|
|
The main gate to the Towne of Bristol. Here the crowd presses forward as the gates are opened early Sunday morning.
What can I say about the Bristol Renaissance Festival???!? Only one word comes to mind: AWESOME!!!. Aye, it had the usual great array of craft vendors, tasty food/fine mead and wond'rous performers--but it had more: much more!
In my mind, two of the performances--that by the trio of Devine, Orchid and The Green Man; 
and the evening drumjam--not only "stole the show" but completely overshadowed other events at Bristol which, had they happened at any other RenFaire, would've been outstanding in their own right. Those two alone were well worth both the price of admission and the long and wearisome drive across country to reach Bristol!
Which's not to slight the Danse Macabre, the 'Obby 'Oss procession, the Scottish Rogues or any other of the many fine and talented performers at the Faire. It was my pleasure to watch The Swordsmen: Dirk and Guido; The Flaming Idiots; Polo's Hit and Run Comedy; Scherazade's Gypsy Travellers; the Mud Show; Molly and the Tinker; the Minstrels of Mayhem; the Dangerous Comedy of Cliff Hanger; Broon! and the demonstrations of swordplay and musketry at the English Military Camp that weekend of 19-20 July.
One of the major highlights of Ryleh's visit was meeting Sir Clisto Seversword in person (shown in the photo, left, with his "Faire wife", the lovely Lady Calasandra--who demonstrates here how she holds Sir Clisto's undivided attention with her feminine wiles!).Sir Clisto is also a dedicated Fairegoer--not only was he "first at the gate" on Saturday morning, but he packed in enough arms and armor to equip a princely bodyguard. His magickal sword "Darnella" is truly an AWESOME blade! He was also kind enough to introduce Ryleh to his many friends, companions and acquaintances at Faire (among whom were Captain Talon, his daughter Freya, and his wife, Ladyhawke, shown in the photo, right)
who together form an "unofficial" Guild of costumed patrons at Bristol.
One incident summed up my feelings as the Bristol Renaissance Festival came to a close Sunday evening. Earlier that afternoon I had chanced by a young family whose youngest son was throwing a tantrum. Apparently he was enjoying himself so much at Faire, he was dismayed at the prospect of leaving it! He kept shouting over and over again: "I don't want to go home! I don't want to go home!"
That evening--as the players sang their final song of farewell, followed by the Master of the Faire launching into Shakespeare's "We are such things as dreams are made of" soliloquy by way of dismissal--I, too, had that same feeling. Yea, I also wanted to throw myself on the ground, pound it with fist and feet and scream:
The Lord Mayor of Bristol, having shed his civic duties for the weekend, proclaims "The Feast of Fooles" for the town.
Scherazade and Raven entertain the crowd at the Pig and Whistle pub with storytelling, bellydancing and juggling.
Two of the ladies enjoy a brief snack of sausage-on-a-stick. The sausage wenches are Lady Calasandra (Sir Clisto's Faire wife) and her sister from Bristol.
DANSE MACABRE--Takes to the streets of Bristol as evening's shadows lengthen...
BRISTOL DRUMJAM--It was savage, wild and primitive! And some of the best drumming Ryleh has heard to date! With soundclips for your own listening pleasure...
YE BALLET FOLIAGE--An incredible performance by DeVine, Orchid and the Green Man.
RIDE THE DRAGON (below) to return to Ryleh's Main Page by clicking on its icon!
Get your own Free Home Page