Plot

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

Another thread is talking about "plot" at the faire.  Does this faire have any type of plot to be aware of that moves throughout the day?

Things like this just add to the experience.

[tcindie]

Nothing I'm aware of, though that would be interesting.

[Muffin]

Nope no plot.. In fact our faire doesn't have a village name or a specific time period...

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

Nope no plot.. In fact our faire doesn't have a village name or a specific time period...

maybe that is why I have seen some interesting styles of dress - "star wars type" ??

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

And barbarians and Starfleet away teams and Furries, oh my!  

I'm sure this year will bring an influx of Steampunk enthusiasts as well.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

While at the Bristol Renaissance Festival on Sunday, there were several people dressed in Victorian/Steampunk. Seemed a bit odd for a village set in the latter 16th Century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

How Bristol blends 13th Century Robin Hood and 18th Century pirates is a mystery to me.  Yet it seems to work somehow.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

And I go as a late 17th- or early-18th century pirate.  Well, more or less.

That's what most Renaissance festivals are, though; a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-whimey... stuff.  

But we love it!  

[groomporter]

Nope no plot.. In fact our faire doesn't have a village name or a specific time period...

maybe that is why I have seen some interesting styles of dress - "star wars type" ??

Most big Renfairs attract a certain number of customers who attend in fantasy or other costumes. One year we had an entire Star Trek-New Generation "Away Team" (complete with a Klingon) from one of the local Star Trek gaming groups. A few of the more unusual customers can be seen here http://mrffriends.tripod.com/pages_groups/unusual_patrons.html The black guy in the demon costume is known to show up at a number of faires including Bristol.

The first year I was a participant (1989) we did have a bit of a plot. The stage combat troupe had an "outlaws vs the sheriff's men" theme with choreographed fights throughout the day leading up to a climax at the combat chess match at the end of the day. But most patrons weren't really aware that there was an ongoing story going on.

[groomporter]

How Bristol blends 13th Century Robin Hood and 18th Century pirates is a mystery to me.  Yet it seems to work somehow.

The Robin Hood end is easy, you could claim an Elizabethan acting troupe is "performing" the legend of Robin at the village fair.

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

I recently saw an episode of "Big Bang Theory" where they had attended a ren faire and Sheldon (the most nerdy) was critical of the historical accuracy.  They returned to the faire where he dressed as a star trek person who had "beemed" to this era - so I guess that would work.

[groomporter]

When the Away Team showed up one of my shop help threatened to arrest them for violating the prime directive -interfering with the development of a pre-warp civilization. 

[gusjodi]

I think my favorite character that has graced our festival has got to be the "Fairy Godfather" He's the BEST!

[Will Gamwell]

From a street performer perspective, I guess you could say that there is a suedo plot this year.  The king is single and will be searching for and courting a new "queen-to-be".  This will illustrated to the paytrons at the morning gate show.  Festival is hoping to draw a lot of attention to this fact so that next year there will be a "Royal Wedding" and the Festival will be a celebration of that.

Will most of our paytrons/playtrons care?  Some will, some won't.  But perhaps another possible angle for street interaction with the customers.

Rafe

[groomporter]

Here's part of a brainstorming discussion I had a few years ago about doing a plot at MNRF

> > ... to brainstorm about doing an on-going storyline.
>
> Well, I don't want to discourage the idea. It might work. But
there are
> some issues that need to be addressed.
>
> * The Minnesota Festival has become one of the more fantasy-heavy,
> Renaissance-accuracy-light festivals. That's the direction we've taken
> that, and that's fine, but it has to be addressed in the on-going
> storyline. Chas suggested that major faire draws like Twig be part
of the
> storyline. How are we going to incorporate fairies and magic into the
> drama.

Actually that was someone else's thought. (Although I'm sure a kiss
from Twig would bring lots of -things- back to life ;-) -say... to
revive a fallen hero if the story had a need for it.) But I would
think it would involve the more reality-based groups or characters
like the court, the royal guard, maybe pirates, etc. I believe the
Mayor had his own guards this year as well? (in black and green??)

>
> * It should probably involve the Royals. They're already the most
> heavily-booked performers out there. What should they give up, in
order
> to be part of the storyline?

If I understand, our former king (George) didn't like to have court
members involved as fight troupe members because of the conflicts with
the very busy royal court schedule, but I would think at least some of
them might be involved in some of the scenes away from the court.
Scenes involving the full court might be built-in to the court's
existing appearances so as not to add to their schedule.

>
> * When will the scenario be explained? Usually, this takes place at
> opening gate.

Maybe a short "preview" scene as part of the opening gate, and then
first full scene not too long after, once there are more patrons
inside the gate?? and maybe a narrator to introduce, or end each scene
to make it clears it's part of an ongoing plot

>
> * When and where will the conflict be resolved?
>

The last time I remember this being done at MNRF was 1989 when there
was a outlaws vs the sheriff's men on-going scenario, and it reached a
climax as part of the combat chess show. That was back when the combat
chess was done in front of Bad Manor on a huge checkered mat.

> * Do we want an ongoing story that repeats every day, or one that
changes
> a couple times through the season? Would a changing show encourage
more
> patrons to come more often during the season?

I would think just one show. It may be hard enough to get things
started as is without changing it mid-run.

>
> * Is there a safe way to do stage combat on the street?

In '89 they arranged to have other participants who would help form a
circle around a street fight scene as crowd control. Back when Clann
Tartan did fest our dozen pikemen were occasionally drafted for crowd
control for fight scenes. Of course not all the scenes would have to
be fights...

> * Whcih characters should be involved in the plot? The Royals,
probably
> Shakespeare, probably the Mayor. It would be fun if the pirates
ended up
> being the "good guys."
>

-As well as some potentially new characters/groups as needed for plot
purposes.

[William_MacKean]

Rumor has it that there is a plot to get the mead guys a date.

Just sayin'