Catching up - mostly Renfaire

I don’t know what was in the air a few weekends a go on August 18th, but I was invited to no fewer than four social events. I made it to two: the independent interpreters meeting, and S.H.’s birthday dinner. Happy 30th, baby!

Remember how hot it was on the weekend of August 25/26? Upper 90s with a heat index of 106? Well, that was the weekend I sang with the Revels group at the Maryland Renaissance Faire. Hanging out in the heat in shorts and a t shirt is tolerable, but in costume? Wow. Bad. Luckily, we didn’t have to change into our garb until just before we performed, and we only had one show each day. (I don't have a photo of me in costume. It was just too hot.)

I’ve been going to Renfaires in Arizona, and now Maryland, for years, and the whole scene is an amazing sociological experience. I participated in the Society for Creative Anachronism when I was in high school and college, plus I’ve been in theater for a very long time, so I’m used to seeing people in costume. The performers at the Renfaire wear Renaissance-ish clothes, as do many of the attendees. Check. But where it gets wacky is that many people who come to the faire dress in other kinds of costume: pirate, angel/devil, leather/studs/tattoos, body paint, etc. It seems that the Renfaire is an open invitation to let your freak flag fly. Not that I mind -- watching the crowd is a big part of the entertainment at the faire. I don’t quite get the intersection of leather and tattoos and giant turkey legs, but I’m rolling with it.

The "backstage" area of the Renfaire was equally fascinating. There are several stages at the faire, so I saw the backs of those, with people entering and exiting, like in a theater. Plus, I saw several of my favorite performers from previous years (Bob and O, to name a few), hanging out and chatting in that offstage kind of way. I heard an amazing Renaissance band, Slaveya, practicing backstage, and enjoyed them enough to see their show later. I even talked with my ex-husband, who performs at the faire. Finally, I had the opportunity to give FlirtaciousJ a birthday hug on Sunday. You just never know who you'll see.

I digress. At the Renfaire, I sang with a group of about 15 people from the Washington Revels, and had a great time. I haven’t been in a show or choir since Roxanne was born, so this was a real boost for my creative life, which has been flagging. It was cool to be in such a small, new group, where we could each have input. The meat of the show was a mummer’s play, St. George and the Dragon. Somehow, I became kind of the “bit girl,” for lack of a better term. I didn’t have any lines, but I did little amusing schtick and/or held up signs for audience response. Fun! Now I really want to be in the Revels’ Christmas show. I didn’t audition this year, but I have my eye on next year.