As we stumble out of the dark and crowded Pyrate Ship, narrowly defeated in wits but victorious in fun, we find ourselves instantly transported to another land. Gone are the wizards and witches of yet another hour passed, to be replaced by the kilt-adorned clansman of the British Isles. For it is now the first weekend known as Shamrocks and Shenanigans at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (PRF)! In this hour's installment, Ax and Lotti will provide an update on some Celtic highlights from this festival weekend, as well as reviews of the Chess Match, Hob the Troll, and a final performance of the legendary Don Juan and Esmeralda.
Mere yards from the Pyrate Ship sounded the Celtic cacophony of bagpipes and the thunderous beat of Bodhran drums. Scots and Irish bond over stouts. It is no wonder that this is often a sold-out weekend at PRF as the vibe of day shifts from Renaissance Faire to Celtic festival. One of the biggest draws for this themed weekend is the music, as PRF tends to book well-known Celtic bands. This weekend's top musical act is the South Carolina band Syr, who easily filled up the Globe Stage for all three shows. Though it may be confusing at first to see how the Celtic theme fits with the overall culture of the Renaissance Faire, there is a solid connection between the two. Traditional Celtic music shares many similarities with what might be described as typical Renaissance faire music, including being played on simple and sometimes handmade instruments, as well participatory engagement with the audience (clapping, stomping, or singing along). In the early days of the American Renaissance Fairs (specifically those in California), the fairs provided not only a venue but also validation to the small community of muaicians who played Renaissance period music. Mostly academics who did not play outside their university walls, the musicians specializing in instruments and music from the days of yore were welcomed at these fairs, a product of the counterculture movement at the time. Within only a few years, more of these niche musical stylings started popping up at the faires, which were becoming known as places outside the musical and societal mainstream. Celts, kilts, and kindred cultures all collide at the Renaissance Faire. Huzzah!
4 p.m.
Despite not having the luck of the Irish with us for pub trivia, we decide to catch the Chess Match at the Chess Board for our next event at the hour of four. We are hoping that the mental dexterity of trivia followed by chess will counterbalance the ales that will fill our cups. (Pawn to Barkeep: another round, please!)
Now dear readers, there is good news for those who are not aficionados of the Game of Kings. Truth be told, Ax himself is not schooled in the black (and white) arts of the checked board. Luckily, this performance (and yes, this is very much a performance) requires no prerequisite. This is hands-down one of the highlights of the entire day. Lady Arabella Stuart and King James VI of Scotland, whom we met earlier in the morning at the Queen’s Court, face off against each other as Queen Elizabeth herself presides over the match. The “pieces” on the board, which is a manicured lawn adjacent to Avalon Hill, are comprised of various Shire characters including members of the Rogues, Sirens, Royal Guards, and even the Jousting Knights. With ample seating along the beautiful grassy knoll neighboring the Endgame Stage, this performance provides a shady respite from the heat.
As Lady Arabella and King James VI command the “pieces” against each in an effort to take them off the board, plenty of dueling, hand-to-hand wrestling, and trickery ensues. In an effort to prevent any spoilers, all we will say is it is hard to capture a Queen when she becomes a player! We highly recommend this event. Not only do we see some of the lesser-known villagers of the Shire show off their physical acting chops, but we get a great performance featuring Sir Lilith and other knights off of their horses and fiercely competing.
Dear Shire Spectator readers, unfortunately, we have some bad news. As you know, Lotti and Ax often lead you down the path less traveled with this blog in hopes of sharing with you some of the best-kept secrets of the Shire. However, we humbly admit that the road most traveled can at times be most traveled for a reason. In all our years of attending this wonderful oasis of mirth, there have been two shows that we have neglected to see, both of which are mainstays at PRF. Luckily, we were able to see both this past weekend and must report out.
4:30 p.m.
Though the Chess Match is scheduled for the full hour of the clock, it does not take quite the entire hour, leaving us with plenty of time to scout out a performance of Hob the Troll at O’Malley’s Stage. Often spotted singing and playing guitar on the ground around the misty bridge near the Absinthe Garden, Hob can initially seem obnoxious and silly as he screeches and howls his trollish tunes. However, Ax and Lotti are in fact surprised and delighted to recommend to visitors that they simply must catch a solo performance of Hob. Armed with a ukele and an earnest commitment to the life of a Rennie, Hob radiates positivity and fun as he performs his original songs. He is a troll, though, and is not above slinging a few barbs at the crowd for those not paying attention. One thing that resonated with Ax from his show was Hob's sincere gratitude for the audience as he stated, “This is the last bastion of vaudeville, these actors singing and dancing, and you came out here today to support this. Thank you.”
4 p.m. Limited Feature
The second act that we finally saw (and unfortunately is one of their last ever) was the Don Juan and Esmeralda show at the Globe Stage. Another mainstay act, Don Juan has been performing at Renaissance faires since the late 1970s and has been doing this specific show with his daughter, Esmeralda, for more than 20 years! It is rare to see such comedic rapport and chemistry between two actors in a show.
Food Review
This week we venture to Macbeth’s for their always popular Mac n’ Cheese. There are always two options: traditional and “special.” Today’s special is: Pizza… It was Macbeth who stated: “I am not a man to be afraid of anything.” But I doubt "anything" included Pizza Mac n’ Cheese. So, we went with the traditional. For around $8, one receives a meager, $3 scoop of mac with a hearty helping of white cheddar cheese topped with parmesan. The flavor is very good; however, the deficit in pasta leaves one with so much extra cheese sauce. Unless thou wishes to sit at the adjacent picnic tables eating cheese with a spoon like some sort of gooey street urchin, we suggest you head to the Fry by Knight food stand to procure some of the Shire's best fries. By Merlin’s beard, you now have cheese fries! (Ax and Lotti divide and conquer, with one of us going to get the mac and the other the fries.)
Bonus: Getting into Character
With music being such a big part of the Shamrock and Shenanigans themed week, we take inspiration from a musical act that we love dearly, though surprisingly, they have not made an appearance at the PRF yet this year: Rover’s Way. This wife and husband duo with a clever name, play impeccable traditional Irish songs, often in the Pyrate Ship. For years, Lotti and I would often see them multiple times a weekend, raising our mugs in a communal toast while singing along. Their album The Journey, is a must for getting into a shamrock and shenanigan-ready mood. Rover's Way
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