The
Killington Renaissance Faire 2005
Jim Lestrange is doing the photographs of the faire this year because
he’s the superior photographer between the two of us. Included in this photo
essay are also Shannon Dancy’s photographs of The Spirites Consort on page 3
(quite a different perspective and way of taking photographs than Jim’s style,
wouldn’t you say?).
Shannon
is from North Carolina
and she is a singer with a band called “Beyond Blue” and a visual artist.
We both have blonde hair, are sopranos and we both refer to each other as
sisters. Perhaps in some sense we are.
There was a change in location this year. The faire was set up in the
hills behind the Cortina Inn with gorgeous vistas of the
Green Mountains
. Its location was about 3 miles from The Long Trail which is joined with the
Appalachian Trail
through that particular section of
Vermont
. It is also close to where I spent much of my childhood. Memories of being
carefree, swimming in the lakes, breathing clean air, caring for farm animals,
walking down dirt roads and on trails through the woods came flooding back as I
looked out to the mountains from the 2 stages where we performed. It was the
most idyllic view from a stage I have experienced yet. Since the Killington/Pico
area is still predominantly wild and undeveloped, it is easier to place oneself
in another time, particularly with a horse and carriage roaming the grounds.
As musicians will do, we performed and swapped songs with the other acts
at the faire, so you will see Jeff Belding accompanying Malarky the Sot and you
will see me singing with The Harper and the Minstrel. What you won’t see
(because Jim was performing) was The Spirites Consort with The Harper and the
Minstrel on stage together (six of us: 2 harps, a hammered dulcimer, 2 guitars,
a double bass and 4 voices).
I saw many more rennies (patrons dressed in costume) attending this year’s faire. A lot of families from the Killington/Rutland area attended as
well, particularly because of the activities for children: interactive theatre
and juggling, magic shows, a stilt-walker roaming the shire as an ostrich,
dragon and other crazy characters, participatory dance, tea with the Queen,
costume contests, fencing lessons, balloon sculpting, vendors with children’s
items and carriage rides. We brought some of our own audience (from hours
away!), so there were some music lovers there as well.
At one point during the faire, we were on break sitting in the food area,
listening to Malarky the Sot and to 2 vendors selling flowers. Their antics were
theatre and they were always yelling out to the passersby: “Buy a flower or a
flogging here!” “Ardor on a stick over here!” “Buy a red rose for your
red rose and she will reward you with her own passion rose tonight!” “Buy a
red rose for the one you love or a thorny stick for the one you don’t!” The
patrons went for it all, including the flogging! When my rose started to wilt
and the petals fall off, the seller wanted it back to vend because his “hate
thorns” were selling out (and replaced mine with a beautiful new one which
still survives in a vase 4 days later).
On Saturday evenings there was the Renaissance banquet with so many
patrons reserving tables that the inn had to turn many, many people away. The
acts from the faire provided entertainment. If there is a banquet next year,
remember to reserve early!
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