Other Royalty?

[Thumper]

On Monday I saw another royalty group other then our own Queen.  After a bit of research, I found out that it was the King and Queen from Bristol and many of their nobles.

Not trying to cause any problems, but does anyone know why they were at festival in their royalty garb?

I was a bit confused when I first walked in and was worried that our Queen was being replaced!

Thankfully I did get to see her later in the day and at Queen's Tea (which I had never done before...it was wonderful!) 

[Katie Bookwench]

Hello Thumper --

If it was the group with a bearded king in a blue surcoate leading the entorage, then you have been mis-informed.

This group was NOT from Bristol --Like MIRF, Bristol is an Elizabethan show, therefore, there would be NO king, just Elizabeth and her Court.


This group was visiting from another faire, where Henry VII is reigning king.

[Lord Virgil]

The group you mention is from the new Mid-Michigan faire that opened last year.  It starts the weekend after our faire closes, and the founders are MRF regulars. 

[Thumper]

Thank you.  I was told Bristol and I wasn't sure.  Thanks for the info! 

Hello Thumper --

If it was the group with a bearded king in a blue surcoate leading the entorage, then you have been mis-informed.

This group was NOT from Bristol --Like MIRF, Bristol is an Elizabethan show, therefore, there would be NO king, just Elizabeth and her Court.


This group was visiting from another faire, where Henry VII is reigning king.

[Shadbolt8]

Yup that was King Henry the VII and his entourage from the Mid Michigan Faire in Frankenmuth. He was arrested shortly after and sent to the "jail"
James Raley plays him, as far as I know it was their entire court.

[Margaret]

Sort of like walking in to Burger King in your McDonald's uniform and carrying in a Big Mac, isn't it.

Personally, I just see it as bad form to come with an entire royal court to another faire.  It smacks of disrespect for the resident cast and can confuse the patrons.

[Katie Bookwench]

Well, since you mention it, Mags....let me add another dynamic to this issue.

It also put the 'villagers' (cast on the street) in a really uncomfortable position. 

In this case, the responses are limited and problematic.  If her father Henry is 'alive' how can Elizabeth still be Queen? Crowns are usually passed on in the event of Death - I don't think there are too many people who have ANY idea of history that you could convince that Henry 'got tired of being king' and 'just handed his crown over' to Elizabeth.

Therefore, accepting one character automatically denies the other - so we are left with few options: do we undermine the 'reality' of our guest, or the 'reality' of our show? 

Or is the best answer not to react at all?  Nope, that's not a great idea either. 

Rest assured, Thumper, you aren't drumming up any trouble at all for just asking a question. In fact, I'm sure a lot of people are thanking your for asking it, because they were probably confused too.

Had the MMRF called ahead and spoke to MIRF Management and/or Marketing to arrange something, this little publicity stunt would have turned out better. As it was, I understand they were asked to leave.

I don't know what sort of 'press' that will generate for MMRF. Only time will tell.

[Captain Cornelius Howard Duckman]

I think anyone wearing a crown to someone elses faire is just tasking for trouble.

[LadyAnn]

The rules at etiquette were not followed, and I think it was disrespectful.  Especially since some of the members have previously been on cast at MiRF, and are fully aware of protocol at the Michigan Renaissance Festival.  T'is truly sad

[Margaret]

No, there is no hard and fast rule about people wearing nobility garb to faire, patrons do it all the time.

However, going into a faire where you know they have Elizabeth as a Queen and declaring yourself King Henry VIII and coming in with your full court is just bad form.  If one patron comes dressed as Henry Tudor, it can be a fun thing for the cast to play off as "Oh, tis must be a ghost I do see." but a full court from another faire coming in and knowing what they are doing?  You are messing with the setting the cast and the entire faire sets out to create with full knowledge of what you are doing.

Yes, James came in his king garb after he was done with the role.  I have heard he was asked to stop doing so as well.  Vulgarians or any other 'made up' royality are fine too, because within the setting of Hollygrove-  they do nothing to negate the 'reality' of Queen Elizabeth like having her long dead father wandering about.

[LadyAnn]

Well said Margaret!  *curtsy*

[Pipere]

 Also, I've seen members of the original Vulgarian group back hanging out with official castmembers recently in pictures posted online, too.  Just food for thought.

True, but they're present on the agreement that they'll be helping out the new brood of Vulgarians since we're rather shorthanded. They're working with us, agreeing to follow our protocol and rules- so they're not negating or questioning the continuity- rather bolstering it.

I have no issues with cast or court from other faires visiting, as long as they play by the rules- which includes time and setting. I remember the Silverleaf cast invading a few years back as trolls attending a Hob Family Reunion. Did they steal the show for a bit? Yes, but it was all in good fun and they split themselves up into little groups (exceptions being their mass arrest and arrival). Did they respect our continuity? Most definitely.

My main annoyance with the MMRF's invasion was not so much the continuity issue, but just the sheer distraction of 30 or so people marching around parade-style in a massive column disrupting my bits.

[gypsyqueenie]

Bad form indeed

[Lady Deborah]

Well, this is truly what the freedom of forum is all about.  You have all validated my feelings that this appearance was in poor taste.  To simply visit our faire is a wonderful thing, a noble thing, a friendly and neighborly thing, but to do so as characters from another faire.......I don't know what official faire etiquette may or may not be, but the expressions on the faces of our visitors seemed to say it all.....they looked a little sheepish.  

[sealion]

I do hope that the MMRF cast members and/or management see this thread and realize that their "promotion" tactics are actually hurting them. I was excited about having another faire to visit and had wished them well but seeing the way that they took over the show at Mayfaire this spring left me with a very negative impression.