j^asc, i ne dai.xa.iion _
Friday, October 21, 1983 5
Group creates ‘shire’ of the past
by Clara N. Hurter
Battalion reporter
In the kingdom of Ansteorra,
there is a small town called "the
Shadowlands” where dwell
many fair folk of gentle birth
who participate in feasts,
quests, politics, fighting and fin
al exams.
Not a scene from an Arthu
rian tale, but a 1983 scene at
Texas A&M, where students in
terested in medieval times have
joined the Society for Creative
Anachronism.
Ron Robertson, seneschal
(president) of the A&M SCA,
says students who are drawn to
the society are usually in
terested in history and fun.
Society members research a
personality from the middle
ages and try to recreate and live
the personality they've chosen.
"Personalities chosen range
from barbarians to American In
dian, but most come from Welsh
lords and ladies during the
medieval ages," he says.
Robertson's own personality
is Lord Doyel Mor Ser, which
stands for "dark stranger of the
sea stars." When he's at society
activities, Robertson, like other
members, uses his society
name.
To have a society name, a
member must apply to the na
tional organization. Members
can have several alternative
names, but only one official
name within the society.
SCA is a nationwide, non
profit organization that origin
ated at Berkeley, Calif., in 1966.
Members range in age from tod
dler to grandparent.
The idea for the Texas A&M
SCA originated in 1977 at a
Fourth of July party when mem
bers of Cephied Variable, a stu-
The idea for the Texas
A&M SCA originated
in 1977 at a Fourth of
July party when mem
bers of Cephied Vari
able,, a students' scien
ce fiction organiza
tion, decided to start a
"shire."
dents' science fiction organiza
tion, decided to start a "shire."
"The society had been going
on in Houston and Austin and
we thought it would be fun to
start up a shire here at College
Station," Robertson says.
The national society is orga
nized into principalities, baro
nies and shires. A "principality"
is a geographical area, ruled by a
"prince," that can become a
kingdom.
The Texas A&M shire, known
as the Shadowlands, is a part of
the kingdom of Ansteorra.
Twenty-five active members
and around 60 members have
joined the SCA.
"We decided to call ourselves
the Shadowlands because we
were surrounded or shadowed
by the Stargate (Houston),
BrynGwlad (Austin), Bjornes-
Broadway show
begins Sunday
Linda Ronstadt did it. Then
Andy Gibb did it. Now Maria
Muldaur is doing it, on the
road.
What all three of these peo
ple have done is perform roles
in the Broadway hit, "The Pi
rates of Penzance." Although
"Pirates" was first performed
over 50 years ago, it was re
vived just two seasons ago
and ended its successful run
of performances with three
Tony awards.
The biggest change in this
version is its score. Whereas
the original libretto by Gilbert
Albums-
(continued from page 4)
knew I was in for trouble. I was
right.
The first single, "Mama," is
perhaps a little overzealous in its
use of drum programming, but
it is really a very adequate start
to the album. "That's All" is a
good midtempo track which is
very reminiscent of the most re
cent Alan Parsons Project mate
rial. Genesis functions quite
well without the Phenix Homs
of Earth, Wind, and Fire that
and Sullivan was light operet
ta, the 1980s rendition is set to
rock music. That's why peo
ple like Linda Ronstadt and
Maria Muldaur were asked to
hit the Broadway stage for this
swashbuckling adventure.
"The Pirates of Penzance"
will be staged in the Rudder
Auditorium Sunday and
Monday at 8 p.m. each night.
"Pirates" is the first perform
ance this year in MSC Tow-
nhall's Broadway series. Tick
ets for both performances are
on sale at the MSC Box Office.
added so much to Abacab.
But after these two singles,
little else is new on this album. A
couple of mellow numbers on
the back side are enjoyable but
not at all comparable to the level
of quality that the group is cap
able of producing.
Reviews by Cary Stegall.
Albums provided by Hast
ings Books and Records.
burg (San Antonio), and Step
pes (Dallas) baronies," Deputy
Herald Ruth White says.
Robertson says the shire is
applying for a baronship but the
national organization has been
reluctant to grant it.
"They look at us as a bunch of
transients," Robertson says.
"Most of our members are here
for up to four years but then they
graduate and move elsewhere."
Robertson says only three of
the original members still are in
the shire.
Members of the shire come
from a variety of majors and clas
sifications and have varied in
terests, he says.
"We get a lot of military peo
ple because of the fighting
aspect of the society," Robert
son says. "We also attract peo
ple interested in the ancient
ways of sewing, vinting (wine
making), brewing (ale and
stout) and the ancient sciences
(stargazing)."
Some members of the shire
work at the Texas Renaissance
Festival in Magnolia. They do it
to raise money for the shire and
to gain experience, Robertson
says.
Working at the Renaissance
Festival and participating in
other fairs around the state can
help a member earn his or her
title.
Titles, such as knights and
laurels, are earned through ser
vice in the society, he says.
The Shadowlands has a num
ber of guilds — societies of mer
chants or artisans — ranging
from the Heavy Weapons Guild
and Swashbuckler's Guild,
where members fight with rat
tan weapons and homemade
armor, to the Stargazing Guild,
where members study the
heavens on clear nights and dis
cuss how ancient astrologers in
terpreted the stars.
The Shadowlanders will cele
brate Martinmas day, named af
ter Saint Martin, on Nov. 12 and
13. Martinmas day activities will
begin at 1 p.m. at the Brazos
County Arboretum and will in
clude a quest, something like a
treasure hunt. Other activities in
clude workshops on dance and
chain mail making, a feast with
scattered entertainment, and a
wine and ale competition. The
feast will be held at the quonset
huts. Nov. 13 activities will be
gin at 10:30 a.m. with a fighter's
seminar (heavy weapons and
swashbuckling) and later there
will be more dancing and work
shops.
the Shadowlands usually has
two or three big events a year
depending on the funds, Robert
son says.
At the events and even at
monthly meetings some mem
bers dress up in the costumes of
their characters. Robertson says
the best way to emulate the
medieval lifestyle is to recreate
and live it.
White, known as Lady
Aleana Seroggroydd, suggests
that medieval life wasn't as easy
as depicted by Hollywood.
"It's not like an Errol Flynn
movie," Robertson says.
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