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Games and actors
enliven the festival
Continued from cover.
The food is handled by T.N.T.
Specialties, Forbes said, a com
pany separate from'TRF.
An independent may also try to
set up shop, for $1200 for the six-
week festival. But like the artisans,
they must be approved — the food
must be from an authentic Renais
sance recipe.
The festival will have 38 food
booths this year,, an increase of 20
over last year’s 18.
The 149-acre festival grounds
are also the home of about 300
costumed strolling minstrels and
performers.
Some of the performers are
salaried professional actors.
Another group is paid “very, very
low,” Forbes said, and rely on tips
from pleased passers-by. Still
another group is “tips only.”
A group from the Drama and
Dance Departments of Sam Hous
ton University will also be on hand.
The money they earn is donated to
a scholarship fund.
“The performers are watched
and judged every day,” Forbes
said. This is to see if they are doing
their job properly, which will decide
whether they are asked to return.
And then there are the Renais
sance games, which can be played
for a fee, usually about 50c. Most
of the games are operated by chari
ty groups.
Jacobs Ladder, a rope ladder
with three-point balance, that looks
easy enough to climb up and down,
can be won by climbing the 10-foot
slanting rope and ring a bell.
A patron may be placed in the
Stocks for not knowing the King’s
colors. To get out and avoid public
ridicule, the offender must be kis
sed by a virgin.
Much of the profit, Forbes said,
is plowed back into the business
for the next year.
“It took the first three years to
pay for the beginning one,” Forbes
said. “The last couple of years
have been successful enough to
pay for things.”
“Things” include $20,000 for the
Newmarket Race Track. Five
thousand dollars was spent for
“operations” and $15,000 is for
prizes for the races this year.
Fifty thousand dollars was spent
for the theaters, Forbes said.
“Some costumes and props had
to be replaced, some props which
are used up each week have to be
paid for.
“There are also salaried players
that have to be paid.”
There are three theaters: the Ac
tors Podium, the Newcastle Thea
ter and The Globe, built in true
Shakespearean fashion.
Also included in the theater
budget are “grants” given to musi
cians that wanted to purchase au
thentic instruments, but didn’t have
enough money.
The King’s Garden and Mews
and the grounds were also refur
bished, to the tune of $70,000.
New trees were planted, hot
house roses grown and tropical
bushes and hanging baskets and
flowering plants were placed next
to the booths and at the gates.
Besides the entertainers and ar
tisans, the “food people easily
number about 300 and the race
track employs about 200. And
that’s not counting guards, ticket
people, parking attendants and
about 50-100 costumed garbage
collectors,” Forbes said. “We’ve
given a lot of people jobs.”
The festival rights and grounds
are ovyned by “King” George
Coulam who is “Sovereign” and
his brother “Prince” David Coulam,
who is “Sovereign of Coins.”
The gounds are six miles north
of Magnolia. Take Hwy 6 South, to
105 East (Conroe) and then Hwy
1774 South. The festival is every
weekend through Nov. 4, from 10
a.m. to 7 p.m.
For “about $20, you could have
a really good time,” Forbes said.
This includes entrance fee, food
and drink, tips and “$2 for a roll of
film.”
Photos by Lee Roy Leschper Jr.
The Texas Renaissance Festival is a
chance for anyone to become a character
they’ve always wanted to be. Elroy Forbes
says he is “King Henry Vlii. I also do PR
(public relations).” The theme park can
hold its own perils as two sword swinging
swashbucklers show. Even though it was a
heated battle, both walked away. This year,
over 38 booths will hold food stuffs, all
authentic 15th century, of course. “Beouff
Ribs” is a specialty.