Renaissance Faire News - Sharing the Joy of Faire, one post at a time at FaireNews.com!!

The event started with a Pirates Ball on Friday evening. A heavy downpour made us thankful for the VFW Hall at Post #4256, an indoor venue, and the kindness of the Search & Rescue van that backed up just enough for us to be able to park directly across from the door. Almost everyone turned out in their finery and we had a great time listening to music, telling tall tales, and trying to see who could taste the most and still dance. The food was good and plentiful.

Saturday morning dawned sunny and warm. It was the first trip out for the new MayFaire Moon corset and I was very pleased with it. I did have to get a bit of assistance from IHOT mid-afternoon to adjust the lacing but, overall, I felt good in it and plan to wear it again. I’ll be tweaking this that and the other thing, adding bits and pieces, but it’s a good start to the pirate aspect of Escarlata. One of the members of the performance group IHOT—International House of Tarts, Trollops, and Tantalizers—provided the lacing assistance. I’ve known quite of few of these ladies for years and watched them perform in various roles at multiple venues. Several of their members are also on the fight team. They are always a lot of fun. My thanks to IHOT for the floor to lie upon and to Cyndi Cheek-Cartelli for those quick fingers in the laces. Leinad was threatening to use my bodice dagger on them.

Later in the day, we headed over to Anne Bonny’s Rum Tasting Party at Casa Havana. With big fans, misters, palm trees, and patio furniture, it was a perfect venue to sit around, listen to music, enjoy a smoke, and generally have a good time. Anne Bonny, as portrayed by Caroline Jett, is so much fun to interact with and her new waistcoat is beautiful. Many of the attendees of the show know her from roles at other venues but she quickly reminded them, “[There is] this bloody Queen who has this friggin tea party where pinkies are up and everything is proper … But I want you to know … I’m Anne Bonny … there’s nothing proper about me.” Always the gracious host, she’s also always in character, whichever that character may be.

Leinad talked with For Love or Money and arranged to have them surprise me with a serenade after the Rum Tasting Party. Jen chose “Mairi’s Wedding” which is on their “Peasant’s Banquet” CD and they played just for me *blushing*

We didn’t realize that the show which closes the event for the day, a fire show and drum circle, had moved to the other end of the boardwalk this year. We were definitely at the wrong place at the right time. The long hot day had taken its toll and we chose to head on out, giving a friend a ride home and planning to see the show on Sunday evening.

Sunday was again bright and sunny and we wandered about the site, looking at tankards and skirts. Pirate Tales was up as we got to the stage and I enjoyed the show while Leinad did a bit of walkabout. Returning as the show ended, we regrouped and decided to head toward the boardwalk, looking for a drink and then to find the Blackbeard’s Booty Rum Liqueur booth. We came across Marooned, an a capella group singing sea shanties. I really enjoyed listening to them and planned to get a CD later in the day but I never did find them. Guess I’ll be picking that up from their website.

Lunch was upstairs at Hugo’s, a local eatery that prepares all their food as it’s ordered. It takes a few extra minutes but it is worth the wait and prices are very reasonable. We stayed inside for an air conditioning break while Pirate Tales performed out on the deck at the picnic tables. We could hear bits and pieces of the music as customers came and went.

Late in the day, we headed back to Casa Havana for another Rum Tasting Party. The entertainment at both Saturday and Sunday’s parties was provided by For Love or Money, Pirate Tales, Rusty Cutlass and the Bone Island Buccaneers. After each had done a couple of songs, all the band members joined together for a few closing numbers. It was great to sit there and relax again in the misters. Off to the northeast, though, dark clouds were gathering and you could feel the coolness of impending rain as the party ended. Despite the knowledge that we would again miss the closing fire show, Leinad and I headed for the car, getting there just as the rain began.

We caught most of the fight show put on by the West Coast Muntineers on both days. The fight scenarios ranged from two slave girls rebelling against their owner to Grace O’Malley sending her teenage daughter, Gwendolyn, in to fight over a one-dubloon bar tab through Scarlet of the Sweet Willie settling a score for ShortFuse’s pickpocketing. They were good fights, fun to watch, and for the most part well timed, though Scarlet (played by Rachael Smith) told me Sunday afternoon that she would end up with a pretty good bruise. I’m thankful for those who love what they do enough to make the sacrifices it takes to bring us great shows but I don’t envy them.