17 February 2008
Most folks who purchase tickets and walk through the front gates of Scarborough Renaissance Festival, have no idea how much work goes into preparing for the wonderful experience they are about to have.
Not only does the parent company, Southwest Festivals, Inc., have a year-round office staff and grounds crew, but, beginning the first week in February, the performing company works nearly twelve-hour days of rehearsals every weekend day.
The actors are all members of a group known as the Scarborough Academy of Performing Arts, or SAPA. SAPA is one of the most extensively-trained troupes of renfaire actors in the country. These dedicated people gather, no matter the weather, for two months of weekends, before the two-month event ever opens its gates to the public. Some are paid stipends, some only gas money; many receive nothing at all. From the beginning, they are forbidden to wear watches and sunglasses, and encouraged to wear blades and hats and hoopskirts—all in an effort to be so totally at home with such concepts by the first of April, that they will have become completely convicing sixteenth century villagers. Their dress will evolve over the coming weeks, as they begin and ultimately are required to wear the often cumbersome, layered clothing of 1533, which they pay for from their own pockets. They sit and listen to lectures on history, manners, and customs. Did you know that the average sixteenth century home did not yet have a chimney? Or that in order to journey from one town to another, the traveller must have “papers?” They learn dialect and speech patterns and practice those incessantly. They learn songs, court dances, country dances, and fight choreography. They learn to make the sign of the cross without thinking when a companion sneezes. They learn never to use modern words of frustration and exclamation, but instead to utter phrases like “God’s teeth!” or “Thou art a knave!” or “Zwounds!” (which is a colloquial shortening of the phrase “God’s wounds!”). They develop characters, as real as you or I, with childhoods, and histories, and fears and secrets. Some characters are “married” to other characters, whether the actors have ever met before or not. And some actors who are best friends play roles that never speak to each other.
The Scarborough performing company is unique in the nation, and well-known for the “unscripted” nature of its show. For example, most Renaissance Faires have a “scenario”—like the script for a play—that they perform for the patrons throughout the festival day. The performers learn that scenario, and numerous skits that are performed throughout the show day, memorizing lines, and ultimately “practicing” the show every weekend, and getting better and better at it. It is commonly felt that the best time to visit a festival is toward the end, when all the actors have their parts well in hand and the show finally runs like clockwork. But, at Scarborough, there is no such scenario. Instead, the actors are given a theme for each new day—a few random lines, pulled from a hat, around which they improvise an entertaining course of events. The actors hear those lines for the first time at the opening gate ceremony, with patrons all around. And these talented, dedicated men and women and children, create on the spot, the conflicts, and the various interactions and resolutions, that make up a good story. As such, they are well-trained during workshops in the arts of improvisational acting, and guerilla theatre. They learn to deal with drunk patrons and stalkers. They learn how to keep a dialogue flowing between actors, or between an actor and a patron, and they learn when and how to end that dialogue. They learn to be the right flavour of funny, the right degree of flirty or insulting, and how to give the right directions to the nearest privy from anywhere on site!
As a merchant at the faire, these performers are my heroes. Yes, the festival ownership and management does a great job of pulling the whole event together. We rely on them to make the site pretty, to advertise their event, and to be organized enough that they pull in quality crafters and stage shows that excite the patrons. Obviously, what goes on behind the scenes, Monday through Friday, is key to success. And there are many, many patrons who never really see beyond the magicians and the musicians and the jousters. But, it is the performing company of actors, in the lanes, always there, always “on,” who really drive the mood of the day. It is the cheerful gypsy, even on a rainy, icky day, that reminds the wet, cold patron to have fun. It is the noblewoman in her hoops and corset and bodice and long sleeves and multiple skirts, looking radiant even in the hundred degree heat, that reminds the hot, sweaty patron to have another lemonade and stay awhile. It is the king and queen, with the heaviest of costumes, and the most demanding of schedules, that awe and inspire the little children to want to dress as knights and princesses, and to wait patiently as mom and dad shop, because they know they’ll soon be part of a special ceremony where they’ll kneel in front of those beautiful monarchs and be knighted!
I revel in visits from cast members in our shoppes! The savvy actor can draw patrons in and encourage them to buy our products creating the ultimate in subliminal advertising! The patron now knows we are selling something they must have! After all, the Earl has one! At East Wind Games, we have the privelege of visitations from all walks of sixteenth century life! We have noblemen come and play Chess, and peasants come and play Nine Men’s Morris or Bocce. We treasure those times of interaction between our customers, and the performing company!
And any who know me, know how much it means to me, to be an approved designer/seamstress to SAPA. I have developed such special friendships and I can hardly imagine now, not being a part of that group. For me, it all started with that first noble ensemble I built for Roger, and it’s blossomed from there. My eternal thanks to Novie and to Mike for being among the first, and for helping to build my reputation in such a positive way. One of the things which makes me proudest is that so many of my customers have come to me for second and third outfits—including our Queen! I love knowing that they are so happy with their first order, that they come back for more! I am blessed.
So, this has all been to explain the photo today, that I snapped as I sat in on an afternoon meeting at workshops on Sunday. I was there to meet with a few of my customers to show fabrics, get a couple more measurements, and get approval on a couple of designs. Here are over a hundred dedicated, talented people that make Scarborough Renaissance Festival one of the best faires in the country. Having already spent five hours in various classes and lectures, they are gathered together for some notes, before breaking into smaller groups again to study and practice fighting, dancing, caber tossing, maypole weaving, and dozens of other things that make the festival beautiful and exciting.
Whatever would we do without them?
~MB
