Lunch Review: Food has always been an integral part of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (PRF). The smoky drippings of a turkey leg, a gigantic pickle on a stick, and lukewarm soup trapped inside a day-old bread bowl: these are the classics that have stood the test of time. I believe it was Marie Antoinette who famously said, “Let them eat cake, while I eat my turkey legge.” As this week’s theme is Heroes and Villains, it is our duty to find you the heroic sustenance that will defeat the evil villain that is hunger.
1:30 p.m.
The trick to eating at the Renaissance Faire is to keep it simple. Year after year, Lotti and I have sworn by the chicken fingers and fries basket. Located at the Public House next to the Hart Inn stage, this has always been our favorite for both the taste and the price, with a hearty dose of appreciation for the sauces and topping choices offered at this stand. (Take heed, traveler!) Unfortunately, the Shire is not immune to the tariffs sweeping the new world. What was once a great deal of $12 for a basket of four delicious tenders and fries has now risen to $15 for three tenders and some fries. Avast! 'Twould seem the evil villain of Inflation has run afoul (afowl?) of Mount Hopeshire.
In search of a hearty meal, we ventured toward Little Bavaria, where we stopped for our first time this season at the Divine Schwein for a pulled pork sandwich. At $10 for just the sandwich, this is not a bad price comparatively. Luckily, Ax had the forethought to grab a few Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ packets from the failed trip to the Public House so that we were able to get a little saucy with our sandwich. One thing we suggest when eating at the PRF: if you have a fellow traveler with you, it is always best to split food. Not only is this cost-conscious, but it also allows you to try several different options during your stay at the Shire.
Now back to the pulled pork. It was pretty good. The bun was small (which is not a bad thing, as we have noticed over the years that Sundays are the day of the day-old bread), but the portion of meat was abundant and using those pilfered BBQ packets made for a very good lunch. Add in a trip to the famous and always reliable Fry by Knight stand up the hill (one must burn off those calories somehow, amiright?) for a generous and fresh serving of fries for $6, and you have a hearty meal for two with only spending one more dollar than one would have spent having surrendered to the sham that is this year's chicken tenders and French fries basket.
Near the Shire intersection leading toward Little Bavaria is a nice, shaded area with picnic tables for you to enjoy your feast. An alternative to the pulled pork would be a tasty cheeseburger acquired from the New World Inn (behind the Globe Stage). For $11, it’s a juicy burger and though a tad bland, another good value by comparison, though it should be noted that fries are not included in this price. (Blast thee, Inflation!)
Now, if thou truly has a hankering for that celebrated and oft-photographed leg of turkey, then Lotti has quite the hack for you. At $15, the turkey legge is a standard, and one should partake at least once a year. Lotti suggests that before leaving one's dwelling, take with oneself a piece of aluminum foil. After those first few juicy legge bites, when thou art trying to juggle drinking a frosty beer from thy mug and a giant leg of a bird, thou might want a break. Thou can simply wrap that turkey legge in the foil and stash it in thy inside cloak pocket for later. (What, you don’t have a cloak? You better get one, posthaste!) When the time comes to reunite with your savory shank, swing by the Public House, pocket a few of those BBQ packets from our hero Sweet Baby Ray, and voila, it's as good as fresh!
1 p.m.
Feeling nourished and adventurous, our next stop is the Boarshead Inn stage for Trial & Dunke. Enroute we stop at O’Malley’s Pourhouse. A hidden little bar amongst the trees and bushes behind O’Malley's Stage and across from the Treetop Stage, there is rarely a line and the barmaids are some of the nicest you will encounter among the Shire. We keep with the stout as its hints of coffee and chocolate make it one of the best options in the early hours of the day.
Mugs of ale once again in hand, we ready ourselves for our first time seeing Trial & Dunke. The Boarshead Stage is not merely a stage but a large set piece resembling an actual inn complete with stairs, balcony, and a tavern area. The shows tend to take advantage of this large structure and usually include lots of running around with actors chasing each other through the swinging doors, Benny Hill style (an English classic). As inferred by the name, this a water immersion act as evidenced by not a dunk tank, but more of a small, inground pool (the tank) with a chair overhanging it (the dunk).
Ax is glad to see that the Queen has dismissed the Mud Squad from years past, as he deeply hated that act for reasons not legally obligated to discuss here. However, he is still quite skeptical of water-based comedy acts. Drawing a pretty large crowd, this show is a pretty classic Renaissance Faire-type show in that it breaks down that typical theatre boundary between the audience and the performers. It relies heavily on crowd participation, including picking volunteers to participate. The show started off with four silent performers adorned with red clown noses skulking around the set. Much like Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton in silent films, the vagabonds play jokes on each other, investigate the inn and even discover a skeleton at the bottom of the tank, all while silent.
I actually liked this part of the show best. I thought the actors had good physical comedy and when almost every other show includes non-stop talking, singing or chanting, it's nice to switch the tone up a bit even if it's for just a few minutes. Soon though, our actors are caught “red nosed”(?) by the Bailiff and Sheriff of the Shire. One by one, the accused are brought forth in front of the audience while some bogus charge is declared, then the audience is asked for our verdict of Guilty or Innocent. A guilty verdict will send the accused to the chair, where the bailiff will send the poor soul dunking into the murky waters of the tank. Unfortunately, an innocent verdict may have the same result.
One of the more interesting and best parts of this show was when the actors broke into a fight with some of the captives escaping all in slow motion. The physicality of this stunt was pretty great with some of them running in slow motion off the stage and into the crowd, while others chased each other up a staircase and through the stage doors. At a short 23 minutes, this Trial & Dunke performance doesn’t require much investment, but is a pleasant and at times well-acted show. Due to the brevity of Trial & Dunke, Ax and Lotti can squeeze in one more viewing into this hour.
Luckily, Ax's favorite musical group at the PRF is making their debut this weekend! We head back to the Hart Inn stage for the Burly Minstrels. Armed with an acoustic guitar, a violin, and upright bass, the Burly Minstrels' performances are all at once beautiful, fun, and even haunting. At today's performance they feature a special guest in Luke the Cellist (formerly known as Rowan the Bowin’), a PRF mainstay and one of Lotti and Ax’s favorite PRF performers. (Check out his solo album, You Had Me at Cello, on your preferred streaming channel.)
Eschewing the comedy and schtick of other musical performers, the Burly Minstrels are a hidden musical gem in the Shire. From folk, to Americana, to modern songs, they will ease your soul and make you glad to be in the moment. A highlight of this set is a soothing rendition of Sean Hayes’s "Flowering Spade," a favorite song of Lotti's. Feeling centered and refreshed, we emerge from this musical oasis with our sights set on the second hour of mid-day.
Bonus: Getting into Character
This week’s theme is Heroes and Villains, and to be honest dear readers, it is not a favorite of Lotti and Ax. Circa Halloween 2012 when the first Avengers dropped, most of the costumes are Marvel/DC superheroes or Disney characters. We could simply watch one of the four hundred Marvel/DC universe movies to prepare, but we don’t roll like that.
For this week, Ax switched things up and went with the musical inspiration of American doom metal band, Khemmis. Formed in 2012 by sociology doctorate students, Khemmis’s music and accompanying visualizations tell the ultimate story of good vs. evil, hero vs. villain. Across four albums and told in a non-linear way (much like the Witcher series), Khemmis's songs tell the story of a necromancer who seeks to avenge the death of his village against an evil entity. In addition to battling villainous forces, the hero grapples with self-doubt at time and doing the right thing, though ultimately perseveres. Like all classic heroic tales, sometimes the greatest foe we face are ourselves. With an emotional depth that transcends fantasy and resembles the real-life struggles we all face each day, and with a heavy yet melodic musical approach, Khemmis will make you feel resilient and confident as you head out to the battleground of the Shire.
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