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The Maryland Renaissance Festival
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OK, I'll admit it. In the short time that I was stationed in Maryland I became obsessed with the Maryland Renaissance Festival. It's now been a year since I transferred and I still have it in my blood. Not only did I buy garb and accessories, but I started playing the tin whistle and have even begun to learn to play the violin (hence my renfest name Amduscious, named after the demon of disturbing music which you would believe it if you heard me practice). I enjoyed the music so much that I joined the Bach Society of Baltimore so that I could have an excuse to keep singing after the festival. I've also been building my singing repertoire in the chance that someday I'll move back to Maryland and audition for a job as a roving singer.
Below you'll find some information on a couple of my favorite groups, the Pyrates Royale and the Bawdy Balladeers. If you want to find out more, there are links at the bottom of the page that will take you to their sites. I hope you enjoy this page and if you have never been to the Maryland Renaissance Festival maybe this will convince you stop by.
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I have to say that the biggest influence on me was definitely the Pyrates Royale. I know that in the '96 season I missed only four of their shows, and that was because I was performing with the Bach Society. This is one of those rare performing groups that will impress upon you their enthusiasm and energy no matter what the circumstances, whether it's raining and cold, hot and muggy, or swarming with beer drinking, soda loving, get into everything your trying to eat honey bees (if you were there in '96 you know what I mean). So let me introduce from left to right the current crew of the H.M.S. Sinkwell:
The wee Irish lass
of the bunch is boatswain Peg Reilly, known for her beautiful voice
(especially when singing Carrickfergus) and for periodically finding herself lost in the
Hee Hee zone. Caution: Never ever, I repeat, never call her Half Pint!
She's also a Bodhran player, though I don't hold that against her.
(How do you know when a Bodhran player is at the door? The
knocking gets faster, and faster, and faster ...)
Standing behind Peg is the newest member of the crew, Fifi Le Bon Bon, who replaced retired Ensign Wesley Stubbs who is attending ship's doctor school in Ipswitch. She's an exceptional violinist and a great visual improvement over Mr. Stubbs, not that I don't miss Mr. Stubbs, but.....well, you know.
In the front with the unmistakable head tattoo is Captain Fletcher T. Moon, rum enthusiast extraordinaire. The captain is the cog round which everything turns, or perhaps in this case he's the "capstan". Get it? Captain, capstan? Oh, never mind. Anyway, when the Captain's not recruiting Scottish lassies, drinking rum, pining away for South Australia, and generally causing havoc in every port, he's really a mellow, down to earth kind of guy. Of course, I don't remember ever seeing him not doing one of those things, but I heard it was true.
Trying to hide behind the Captain is Long John Skivvy. He is the quiet one in the crew (if there is such a thing), but that's probably because he's always dreaming of owning his own broccoli farm. Skivvy is the guitar (spare oar) picker of the crew and rumor has it that he spends his shore leave among the Weeds, though I always thought broccoli and weeds were the same thing anyway.
Now every crew has to have one, someone who spends too much time in front of the mirror, and in this crew it's Louis the Moor (this is definitely a multi-national crew), breaker of women's hearts and a frequent target of Kat's palm. He gave a scare last year when he announced he was ending his enlistment, but he signed on for another tour and was probably just holding out for a larger percentage of rations (rum), and spoils (more rum).
On the far right we find the frisky Kat Fairbanks (seen here as Lady Vanity). Kat is the crew's mandolin player (the ship is full of spare oars) and can often be found playing a hammered dulcimer (I'd make a joke here, but have you ever tried playing a hammered dulcimer?). She can often be found roaming down deserted beaches and there is a pool going as to how many lives she has left (she's been found several times washed ashore after escaping passing pirate ships).
Now that you have been introduced to the Pyrates Royale, I hope you'll get a chance to visit Maryland this year and hear them sing. If you do, make sure you catch them in the White Heart tavern. It makes for a much more personnel and unforgettable time, but you had better like singing. Warning: Only 100% crowd participation is accepted!
The Bawdy Balladeers
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Bliss Goodbody, Kissandra Serenade, & Scarlet O'Harlot
Yes, I know, the Bawdy Balladeers no longer exist as a group, but my memories are from the '95 and '96 seasons when they were at their best. This was an unparalleled group of talented women who combined both singing and performing into a show that that was not to be missed. They agreed after the '96 season to separate the group so that they could move on and explore other opportunities. After the break up, Kissandra and Scarlet formed the duo Caprizzio, Women of Whimsey. I haven't had the pleasure to hear their new act, but I have no doubt that their new material is just as entertaining and no less bawdy as before. If you've had a chance to hear Caprizzio drop me a line and let me know how you liked the new show.
These are just two of the wonderful groups that perform at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. If you would like to see more photos of the festival just follow the photo album link or click on one of the pictures above. If you would like to find out more about the festival or these groups please use the links below. I made it back this fall for a couple weekends and had a blast as always, though it was different not wearing garb. I'll be back next year and hope to see you there.
Maryland Renaissance Festival Links
The Maryland Renaissance Festival official homepage
Maryland RenFest Withdrawal Syndrome
If you have any comments about this page please drop me a line
This page was last updated on 06/19/04