RENAISSANCE PLEASURE FAIR 1999

 

I try and attend the Renaissance Pleasure Fair every year. This year is the first year the Ren Fair was not located at Black Point Forest in Novato. Instead, it is located closer to home in the orchard behind the NutTree.

I believe they did a great job moving such a large array of people and buildings. While I was there, there was quite a bit of shifting and reorganizing. The elaborate parking area boasted plenty of room for our vehicles but definitely needed markings to remind us where we parked. The custodians of the park were very helpful in helping me find my car again.

There were also other changes this year. The older, more rotund Queen Elizabeth I gave way to a more vital and youthful Queen Elizabeth. I'm sure this is due to the movie that was put out about England's famous queen. In fact, Queen Elizabeth made an appearance in two movies this season. "Elizabeth" and "Shakespeare in Love". She was an awesome presence in both movies and now her likeness at the Renaissance Fair seems to be reflecting a message to all attendants of the festivities. New beginnings.

Ask any one who has attended the fair and you might get a variety of opinions. This is due to the fact that at any one time there are hundreds of events taking place. This year I was only able to attend once so I caught what I could. There was still a huge variety of things to see and (my favorite activity) eat.

This man is one in a troupe who called themselves "Sound and Fury". They did an amusing little spoof called "Romeo and Juliet, the First Draft". They LOOSELY based this comedy of errors on one of our favorite plays while incorporating tidbits from popular films of our time. At one point, Sound or Fury (I'm not sure which one was which) leaped off the stage and encroached upon the personal space of an innocent bystander who happen to be holding a video camera. He began a lamenting rendition of Shakespeare's Blair Witch Project by sobbing into the camera lens. I enjoyed myself here. I thought to sit through this show while waiting for one of my favorites, Suhalias Dance Review. Having taken Middle Eastern Dance, myself, I love to watch others entertain.

To my chagrin, I found out that Suhalia would not be showing her girls at that particular stage, though the program guide stated the opposite. You see, this stage was much too small for all the girls in the show and there wasn't nearly enough room for the audience to sit. Suhalia has quite a following. Instead, they were all moved to the bigger stage. I was lucky to make it to the big stage in time to see Suhalia but I missed another of my favorite shows called, "Manly Men...in Tights". I shall just have to catch them next year.
Manly Men in Tights were hilarious as they taught men how to properly swing their swords in order to make us women swoon. They also incorporated popular themes and movies of our time.

 

 

 

I caught one last picture of our young queen and her entourage. She was multitasking. While she was taking lunch with some of her noblemen and women, she was also listening to music by some of her subjects (a great honor to the subjects) and dealing with affairs of the state as someone was constantly at her side and whispering into her ear. Impressive.

I wasn't able to catch the jousting but I'm sure I will be able to do so next year. As for this year, it has been a very good, if hot, day. I suggest everyone dress cool (as cool as one can get in four layers or Renaissance wear) and the ladies should bring a parasol.