a funny noise. If the volunteer doesn't understand the movements, Johnson does it over and over until the person gets it - or gets sat back down.

"The format of the show is usually the same, but the audience is what takes it in one direction or the other," he said. "I just do it and go along with how the audience reacts."

That may be the case, but it doesn't hurt that the show is built around Johnson's amazing dexterity and unusual talent for juggling, spitting Ping-Pong balls into the air, or walking a tight rope while juggling fire.

And he does it all while making the audience laugh.

"(Guitarist) Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine called me back in 1981 - when I was 17 years old - and said there were auditions going on for the faire," he said, explaining how he broke into the business. "I auditioned for the apprentice program and I made it. I learned how to juggle during that apprenticeship."

Johnson built and refined his act through the years, adding new tricks along the way and developing a large following while performing in the streets of Bristol.

His popularity forced the owners of the faire to take notice and hand him the keys to one of the main stages - The Globe Stage.

From there, Johnson began taking his act across the United States, traveling to numerous faires and displaying his talents. This year alone he has been to renaissance faires in North Carolina, Louisiana and St. Louis, and plans to travel to California and Minnesota.

But, as the Mundelein resident tells his audience members at the end of his act, Bristol is where he calls home.

"So far, it's been going good," he said. "Honestly, the show keeps getting better and better, my audience is still there and are happy and laughing when they walk away."

Audiences do seem to love him, constantly laughing at his antics despite seeing the act time and time again.

"He is absolutely amazing," said Naperville resident Amy Miller, 53. "I've been here about eight times and I've seen him every time. It's always is the best show of the day."

Johnson said he will be at the Bristol faire through Sept. 5, spending a portion of the last four weekends doing improvisational comedy with his longtime partner, Broon.

"He's my favorite person to perform with," Johnson said. "It's all improv, so it's fresh and new material every time we walk out onstage. You'll just never know what will happen."

For details about the Bristol Renaissance Faire and showtimes for MooNiE's act, check out the faire's website at renfair.com/bristol or Johnson's own website, philipearl.com.