The Renaissance Pleasure Faire (2008)

Gather ye lords and ladies fair,
Come with me to the Renaissance Faire
Hurry now,
We're almost there...
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la,la, la, la...

Yes, I have heard everyone complain that "Faire" is grossly overpriced and way too commercial. I will be the first to admit that this commercialism is the Renaissance Pleasure Faire's largest fault, but on the other hand, there are a plethora of chances to roleplay with the employees and attendees, the entertainment is extraordinary and the atmosphere is amazing.

Those of you who know me are probably (painfully) aware that I love to roleplay. The Renaissance Pleasure Fair is a great place for this, after all, their motto used to be "All the Faire's a Stage". Employee/actors roam the streets in well done costumes and well rehearsed personas, are always eager to interact, in character, with those who (and many who may not) want to become part of a renaissance era faire. When you add to the mix people like me, who want to dress in costume and roleplay, it provides a whole new and exciting dimension to the Faire experience...a wonderful emersion into the fantasy and fun of it all.

The whole atmosphere of the Faire is very conducive to being "in character". It is rather opposite of the Koronburg/Corona faire (click here to see my review of it) in that there are people in costume and in character who are wandering about or strategically placed to engage people and each other. This is unlike Corona Faire because at RPF, the employees do not wear sunglasses, talk on cell phones or smoke cigarettes and they interact as though they are actually people of the period! I know that these may seem trivial to most people, but the blatant anachronisms of the Corona Faire can destroy the mood and pull one out of their persona in an instant.

Each of these faire employees are dressed in costumes that range from rogues to royalty and from peasants to Puritans. They have master the art of "speaking forsoothly" and seem to know the history/flavor of the time.

To liven thing up further, every once in a while a colorful, sometimes raucous parade winds it’s way through the Faire.

While the Faire organization and it's employees do disserve the lion's share of the credit, I must mention that there are many participants that have exquisite costumes and do quite well playing their chosen roles. Even if one does not want to roleplay or even go in costume, there is still plenty to see and do.  The are numerous game booths (I must admit that I have never participated in any of them) and scattered throughout the Faire are stages which will provide you with a almost never ending stream of great acts such as "Moonie", the insane juggler, rope walker and foolish mortal(http://www.philipearl.com/ ), and one of my favorites "Sound and Fury" a great fakespearian comedy troupe (http://www.soundandfury.org/ ).

What fun. I shall surely miss the merriment until next year!

Through the shroud of mystery,
Turn a page of history,
Feeling more than you can see,
Down at the Renaissance Faire.
Hear the minstrels play their tunes,
They will play the whole night through,
Special songs for me and you,
And anyone whose heart is true...

I think that The Renaissance Plaesure Faire deserves four Wyveries.