Halloween and Ren Faires
Feb. 19th, 2002 09:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elionwyrThis is something I wrote a while back, and am relatively happy with..
~~
Halloween takes a Holiday:
The Darker Side of Renaissance Faires
I didn't start out as a haunter.
I wish I could plead otherwise. I certainly had the love, interest, and passion for it to be true. Instead, I found another place where I could put on a costume, assume a new identity, and menace visitors who paid for the privilege of abuse.
I was a "Rennie" - a Renaissance faire actor.
Years later, after I'd found my way into the dark attraction community, I visited the Maryland Renaissance Faire. To my surprise, I saw a strong goth/Halloween presence there - both in the crafts being sold and in the garb of other faire-goers.
My surprise was unwarranted.
As it turns out, it's not uncommon for haunt actors to be seen honing their skills at local Renaissance faires. Jim Jensen, an actor who's worked as a guide for Philadelphia's Grisly Gothic Gables, Eastern State Penitentiary, and the Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, as well as a cast member of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, expressed absolutely no surprise at the tie-ins between the two worlds. "Working at Grisly Gothic Gables is the second best job I've ever enjoyed; Penn Ren was the first," he declares. "The difference between spooking and Penn Renning was only that Penn Renn had a bigger 'stage' and a wider audience."
At the Maryland Renaissance Faire, Halloween touches the festivities thanks to the presence of Ken Carns. A sculptor and artist, he first joined the faire in the early 1990's as a vendor hawking his wares. "It's a curse," he admits. "I have these creatures and images living in my head, and they need to come out somehow...!"
When the opportunity arose for him to create a more substantial display, he did so - and the Museum of Unnatural History was born. For $1, patrons became able to explore the physical evidence of such mysterious creatures as elves, goblins, dragons, and more during a 5 to 10 minute walk through the museum.
The displays vary from well-detailed sculptures behind glass to little bundles of creepy somethings moving around restlessly in low-set water-filled tanks. "Disney tells people that fairies and elves were cute!" Ken exclaims. After a tour through his museum, however, those misconceptions should be put very much to rest.
As early as 1991, gothic/fantasy artist Joseph Vargo was taking his artwork to renaissance festivals in northeastern Ohio. His booth, adorned with skulls and ravens, heralded the birth of Monolith Graphics. The merchandise line was small, limited to t-shirts and art prints. "I started out with some images of dragons and warriors," says Joseph, "but before long I began introducing some of my old favorites, such as skeletons, vampires and gargoyles, into our product line. This darker, new direction was well received, and the gothic prints and shirts eventually became our most popular merchandise."
The Renaissance age was rife with dark influences. Though today's faires tend to focus on Monty Python-esque humor, jousting, gorgeous costuming, and royal history, the familiarity of death, shadows of the Black Plague and church-sanctioned torture hover in the back of one's awareness.
Some like to joke such horror away. Others choose to face it straight-on.
The New York State Renaissance Faire opts for the latter, utilizing the haunting experience of Rich Hanf to create a historically accurate torture chamber. The Chepstow Dungeon has been open for 3 years now and runs with a staff of two Dungeon Wenches, 4 Executioners, and Rich himself. Whereas the Museum of Unnatural History lives in a permanent home, the Chepstow Dungeon is built at the beginning of each faire season and dismantled at the end, allowing for the show to be redesigned and changed each year.
The idea of this show and its executioner-guided tours is to educate as well as entertain. "I don't think anyone expects the show they get," explains Rich. "Many people go in saying...'Dude...this is sooo coool' or 'Hey Man...can I tie up my girlfriend?' We are very knowledgeable about Medieval times and especially torture...that includes the social, political, and religious aspects surrounding the use of that torture. NOBODY..AND I MEAN NOBODY that goes in laughing and making light of things comes out the same way. They are usually kind of quiet and subdued. They are not laughing. Many are shocked by the brutality of what they just saw...but more than just that...by what they just experienced because we all specialize in making it come alive for you. It is gut wrenching."
Between the detail of the sets and the talent of the seasoned haunt actors on staff - during the Halloween season, Rich's executioners return to Kevin McCurdy's cast - the Chepstow Dungeon has been successful enough to generate a second exhibit at the faire, the Medieval Weapons of War, as well as two traveling side shows - the Dungeon of Doom and Terrors of the Unknown - that can be seen at various carnivals and fairs in New Jersey.
Other aspects of Halloween come into play at the Renaissance festivals in October, near the end of the faire season. At the New York Renaissance Faire, patrons thrill to the terror of The Forest of Fear, featuring 5 walk-through attractions (including, of course, Rich's dungeon). Themed skill games and vendors join the haunted attractions and mazes for an event that runs every weekend in October, and has done so for 8 years now.
The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire has tried various sorts of haunted attractions. Their main event, Edgar Allan Poe Evermore, is a very popular theatrical show that takes place within a mansion on the fairgrounds property and involves the retelling of various Poe works. For a few years, another attraction was added - "the scaregrounds"; then a haunted train attraction was offered via a partnership with the local Stroudsburg Railroad. Because their season is longer than New York's, running well into October, a new event is being offered this year for the last weekend of the faire: Halloween Days and Spooky Nights, which will have some special shows scheduled and will allow younger visitors to go trick or treating amidst the faire's actors and vendors.
So for those who feel that Halloween doesn't last nearly long enough, or for actors looking for ways to improve their improv skills, crowd management technique, or to build up some acting stamina, venture out to your local Renaissance faires and be prepared to be pleasantly surprised at what they have to offer.
For More Information:
http://www.monolithgraphics.com or Dark Realms Magazine
http://www.rennfest.com/mrf/ or (800) 296-7304
http://www.renfair.com/NY/ or (845) 351-5171
http://www.parenaissancefaire.com/ or (717) 665 - 7021
~~
Halloween takes a Holiday:
The Darker Side of Renaissance Faires
I didn't start out as a haunter.
I wish I could plead otherwise. I certainly had the love, interest, and passion for it to be true. Instead, I found another place where I could put on a costume, assume a new identity, and menace visitors who paid for the privilege of abuse.
I was a "Rennie" - a Renaissance faire actor.
Years later, after I'd found my way into the dark attraction community, I visited the Maryland Renaissance Faire. To my surprise, I saw a strong goth/Halloween presence there - both in the crafts being sold and in the garb of other faire-goers.
My surprise was unwarranted.
As it turns out, it's not uncommon for haunt actors to be seen honing their skills at local Renaissance faires. Jim Jensen, an actor who's worked as a guide for Philadelphia's Grisly Gothic Gables, Eastern State Penitentiary, and the Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, as well as a cast member of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, expressed absolutely no surprise at the tie-ins between the two worlds. "Working at Grisly Gothic Gables is the second best job I've ever enjoyed; Penn Ren was the first," he declares. "The difference between spooking and Penn Renning was only that Penn Renn had a bigger 'stage' and a wider audience."
At the Maryland Renaissance Faire, Halloween touches the festivities thanks to the presence of Ken Carns. A sculptor and artist, he first joined the faire in the early 1990's as a vendor hawking his wares. "It's a curse," he admits. "I have these creatures and images living in my head, and they need to come out somehow...!"
When the opportunity arose for him to create a more substantial display, he did so - and the Museum of Unnatural History was born. For $1, patrons became able to explore the physical evidence of such mysterious creatures as elves, goblins, dragons, and more during a 5 to 10 minute walk through the museum.
The displays vary from well-detailed sculptures behind glass to little bundles of creepy somethings moving around restlessly in low-set water-filled tanks. "Disney tells people that fairies and elves were cute!" Ken exclaims. After a tour through his museum, however, those misconceptions should be put very much to rest.
As early as 1991, gothic/fantasy artist Joseph Vargo was taking his artwork to renaissance festivals in northeastern Ohio. His booth, adorned with skulls and ravens, heralded the birth of Monolith Graphics. The merchandise line was small, limited to t-shirts and art prints. "I started out with some images of dragons and warriors," says Joseph, "but before long I began introducing some of my old favorites, such as skeletons, vampires and gargoyles, into our product line. This darker, new direction was well received, and the gothic prints and shirts eventually became our most popular merchandise."
The Renaissance age was rife with dark influences. Though today's faires tend to focus on Monty Python-esque humor, jousting, gorgeous costuming, and royal history, the familiarity of death, shadows of the Black Plague and church-sanctioned torture hover in the back of one's awareness.
Some like to joke such horror away. Others choose to face it straight-on.
The New York State Renaissance Faire opts for the latter, utilizing the haunting experience of Rich Hanf to create a historically accurate torture chamber. The Chepstow Dungeon has been open for 3 years now and runs with a staff of two Dungeon Wenches, 4 Executioners, and Rich himself. Whereas the Museum of Unnatural History lives in a permanent home, the Chepstow Dungeon is built at the beginning of each faire season and dismantled at the end, allowing for the show to be redesigned and changed each year.
The idea of this show and its executioner-guided tours is to educate as well as entertain. "I don't think anyone expects the show they get," explains Rich. "Many people go in saying...'Dude...this is sooo coool' or 'Hey Man...can I tie up my girlfriend?' We are very knowledgeable about Medieval times and especially torture...that includes the social, political, and religious aspects surrounding the use of that torture. NOBODY..AND I MEAN NOBODY that goes in laughing and making light of things comes out the same way. They are usually kind of quiet and subdued. They are not laughing. Many are shocked by the brutality of what they just saw...but more than just that...by what they just experienced because we all specialize in making it come alive for you. It is gut wrenching."
Between the detail of the sets and the talent of the seasoned haunt actors on staff - during the Halloween season, Rich's executioners return to Kevin McCurdy's cast - the Chepstow Dungeon has been successful enough to generate a second exhibit at the faire, the Medieval Weapons of War, as well as two traveling side shows - the Dungeon of Doom and Terrors of the Unknown - that can be seen at various carnivals and fairs in New Jersey.
Other aspects of Halloween come into play at the Renaissance festivals in October, near the end of the faire season. At the New York Renaissance Faire, patrons thrill to the terror of The Forest of Fear, featuring 5 walk-through attractions (including, of course, Rich's dungeon). Themed skill games and vendors join the haunted attractions and mazes for an event that runs every weekend in October, and has done so for 8 years now.
The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire has tried various sorts of haunted attractions. Their main event, Edgar Allan Poe Evermore, is a very popular theatrical show that takes place within a mansion on the fairgrounds property and involves the retelling of various Poe works. For a few years, another attraction was added - "the scaregrounds"; then a haunted train attraction was offered via a partnership with the local Stroudsburg Railroad. Because their season is longer than New York's, running well into October, a new event is being offered this year for the last weekend of the faire: Halloween Days and Spooky Nights, which will have some special shows scheduled and will allow younger visitors to go trick or treating amidst the faire's actors and vendors.
So for those who feel that Halloween doesn't last nearly long enough, or for actors looking for ways to improve their improv skills, crowd management technique, or to build up some acting stamina, venture out to your local Renaissance faires and be prepared to be pleasantly surprised at what they have to offer.
For More Information:
http://www.monolithgraphics.com or Dark Realms Magazine
http://www.rennfest.com/mrf/ or (800) 296-7304
http://www.renfair.com/NY/ or (845) 351-5171
http://www.parenaissancefaire.com/ or (717) 665 - 7021
