Words
from our Wizard:
Lord Kveldulf Speaks!
KINGDOM OF THE MONTH
Good morrow, fellow Mages, Barbarians, and assorted Warriors-in-spirit! Lord Kveldulf here again with this issue's Kingdom of the Month --- and this time, our Kingdom of the Month is Mother Goose Land. You'll figure it all out when I explain it in a moment. Anyway, imagine two of Mother Goose Land's most famous nobles coming together for an afternoon with their
loyal little fans! Far-fetch'd, say you? Nay, say I - for when Old King Cole and the Grand Old Duke of York come together, merriment a millionfold is all but assured!
Martin Clark, who portrays His Merry Majesty, and Dov Citron, who doubles as Lord York, are the twosome responsible for this unlikely yet happy patrnership. Their production company is called M.A.D. House Productions, and as their website states, they are a corporate entertainments company specializing in producing and performing shows and interactive
entertainment for all events, regardless of the theme and scale.
Martin and Dov, however, are not simply performers. They describe themselves as "inter-actors," trained actors with the skills required to convincingly improvise and interact with a
live audience. And when it comes to interacting with an audience of kids, their attitude is basically: "Put us in costume and the only question a child will ask is: 'Are they the real thing?'"
Well, when I stumbled upon their website, it did not take long before I was immediately convinced as to their status as "the real thing!" The two inter-actors have performed as Captain Hook and Mr. Smee; as Fat Elvis and Dead Elvis (don't ask me why!); as Robin Hood and Friar Tuck; as Batman and Robin; as Dumbledore and Snape; as Hertz van Hire and Truck van
Rental, lead singers of a band called (get this!) Dire State, the absolute worst rock band in the history of whatever; as Rattle n' Roll, the Dancing Skeletons; as Sheriff Shotgun Charlie and Deputy Doofus; as the March Hare and the Mad Hatter; as the Shakespeare Brothers, William and Bill; as Zeb and Jethro, the Sofa Surfers; as those two Bill and Ted wannabes, Chuck and Junior - oh, I could go on and on and on!
But put Martin and Dov into the royal robes of Old King Cole and the Grand Old Duke of York, and I promise you, enchantment will most certainly be secured! Their show, "Rhyme Time Revue," features singing, dancing, comedic anecdotes, a little bit of disco, and, as noted, a chance for the wee ones to assimilate themselves into Mother Goose Land's noble elite, as it were.
The madmen of M.A.D. House have put on their shows for, among other clients, Nickelodeon UK, Britain's National Trust, and the annual Uxbridge Spring Festival in Middlesex. M.A.D. House's Plays Unit is currently touring "Not About Heroes" by Stephen McDonald, based on the true story of poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, and how their friendship during World War One blossomed despite the fact that both men were destined to undergo separate and rather harsh tragedies at the end of their lives. As Martin and Dov explain in the show's liner notes: "We believe that to evolve as a race, we must learn by examining history, and that [is why we believe] that Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon left clear messages and warnings within their poetry - messages and warnings that need to be repeated over and over to such an
extent that the mistakes made at the dawn of the First World War can never be made again."
I, for one, look forward to greeting Old King Cole and the Grand Old Duke of York personally one of these days! I certainly think they'd be right at home amongst us Renaissance Faire folks! (Heh-heh!) Besides, 'tis always been me business to treat Royal people with the utmost dignity!
Such is the wisdom, then, of Lord Kveldulf: Mage and Emissary to the Barbarian Court!
Greetings, Barbarian lovers and other interested Mortals!
Lord Kveldulf here to once again provide these Barbarian Chronicles with the humorous juice of power which it so rightfully deserves. Which is to say, it's Faire of the Month time!
This month, we journey beyond the realms of the Red, White and Blue --- specifically, to the village of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Here, since July 1997, His Majesty King Bertram of Mearth has commanded Waterloo's citizenry to partake of the frolic and diversion known as the Royal Medieval Faire. It is probably the largest single-day Renaissance event in Ontario, if not all of Canada.
Filled with the traditional elements of a typical Renaissance Faire --- vendors, hands-on displays, food, beverages, games, music, magic, swordplay, authentic costumes and decorations, and all the rest of it, the Kingdom of Mearth is among the select few Faires across North America with a continuing stroyline that each year takes the form of its own complete narrative.
King Bertram's Royal Family features his consort, Queen Charlotte; their daughters, the Princesses Pamela and Genevra; Lady Gwendolyn of Ticklesby, daughter of the King's late sister; and Pipp the Court Jester. The Royals of Mearth have a lot of fun doing their best to stay one shadow or two ahead of King Davius of Dearth and his Knights.
Now last year, what had everyone in Mearth going utterly bonkers was the result of a whole lot of out-of-control wishing. And the instrument of that out-of-control wishing was the all-powerful Mirror of Darkshadow! Long saga short, the Mirror had the power to change a person from bad to good and vice versa, and poor Queen Charlotte got caught up in all the silly battles to simply restore her sanity. It took quite a while to get everybody back on track, but by day's end, the Queen was restored to her rightful state, the citizenry's peace of mind was restored, and the Royals and friends finished the day with a merry ceilidh (That's ancient Celtic, by the way. Roughly translated, it means "musical feast".)!
The 8th Annual Royal Medieval Faire at Waterloo happens at Waterloo Park West (which is located on Westmount Road and West University Avenue), on Saturday, September 17th, running from 11 am to 6 pm. Admission's five Canadian dollars for adults, $2.50 for kids 10 and under. Leave thy swords and pooches at thy castle, dear goodlies --- that is all that they ask of ye. And contacting His Majesty King Bertram is most certainly encouraged. info@royalmedievalfaire.org, I believe that is their e-mail address. But shouldst thou seek a verbal means of contact with the Kingdom, the numbers to call are: 1-519/747-8733 (Official Information Line); 1-519/884-5858 (alternate information); 1-519/621-8661 or 1-905/689-3852 (vendor and merchant information). The website address is, of course, http://www.royalmedievalfaire.org (but you Mortals probably figured that out already, I suppose); and, if communicating slowly is more o' thy cup of mead (Heh-heh!), the snailmail address is 100 Regina Street South, Waterloo, Ontario N2J 4A8 Canada.
September also promises two significant events for fans of the works of England's greatest science fiction puppet master, Gerry Anderson. Fanderson, The Official International Gerry Anderson Fan Club, is hosting the Thunderbirds' 40th Anniversary Countdown to Disaster on the weekend of September 24th and 25th, at the Moat House Hotel, near the beloved Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. Gerry Anderson himself is among a mammoth 26 special guests who are expected to attend this unique weekend-long symposium, where the highlights are scheduled to include episode screenings; exhibitions of the actual Thunderbird puppets, models, props, costumes and pre-production artwork; panel discussions --- and a special preview of the forthcoming New Adventures of Captain Scarlet series!
Also being celebrated in September is the 30th Anniversary of another Anderson classic --- Space: 1999. Accordingly, the Fanderson folks are marking the occasion by taking over the back lot at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, where much of Space: 1999's 2-season run was filmed. For the September 4th event, Gerry will be joined by series co-star Barry Morse, flying effects specialist David Lane, and other survivors of the cast and crew. There'll be episode screenings, panel discussions, and a gala dinner at Pinewood's very own Ballroom at Heatherden Hall and Gardens! Interesting, eh what? Well, you'll probably want to learn even more, so prithee rush to http://www.fanderson.co.uk (preferably with the aid of lightspeed, if you please).
Well, enough from me for now. Soon I must prepare for my annual sojourn to the New York Renaissance Faire Sterling Forest in Tuxedo Park, New York - and clearly, I shall be one very busy Mage and Emissary! But fear not, for once my adventure thither is complete, I shall tell the tale of my travels within the parchments of these Barbarian Chronicles.
So swears Lord Kveldulf, Mage and Emissary to the Barbarian Court!
