Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

three_hundred_fifty_five · 08-30-2002, 08:25 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by HilandDoug:
...I wish I had a few pictures of the looks on women's faces when I and the other Musketeers kiss their hands and bow. The older women get such a kick out of it!<hr /></blockquote>Ain't nuttin' turn a woman on more than chivalry and fancy boot hose.

three_hundred_fifty_five · 09-03-2002, 04:43 PM

That www.happybubble.com website is interesting.
Especially the "Guess whose ..." page.

HilandDoug · 09-04-2002, 04:45 PM

here's another site with some good pictures of the Human Combat Chess Match:

www.goldfrost.com

Gav · 09-04-2002, 06:35 PM

Hey Doug! Nice pics. Some cool armour in a few of the pics. I see som people have dressed up as hairy arsed Scots! Maybe I'll organise a crew stage aninvasion in typical Scot pub crawl fashion. Some nice looking women in some of the pics too!

Can someone explain to me what a 'Rennaisance Fair' is? I was expecting a lot of rennaisance type stuff and yet I see a lot of people in various fance dress.

Still looks like fun.

Gav · 09-04-2002, 06:42 PM

You guys had a Trebuchet as well!!!! Neato!!

HilandDoug · 09-04-2002, 07:10 PM

Well, a Renaissance Fair is, to quote Dennis Miller, similar to a Shakespeare Festival: same costumes, but less poetry, and more beer. The idea is to entertain people with acts emulating a rough time frame from 1500 to 1700. Queen Elizabeth, played fantastically by actress Caroline Jett, is the central figure to the fair, but we also have the Musketeers (different time period), and King Henri Navarre of France. The director of the Festival wanted Robin Hood as well, but we convinced him that the addition of Robin Hood would open up a temporal vortex that would have swallowed south eastern Michigan and a portion of Ontario, Canada.

The idea is that the performers, when not actually on stage, do interactive theatre with the patrons. My bit, as Athos, is to talk to the children about manners and becoming a Musketeer. If the kids demonstrate proper manners and promise to become a Musketeer, I give them a little Fleur di Lis pin for their shirt. If a man is not holding his lady's hand, I ask her if he is any good at wooing her. When asked what that is, I get down on one knee in front of her, kiss her hand, and proceed with the "Your lips are like (fill in the blank), your eyes....etc." It's a fun bit, and the women eat it up. Then when it's the man's turn, it's up to his lady friend to pass or fail him. Other patrons will watch, and sometimes we'll get a competition going. Whomever wins will be awarded a Fleur pin, or a book of food coupons worth $1-$6, at my discretion. Patrons love the beer, and the Guiness and Bass are the best sellers. They actually used to have Watney's Red Barrell here until the owner went to England and realized it was crappy beer. Mead is also sold. But it's not historically accurate. Caroline knows the history of QE like the back of her hand, and is fantastic with the crowd. There's a ton that I'm leaving out, but that's the gist of it.

Moonitic · 09-07-2002, 10:42 PM

In one word, a Renaissance Festival is...

Addictive!

I've been going for about 10 years now. I've done Olympic fencing demos, & worked the Bunny Fencing booth. This year, hubby & I have played photographe for the Schoolcraft website. Doug, you're going to LOVE the pics we have.

I'd love to work out there on a more professional level (like joining the fight team), but it's difficult with little ones. But...it is nice to know some of the cast. I can live vicariously through them.

HilandDoug · 10-08-2002, 01:48 PM

There are a lot more pictures of different scenes at goldfrost.com. Check week seven, as there are several pictures of Athos and D'Artagnan argueing and setting up the Duel at Noon. When I get some time, I'll post the pictures taken with my camera.