What Royal this year?

[Lady Elizabeth Howard]

I help organize a trip to Kansas City Renaissance Festival along with a couple other students and teachers for our school. I attended my freshmen year, fell in love. Came back in costume and after you do that everyone expects you to know everything. I have had a few of my friends asked me who was going to be ruling over the court. And since it changes I did not know what to say. I searched to website and couldn't find out. If someone could tell me that would be amazing. Can't wait to come back this year. It is the highlight of my year. And when else do you get to dress like a Tudor noble.
Elizabeth

[Butch]

Here's a link to the sub-sub page:
http://www.kcrenfest.com/Performer/2009CourtPage.htm

Our Court Lineage
Our Year is 1547

Edward Plantagenet Earl of Warwiick, Born 1475
(Historical) King's Grandfather

Joanna Queen of Castile, Born 1479
(Historical) queen's grandmother

Maximilian of Castile, Born 1494 (Fictional)

Married Early 1507 to Abella of Castile, Born 1493 (fictional)

***MORE AT THE LINK***

[Lady Elizabeth Howard]

Thank you very much. That will help me answer that question to my questioning buzzard like friends. Must be why I love them. Debators.
Elizabeth

[kcdcchef]

seems like a different king and queen than last season. all i can do is hope. last years royalty was a real letdown from queen elizabeth the previous two seasons, she was tremendous.

[Butch]

The last year's queen performer is this year's queen performer.  That is, 2008's Queen Anne Boleyn was portrayed by Portia Bowers, and this year's Queen Isabella is portrayed by Portia Bowers.

Here's a link to the cast list:
http://www.kcrenfest.com/Performer/2009CastList.html

[kcdcchef]

The last year's queen performer is this year's queen performer.  That is, 2008's Queen Anne Boleyn was portrayed by Portia Bowers, and this year's Queen Isabella is portrayed by Portia Bowers.

Here's a link to the cast list:
http://www.kcrenfest.com/Performer/2009CastList.html

a different king then?

[Butch]

Yes!

It'll be fun no matter what!  I'm gonna have a full day!  Thanks a lot for the recommendation of the human chess match, and the info on the pub sing!  I'll be grooving on both of those!

I can't wait!  The Sunday after next will be FULL!

[LadyElizabeth]

So, the royal court is fictious assuming someone else won the war of the roses and the plantagenet line continued??  I read thru the website, but it was still a bit confusing...  I've never even heard of anyone doing a fictious court like this!

[Lady Elizabeth Howard]

We had never heard of it either. But we took it as after the reign of Henry VIII, this monarch succeeded insteaded of Prince Edward. I believe it says it on the site somewhere. And while we were a little confused at the choice of a fictious court we could hardly judge, because we as well have added ourseleves into the Howard Clan.

[Butch]

Well, the way they explained it at the start of the Living History Tour went something like this:  King Henry VIII had just passed away.  While Edward is the REAL king of England, he was unable to attend this modest harvest faire in Canterbury.  Therefore, an HARVEST King and Queen were selected.  Our guide told us (quite confidentially) that the harvest king and queen were letting their aristocracy go to their heads, and even though everyone knew they WEREN'T the true monarchs, they should be treated as if they were.

So, I hope that helps with your preparation!

Definitely sign up for the living history tour, I'm certain your students will get something out of it!

[kcdcchef]

we have had real royalty some years. we had queen elizabeth in 2005,2006, and 2007. they tend to rotate a lot. which, most seasons i absolutely love.

the neatest thing for me with the monarchy is seeing the royals playing other parts in ensuing seasons.

[LadyElizabeth]

I came the final year of your QE1 and she was magnificent.  I wasn't able to attend last year with the Anne Boleyn or probably this year either, but I will be up there probably in all subsequent years.  My mom is planning on moving back to Kansas and buy a house there, so we'll very likely come up for KCRF to attend with her.  I truly adore KCRF and do wish I could come more often, but Houston TX is a super long ways from there!!

I'd love to hear ya'lls opinion of the court once you have attended!

[Lady Elizabeth Howard]

Aww I envy. Houston is my hometown and I am stuck here in MO. I have been the last three years, and we have had a great time. The school keeps coming back and I keep dragging my friends into ti.

[LadyElizabeth]

I was wondering if there alot of other faires out there that use fictional casts??  I've personally never even heard of this.  I find that very interesting.  On the onset, I'd be against it, but then again there are definite upsides.  Like the fact that the people can kind of make up their own personalities rather than trying to play a certain well defined part...  Though honestly it would confuse me more than anything else, unless of course I was pre-warned that the royals were playing fictional characters.  I'd probably end up with a debate with the royalty or something about historical accuracy, which would be horrible of course, but unless I knew before hand it would be quite difficult for me to get!!! 

[Butch]

Well, creative or not, it sure fit!  The tour was a great way to start the day.

Thank-you, Finvarra, for being part of such a great faire!

You mentioned the Vulgarian court:  Tell me, if you please, is that a radish stem protruding from the front of the king's garment?

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

We saw and heard one of the Vulgarian 'ladies' belch, that would make the most sea worthy sailor blush - loved it !! 

[kcdcchef]

yeah, the based the 2007 faire entirely on the vulgarian court. the theme of the faire was vulgarians invade canturbury, or simplified, vulgarians invade. it was a blast.

not all years does kcrf make up their royalty, but many years they do. and many years, they have 2, 3, and even 4 sets of royalty running around. but there is generally at least one true monarch running around, someone that is the real true grand poobah.

[Butch]

Here's a link to the Kansas City Star's recent article on the Faire:
http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1428494.html

[kcdcchef]

so nice to FINALLY see the kcrf getting some love on the boards. huzzah!!! for the longest time, kansas city renaissance festival got ZERO attention on here.

[Lady Elizabeth Howard]

It just seemed stranged to me at first. The last three years I have been there was always a member of "real" nobility around. But I am looking forward to it greatly. I honestly can't wait. Neither can half our group. Kansas City was my first ren fest and I always look forward to it. And besides how often do you get to dress like Tudor nobility? Not often, and there is nothing funner, or more fun as my mother would correct me, for someone to wear.

[Lady Elizabeth Howard]

No, but after I heard they great reviews it is on my list of things to catch this time. We always try to attend the Queen's high tea and have nothing but good to say about it though.

[kcdcchef]

I'm glad you enjoy tea.  It's had a higher gypsy content than I can tolerate for the past several years.

Chess match is at 3:30.  Try to get to the Royal Glade by 3:15 because it fills up fast.  Acoustics is horrible there too so try to sit as close to the front as you can.

totally. if you are not sitting down by 3:15 at the VERY LATEST, you are not going to hear most of the chess match. usually those who call the match yell loud enough so you can hear them, but that is it. one year a fop was calling it and you couldnt hear a word. last year, the members of the lord mayor company called it nice and loud. but wasnt as funny as years past last season. regardless, NEVER MISS CHESS AT KCRF. best part of the festival.

[Lady Elizabeth Howard]

Thanks for the advise. I will relay it to my group and we will try our hardest to be there.

[Butch]

Yes, I saw the match.  I was sitting on the Fae side.  It seemed that King Radisha (I think that's his name?) had lost his voice!  Nice match, even though some of the pirates arrived late!

[kcdcchef]

Yes, I saw the match.  I was sitting on the Fae side.  It seemed that King Radisha (I think that's his name?) had lost his voice!  Nice match, even though some of the pirates arrived late!

pretty normal for chess there. from one year to the next, characters always showing up late. some like 5-6 minutes into the match even. one year, the guy calling the match was like 2 minutes late, and it was part of the act. or the year a pirate slid down over the top of you on a wire. that was amazing.

[Emerald Shaunassey]

This isn't the first time KCRF has chosen to use fictional monarchs, but they have always been the "real" king and queen as far as the rest of the cast was concerned. 
BTW, there are actually three sets of Royals: the English, the Vulgarians and the Fae.

My favorite fictional Royals were the year of the Cinderella storyline ... absolutely wonderful!  My next favorite where King Richard and Queen Elenore and the multitude of Princesses and the two Princes.  Both years where joys to work the festival and interact with the Royal Court/Cast.  Even the attendants were a joy to work with. 

So yes, KCRF can do fictional as well as Historical Royal Courts and do them well.  My favorite historical court ... King Henry and Anne Boleyn from many years ago with Rnee O'Bannion portraying Queen Anne - she was a wonderful example and an utter joy to work with!

Ya gotta love King Salmonella and his Queen.  And Crown Prince Tricky ... <sigh>  now that's a court of Royalty any pirate could love!      LONG LIVE THE VULGARIANS!!!

Emerald