Aloha, and blessings to all. Yes, I know my greeting is not "period" but it fits.
Please pardon me if others have asked and I've missed the thread, but I seem to not be able to find what I seek. I've been told that there is a book, pamphlet, guide, cheat sheet, manifesto, directive, regulation, law, and Royal Commandment that is titled something similar to what I wrote in the subject line...and that it is essential, required, directed, ordered, and royally commanded reading. Is there a copy, perhaps in pdf format, somewhere online I can find and read and promise, more or less, when it suits me of course, to obey. Of course, if I give my word to obey I shall. But I would like to read the Great Book before I am sworn to servitude. Mahalo.
Ben
I thought is used to be linked to Queen Margaret's Bower, but not finding that link there. Ah, yes, it does say you can request it, but to be truthful, I am not sure if she monitors that email any longer (http://www.angelfire.com/journal/queenmags/index.html)
It might be linked in somewhere at
http://scribe.faire.net/
This used to be linked on the old forum:
The Player's Handbook of Basics for the Serious Renaissance Faire Playtron
by Janna Casstevens, Performing Company Director, Scarborough Faire the Renaissance Festival
"Playtrons
"The playtron is the die-hard fan of a festival and its performing company. They can be the lifesavers of the actors they love so much. Often, they are personal friends of the performers. Playtrons take the time to learn the characters, the etiquette, the garb, the history and all the little nuances of what is going on at their particular venue. They build a persona that is attached to the festival and its characters. They may be future or former cast members. They are just one step away from being a part of the performing company themselves. They abide by the festival rules, including NOT entering the performing company's "keep" for any reason. They know that performers are not allowed to drop character and they play along in the lanes with respect of the actors' constraints. Often, playtrons have better costumes than the performing company! They are generally the first to be mistaken for performing company members by the audience.
Playtrons seldom, if ever, show up outside the festival grounds in garb."
Sorry, can't help any further.
Capt Marga
Gramercy and Mahalo Capt Marga. I sincerely thank you for your spending the time to write such a detailed reply...especially to type and share the extensive quote from HRH QM. It was interesting reading. Whilst unlike many I have no time or aspirations...and indeed no theatrical talent whatsoever (in the timeless words of CE..."a man's got to know his limitations"), I would like to read the full guide so I can more easily not err. Or if I'm going to err, at least I know it and decide to do so.
Capt Marga, I also read over the link you provided. While it is interesting, I noted that it appears, though I could be wrong on this, that the bower has not seen a posting to it since Nov 07, and months passed before that last one and the one before, and many of the previous links are sadly not now active. You were correct in that the link you cited seems not to be active. I explored the other link you provided http://scribe.faire.net/ and found nothing to match my quest. Again Capt Marga, Gramercy for your efforts. I owe you a kindness for a kindness.
Does not anyone have a pdf or word or scanned or some other file on this revered guide? Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. In fact, it might be a great posting thread for this forum.
I know it is posted one of the playtrons groups. I will ask if it is permissible to post it in a more public location
Ben,
you can reach HRH QM at the following email as they author she maybe able to help. Janna Lewis, Scarborough ED [scarboroughdirector@yahoo.com] ;D
Quote from: SirRichardBear on April 23, 2009, 09:46:41 AM
I know it is posted one of the playtrons groups. I will ask if it is permissible to post it in a more public location
Gramercy Sir Richard Bear. I think that would be splendid! I suspect that others might find it useful and informative.
It can be helpful in a lot of ways, but I did not neccesarily agree with all of it.
The Marques and I are pretty serious playtrons, but because we also are members of the SCA we frequently wear garb outside the faire grounds.
I can paraphrase some of the more helpful guidelines:
1. Please avoid wearing purple out of courtesy to the cast. Many casual visitors assume anyone in purple garb is part of the faire royalty. This sometimes causes problems for the faire if you are seen doing things that cast is not supposed to be doing.
2. It is considered bad manners to deliberately try to get one of the cast to break character. Otherwise, most of them are happy to play along and bring you into their conversation. This provides lane entertainment for other guests.
3. Please do not openly criticize the garb or costume of other guests where your comments might be heard by the general public. Most causual visitors to the faire ssume that anyone in costume works there. Snide remarks and insults reflects badly on the faire and other cast members.
4. Please do not grab at the garb that cast is wearing. While the clothing is generally very strudy, jewelry or other accessories may be fragile. In addition, many cast costumes have quick release mechanisms that allows them to change quickly during the day. It would be embarrassing to all concerned if you accidentally disrobed the king.
5. Manner of address, when in doubt, My Lord or My Lady will do. If you can't remember whether your Grace or your Excellency is more appropriate, don't fash yourself over it.
6. You might also notice that Lords walk with their noble Ladies to their right. An old Renaissance quote says "A lady on the left is no lady at all". This probably has something to do with muddy streets or where a gentleman carries his sword, but if you want to 'fit in' this is good advice to remember.
7. Bowing and such. Everyone bows to the king. You bow to those nobles who outrank you. But try to bow from your knees to avoid unfortunate accidents in your wake. Usually a dip and a nod is sufficient.
A good bit of advice to explain this part of chivalry is to treat your equals as your betters, courtesy to your betters and deference to the king.
I apologize if this is a bit long-winded, but I hope it helps.
Here's just a rat-fact that some may find interesting about garb/costuming outside the venue.
This originally stemmed from professionalism in Theatre. It was considered unprofessional to appear outside (offstage) in costume.
It had significance as well. There were time periods when actors were not in favor, and wearing theatrical makeup and costuming set one aside, ie, "marked them out" as a target (as an actor).
Also, in times past, the costumes belonged TO the theatre. The actors could not take them off site, as they did not belong to them. Additionally, they were taken off-site by laundresses and/or seamstresses for airing, repair, and any laundering that might be done before the next performance.
Capt. Marga (with many years of theatrical background)
Capt. Marga, I used to do a lot of community theatre when I lived back in TN, and it was an unwritten rule that you did not appear outside the theatre in costume. I'd forgotten about that till you mentioned it. Part of the attraction of going to Faire for me is to get to be another character. I miss theatre, but I don't have the time to devote to it these days.
Lady Morna
True but a kilt is never a costume its highland dress. Its considered very bad manners to call a kilt costume.
Costume or dress up, it is bad manners to wear them after faire in public. The cast is strongly discouraged/not allowed to wear our costume/dress when we go out into Waxahachie to have dinner after the show. Most of the highland gamers will change after the event as well before we go out after a games, not just here, but at every games I have been to.
Brittney
i notice you said most not all change
Quote from: Brittney on April 26, 2009, 07:01:01 AM
Costume or dress up, it is bad manners to wear them after faire in public. The cast is strongly discouraged/not allowed to wear our costume/dress when we go out into Waxahachie to have dinner after the show. Most of the highland gamers will change after the event as well before we go out after a games, not just here, but at every games I have been to.
Brittney
I can understand this for the cast, but I feel differently for a playtron. We drive between 2 and 3 1/2 hours each way to go to faire, usually putting on some of our garb before leaving home, and leaving the last minute things (belts, pouches, hats, farthingale (me), bodice (me), boots) until the parking lot, so that we're comfortable while driving. So when we leave faire, on the 3 hour ride home, we usually stop somewhere to eat. We don't bring a change of clothes and wear our garb in. I can't imagine that this could be considered bad manners. And it also is free advertising for the faire, as many people ask why we are dressed up, and we educate them about the faire in their neighborhood.
I agree with Lady Renee Buchanan. We don't go out of our way to be rude or do anything in bad taste, but generally the younger crowd all goes out together right after faire for food and sometimes drinks. We're not usually ready to say goodbye after cannon.
We don't wear weapons, armor, or much of the outer "last minute" dress, but Andrew keeps his kilt and poet shirt on. I keep on the skirt, blouse, and bodice. I've never heard that it was considered "bad form". And like Lady Renee said- When people ask about our "funny costumes" we direct them towards Scarborough faire. It's great advertising.
And as for the kilts- The vast majority of Grimm's garb is imported from Scotland- He is part of the Campbell clan. But he never takes offense to someone calling it a costume. He has only worn it a few times outside of faire.
Costume? What costume?
I am not cast and can understand the rules for cast being in theater so long- but as a playtron- there are no rules!
I wear my garb.
I agree with the last thee posts. I come to faire mostly dressed and leave that way. In fact I still have my pants & ren shirt on :) (Mostly because I'm too tired to change!)
However, I can see why the cast & those in stage show acts would change so as to not be so easily recognized outside the faire.
I thought I might add a little tidbit that I left off my original post here.
Try to avoid using thee and thou and ye. I know you saw a lot of thees and thous in Shakespeare when you were in school, but the usage is actually a little tricky. You should avoid saying thee or thou to someone unless,
well, its someone you can kiss or kick.
examples: Thou art knave and I denounce thee for the thief that you are!
or, How do I love thee, let me count the ways. (apologies to the poetess)
Now Ye comes about in the 18th century from misreading the old Norman French alphabet. An alternate symbol called thorn replaces the th. - þ -And in some cursive scripts this looks like a Y.
So in fact, Ye Olde Tavern is really just The Old Tavern.
Quote from: DonaCatalina on April 27, 2009, 08:25:20 AM
I thought I might add a little tidbit that I left off my original post here.
Try to avoid using thee and thou and ye. I know you saw a lot of thees and thous in Shakespeare when you were in school, but the usage is actually a little tricky. You should avoid saying thee or thou to someone unless,
well, its someone you can kiss or kick.
examples: Thou art knave and I denounce thee for the thief that you are!
or, How do I love thee, let me count the ways. (apologies to the poetess)
Now Ye comes about in the 18th century from misreading the old Norman French alphabet. An alternate symbol called thorn replaces the th. - þ -And in some cursive scripts this looks like a Y.
So in fact, Ye Olde Tavern is really just The Old Tavern.
So if one should not use thee or thou what would one use? ???
Quote from: Your Grace on April 27, 2009, 08:40:08 AM
Quote from: DonaCatalina on April 27, 2009, 08:25:20 AM
I thought I might add a little tidbit that I left off my original post here.
Try to avoid using thee and thou and ye. I know you saw a lot of thees and thous in Shakespeare when you were in school, but the usage is actually a little tricky. You should avoid saying thee or thou to someone unless,
well, its someone you can kiss or kick.
examples: Thou art knave and I denounce thee for the thief that thou are!
or, How do I love thee, let me count the ways. (apologies to the poetess)
Now Ye comes about in the 18th century from misreading the old Norman French alphabet. An alternate symbol called thorn replaces the th. - þ -And in some cursive scripts this looks like a Y.
So in fact, Ye Olde Tavern is really just The Old Tavern.
So if one should not use thee or thou what would one use? ???
You works just fine. ;)
If you are on friendly terms with someone you could use thee and thou.
I is just recommended that you otherwise not because the usages are complicated.
One would not address the king, for example, by Thee or Thou, unless of course one were his wife in their privy chambers.
You might address your best friend with Thee, such as "I would have thee join me in the tavern for a pint"
This was something we learned in our history, custom and manners lecture which I was totally unaware of. But it does remind me of a line from the old John Wayne movie Angel and the Badman were girl say the familiar thee and thou are only used with family: man to wife, parent to child, or between sweetheards all others are you and they.
Of course knowing this will let you play a little more caste (checking ahead before hand of course)
Like Lord Patrick thou are a villian to our favorite scottish bad boy Patrick Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell which is an insult in at least four ways.
How much I change depends on where I am going and who I am going with after faire.
One group of friends (who perform) and I change back to our jeans & t-shirts before going to dinner, largely because, as someone else mentioned, it allows them to be off-stage while they are eating.
Another group of friends (playtrons) and I don't change completely, usually, but I at least get out of my bodice and skirt & get the girls contained properly before we go to dinner.
If I'm going directly home from faire, I drive home in my chemise & bloomers if I'm not stopping to go in anywhere, whether it be dinner or the grocery store.
A kilt (and I am not speaking of the Great Kilts) is NOT a costume nor is it garb..it is clothing and can be worn anywhere at anytime. Would you call a sari garb or a costume? What about the roosari of Iran? I believe we(the Scottish) fought for this right a long time ago. I know alot of men who have opted to wear kilts in their everyday lives, to work, to church, wherever. So, if they wear their kilts out to AppleBee's after faire I doubt it will cause much of a stir.
Oh it will cause a stir I know because I wear my kilt out to the pub and other places. Most of the time its positive I've had many people come up and say nice things a few are not so nice but then what is new about that. However perfectly correct a kilt is not costume nor is it garb, doublet etc I wear at faire is gab but me kilt is just highland attire and can be worn anyplace if you are willing to answer question.
I know that is bad form to go to faire in the royal colors but what about the wearing Chains of Office?
Quote from: Master Benjamin on April 26, 2009, 07:45:16 AM
i notice you said most not all change
It happens - some forget to bring a tshirt, or their clothes get wet when the tent blows down. In that case, some go in their faire pants/trews and poet shirt...
Capt Marga
I said most Highland Gamers, as in those that compete in the true full Highland Games that we hosted on third weekend. Those boys and girls that are not members of cast and throw can follow whatever rules they like, however knowing most of them for the last couple of years pretty closely they want out of thier hot sweaty gear at the end of the day and so change before we go share a meal.
For the cast it is a matter of being off stage, being comfortable and being requested by faire management to not go out in our costumes after the faire day has ended.
Brittney
Quote from: Your Grace on April 27, 2009, 04:06:16 PM
I know that is bad form to go to faire in the royal colors but what about the wearing Chains of Office?
I would say that if you know someone on cast is portraying the rightful holder of that office, you should not wear it also. But there are many chains of office and fealty which you might wear besides the Lord Chancellor's chain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livery_collar
We come to the faire dressed and leave dressed. I think we look great in 'public' and have had many come up and ask why we are dressed, their responses are very positive.
Quote from: Gauwyn of Brocknall on April 29, 2009, 11:31:30 AM
We come to the faire dressed and leave dressed. I think we look great in 'public' and have had many come up and ask why we are dressed, their responses are very positive.
Unfortunately, for everyone like yourself who acts responsibly when outside faire in faire clothing, there are two or three others who make drunken idiots of themselves or are, quite plainly, obnoxious in their behaviour. Those are the folks who give everyone a bad name and who give renfolke a bad reputation with some of the town folke.
But, it's really preaching to the choir as I doubt that the ones who act that way read these forums, and the folks who read these forums wouldn't act that way! :)
Lys
With over 15 years of doing stage theatre, we have many traditions and rules. one of them is that you NEVER wear your costume anywhere but on the stage.
I think it translates to Faire also. I believe the Actors themselves should not wear their "official" faire garb in public outside of Faire is it breaks the "fourth wall". Now, Faire doesn't really "have" a "fourth wall" but it does break the "Magic" of those specific characters existing in that specific place.
Now, if there was other faire garb that was not of their character from Faire....then I think that's acceptable.
When I escorted my gf and her students to School day at TRF last year, I met them at the inside of the front gate and when it was over I left them at the gate and stayed inside Faire till I knew they were on their school bus.
I stayed in character the whole time, accent and all. Answering all their questions with my characters backstory.....lol and what questions they were!!!lol. 4th graders can ask some hard ones....heh heh.
But I felt that for those kids, I had to make it seem like Faire was so magical and special that I did not, nor could not exist outside those walls....and I'd like to think it worked. To this day my GF says they still talk about the Pirate Captain Jack (not sparrow). lol.
Now, if you're not an official actor of the Faire...then I think you can do whatever you like and wear whatever you like......I personally, wear my pirate outfit whenever I can for any occasion that calls for it.
OK.... to solve the question of wearing your costume, garb, kilt, clothes, gear, outfit etc after leaving the faire...I offer this possible solution.
Let's leave in nothing more than what God gave us.
HUZZAH ! !
The cops at the intersection of the highway will LOVE it. (Well...maybe not so much when I drive by...but you get the point)
LOL! That might get way too interesting- if we have to stop for gas!
I wear my garb and make the Muggles guess where I have been!