Page 6
The Battalion
Monday, October 10,1988
Renaissance Festival (
revives enchantments
By Fiona Soltes
Staff Writer
Come, Milord and Milady! The King
doth bid your presence at the 14th annual
Texas Renaissance Festival.
His Majesty King Henry VIII began
welcoming visitors to Sherwood Forest
last weekend. He was joined by his royal
court as well as jugglers, magicians,
belly dancers, mud wrestlers, tightrope
walkers and many other servants, all
wishing to share new delights with visi
tors.
This year, the festival has several new
exhibits, including Noble House, a
Greco-Roman structure displaying the
treasures Marco Polo brought back from
the Orient, as well as a post office and a
bank where visitors can exchange checks
or credit cards for pound notes to be used
at the festival. Also new are six new food
buildings and two new stages for enter
tainment.
Many more street characters are new
to the festival this year, too. The people
who play these parts are as diverse as the
characters themselves. Some of the
workers, like Paige Hunt, are locals who
enjoy working at the festival just for fun.
Hunt, who is from Conroe, works for
Chrysler Credit Corp. during the week
and sells flowered hair wreaths at the fes
tival on weekends.
“This is my third year at the festival.”
Hunt said. “I do it basically because it's
extra fun for several weekends during the
year. I’m definitely planning on doing it
again next year." Hunt said she is paid a
base rate, near minimum wage, plus a
commission for each wreath. The
wreaths, made by an outside company
and shipped in for the festival, are avail
able to visitors for $8 to $20 each.
Visitors can have their faces painted
by “Lady” Susan Griffin, who partici
pates in the festival as an extension of
her real-life career. Griffin works for a
performing arts costume company in
Houston during the week, making cos
tumes and doing make-up for actors in
feature films. Griffin said she is willing
to paint any design.
“The most common designs are uni
corns, dragons and free-form,” Griffin
said. “But the customer is king; I’ll do
whatever he likes.” She said she will
paint bodies as well as faces. The art
work ranges from $5 to $8.
Elaborate costumes abound at the fes
tival. Eulice Vial, who portrays Lady
Anne. Duchess of Somerset, makes
many of the costumes visiton «|
during the festival.
“I am a specialist in the Elitai*
time period,” Vial said. "Iraakettn
tumes out of my home, onealitj
have made about 80 of the costtj
this year’s festival." Vial saiJnj
the performers own only onecca
since prices usaully start at i
$l.500.
The characters are responsibleIj
plying their own costumes, shti
Some of the lesser characters, s®
those who are not members of tie:
court, buy theirs at the Repfi
clothing shops at the festival.
Many shops are on the fj
grounds. They sell just about ever;
including clothes, armor, ham
woodwork, paintings, mirrors a;
statues of wizards.
David Dawson, apprentice tolef
derhill of Underhill Pavilions,Ea
and Tents, said he takes enougj
for Renaissance tents and banntm
festival to keep him in business
long.
"We really enjoy making them,';
See Renaissance Feslha! ;<
Photo by JayJanner
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Photo by Jay Janner
(Top Right) The Queen and King Henry VIII sing
“Morning Dew” with the royal court.
(Bottom Right) Magical Mystical Michael explains the
mystery of the red box during his magic show. His 40
minute show is largely improvisational.
(Bottom Left) Miniature clay wizards on display at the
festival. They cost around $20 each. These are just some
of the hand-crafted items available to visitors.
(Middle Left) A fool yells “Make Thy Day!” as he pre
pares to be hit by tomatoes by visitors. He was the target
in the game Vegetable Vengeance.
Photo by Jay Janner