As the winter lingers on, when the alder boughs are bare, we light our torches and garnish the hall. Players, poets, fighters, fencers, and fools! Practice and teach your arts at the twelfth Masque of Courtly Love. The Marche of Alderford proudly presents Masque of Courtly Love XII: Play On! Full information on our event flyer page.
Weather Update: As of 11:30 a.m. Friday, NOAA is predicting snow likely tonight, 1-3 inches accumulation possible, but ending at 1:00 a.m. Saturday. Only light flurries are predicted for Saturday, ending early in the day. The site is accessible via major (4 lane until the last few blocks) roads that will be plowed quickly. Come on over and enjoy the event!
February 23, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. EST
Grace United Methodist Church
1720 Schneider St. NW
North Canton, Ohio 44720
Site is bone-dry everywhere, and nonsmoking in or near the building.
Our spacious new site offers more list space for heavy and rapier fighting, and a new, improved populace lounge. The wealth of classes includes a Performing Arts track, a Shakespeare track and a general track. Actors and bards will find opportunities to perform, and Their Excellencies of Brendoken will hold court. More feast places have been added, and everything possible has been done for your comfort and amusement.
Martial Activities: The Masque of Courtly Love will offer both armoured and rapier combat this year, with themed tournaments for each.
Arts and Sciences: In keeping with the theme, there will be a track of classes devoted to Shakespeare and his times and one track that will explore the performing arts. The third track of classes is on an assortment of topics. Our very own version of Pyramus and Thisbe, from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, will be performed to round off the day.
Science Fair: As in the past, we will feature a Medieval Science Fair, where participants will be encouraged to promote their theories about science as they would have been in the Middle Ages.
Feast: THL Francesca de Onorati will present a sumptuous feast to delight the palate. Seats will be limited to 100 and pre-registration is encouraged.
Site Fees:
Adult Member: $6.00 (pre-registered); $7.00 at the door
Child (6-12): $4.00 (pre-registered); $5.00 at the door
Child (0-5): Guests of the Marche of Alderford
Non-member surcharge for adults: $3.00
Feast Fees:
Adult: $10.00 (pre-registered); $11.00 at the door
Child (6-12): $7.00 (pre-registered); $8.00 at the door
Child (0-5): No charge
Please make checks payable to: SCA, Inc. - Marche of Alderford. Send preregistrations to:
Cynthia DavidFurther contact information is on the staff listing page.
709 33rd St NE
Canton, OH 44714
Check the list below for the activities of interest to you. We are finalizing plans for the remaining activities, so more details will be forthcoming soon...please check again.
We will, as always, offer an extensive schedule of classes at this year's Masque of Courtly Love.
See below for detailed descriptions.
| Classroom A | Classroom B | Classroom C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Theatre in the Middle Ages | How to Shout 101 | |
| 11:00 a.m. | Family Life in Shakespeare's England | Classical Cryptology: Codes & Ciphers through Antiquity | Women Warriors |
| 12:00 p.m. | Bravado 101 | ||
| 1:00 p.m. | Who Wrote Shakespeare? | Known World Players Auditions | Soapmaking Made Easy | 2:00 p.m. | Shakespeare's Sonnets | Improv Games | Baronial Office Hour | 3:00 p.m. | Commedia dell'Arte | Rehearsal: Pyramis and Thisbe |
Theatre in the Middle Ages: In this class we will examine theater from the fall of the Roman Empire to the mid 1500s. Taught by: THL Tyzes Sofia (Zsof)
Who Wrote Shakespeare? An examination of the bard's life and work, with a view toward making some sense of the long-standing controversy over who actually authored the plays. Taught by: Baron Nigel fitzMaurice
Shakespeare's Sonnets: A hands-on introduction to the writing of sonnets in the Shakespearean tradition. Taught by Lord Peter Engelke
Family Life in Shakespeare's England: The class will take a look at the context of daily life in which Shakespeare's plays were written and performed. Taught by Baroness Catriona
How to Shout 101: A discussion on the techniques of field heraldry, with practical application during the event's tournaments. Taught by: Lady Aelfwyn Elswith
Improv Games: Commedia dell'arte of the 16th Century used the techniques of improvisation to create performances on the streets of Italy. These games will help free your creative abilities and spark your spontaneity. Taught by: THL Tyzes Sofia (Zsof)
Known World Players Auditions: Come try out for a part in the KWP's Pennsic 37 production of Medea.
Commedia dell'Arte: The class is an introduction to the improvisational theatre form known as commedia dell'arte. There will also be a discussion of the formation of a new troupe in northeastern Ohio. Taught by: THL Tyzes Sofia (Zsof)
Classical Cryptology: Codes and Ciphers Through Antiquity: The class is a review of different cryptograms used since the Romans. Students will have the opportunity to use different ciphers. Handouts are limited to a dozen. Taught by Lord Bryn of Celyddon.
Women Warriors: Learn about the real life adventures of female fighters in history. Taught by Baroness Milescent of Cleftlands
Soapmaking Made Easy: Instruction and recipes for making soap at home. Taught by: Lady Aelfwyn Elswith
Bravado 101: How to Win Before You Enter the Field: How to use appearance and attitude to win a fight or tourney before it starts. Good for any combatant, as well as marksmen and possibly artists. 1 hour, no age or class size limit. Taught by: Lord Lorenzo di Calabria
Baronial Office Hour: The Baron and Baroness Brendoken invite the citizens of Barony Brendoken to meet with them to discuss any issues or concerns.
Masque of Courtly Love has moved to a new, larger site this year with more room for fighting and classes and a larger kitchen. The new site is:
Grace United Methodist Church
1720 Schneider St. NW
North Canton, Ohio 44720
From north, south, or west: Take your best route to Canton, Ohio, and proceed to I-77. Exit onto US Route 62 east (the "Alliance" exit, number 107B, from I-77). Take US 62 east to the Market Avenue Exit. Go north on Market Avenue for about 1.5 miles to Schneider, and turn left (west). The church will be on your left after just a block or so.
From the east
If you approach Canton via US Route 62, simply take the Market Avenue exit and turn north, then follow the directions above from that point.
Any dietary concerns need to be given to THL Francesca de Onorati, the Feastocrat, by 2/18/2008. Feel free to email her at: francesca AT 4th dot com with any questions.
In order to offer as many people as possible places at feast, we are using 'common service'. Someone from each table will be asked to bring the food from the kitchen. We hope this will allow you to get to know your tablemates better and make the new folks feel at ease.
Bread (varieties to be determined) & Butter, Cheese(s)
Black & Green Olives
Capon Galantine (chicken, figs, ground pork, cinnamon, ginger, salt & pepper)
Garlic Pepper Sauce (garlic, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, red wine vinegar)
Stwed Beef (beef, beef broth, parsley, onions, raisins, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, saunders, salt, red wine vinegar)
Buttered Pasta (commercially prepared pasta & butter)
Spinach Tart (spinach, commercially prepared pie crust, sour cream, eggs, parmesan cheese, half and half, onions)
Roasted Carrots (carrots, oil, salt & pepper)
Lemon Ice (lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, water)
The Feast Steward reserves the right to serve these dishes in whatever order is best suited to the facilities available and to change the form in which they are served.
|
|
List compiled from: http://www.soupsong.com/ibard.htm.
For the convenience of our guests, Alderford will offer an on-site Lunch Tavern hosted by M'Lady Cali and her cooking team. This year's menu includes:
Prices are quite reasonable, and our delicious on-site lunch will fill your belly and get you back to the event quickly.
For those who are in the mood to attack their friends with pointy things, heavy things, or other instruments of destruction, we have just what you want! In our newly-enlarged list area the Masque of Courtly Love will offer a variety of ways to have fun killing your friends and casual acquaintances.
There will be both armoured and rapier combat lists throughout the day. A "Boast Tournament" will bring some pomp and circumstance to the list field and provide a venue for the list heraldry class graduates to show their stuff. We'll also be repeating the very popular "Dagger Tournament" from last year.
All martial activities will take place in the Main Hall.
Watch this space for more information about additional activities.
All fighters who wish to show their prowess on the list at Masque of Courtly Love, pay heed! Please bring a boast of your accomplishments, your lineage of fealty, or be prepared for our fine heralds to come up with something for you.
In the spirit of the Play On! theme, we'd like to add much pomp and circumstance to the fighting. Our newly trained heralds will be trying out their skills on the list before the final tourney.
List opens at 9:00 for inspections, and we will have loaner daggers and maces.
Sgt Einar Blakklar, Marshal-In-Charge
Lord Lorenzo of Gwyntarian, lorenzosca (at) gmail.com, is the Rapier Marshal for the Masque of Courtly Love this year. Lorenzo has a full day of fun planned for the rapier combatants:
| Time | Rapier Combat | Armoured Combat |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | Lists open for inspections and authorizations | |
| 10:00 a.m. | Shakespeare Tournament begins | |
| 11:45 a.m. | Lunch break Open list (if Marshal present) | |
| 12:00 p.m. | Bravado 101 class | |
| 1:00 p.m. | Romeo and Juliet Melee | |
| ??? p.m. | Open list for sparring and Prima Spada (after Melee) | |
| 4:00 p.m. | Lists close. To help us set up quickly for the play and for Court, please remove your equipment from the Main Hall promptly. | |
Our vision for the Science Fair is that it resembles a traditional school science fair, with two differences: it's for adults as well as youth, and the fair includes projects based on pre-1600 CE Western and Eastern civilization.
"Science" in the Middle Ages was intricately woven into religion, philosophy, culture, and myth, and wasn't necessarily the objective fact-finding that modern science at least pretends to be, even though it sometimes falls short. For example, a period-style demonstration of some scientific "fact" or principle that is *totally wrong* would be perfectly acceptable, as long as it is totally wrong in an historically accurate way. That does not mean the particular demonstration has to be documentable to period -- what we are after is the "feel" of period science, as authentic as we can make it, but still within the broader bounds of *Creative* Anachronism.
The emphasis of the fair is to have hands-on or at least be demonstrative exhibits, but papers and treatises can be presented in-persona to achieve that same quality and to involve the audience.
Adult (18+)
Youth (under 18)
Group Entry - Adult
Group Entry - Youth
Entries will be evaluated in the following areas:
Prizes will be awarded for Best in Show in adult and youth categories, Their Excellencies' choice, and Autocrat’s choice. Prizes will be given out during Court.
As always, the Masque of Courtly Love will feature a wonderful marketplace with merchants from around the area. Merchant space is limited, and due to site owner policies merchants will be juried this year for type of merchandise. No overt occult or BDSM merchandise is allowed. To reserve merchant space, and for details on what types of items are acceptable for sale, contact our Merchantcrat, Lady Maerwynn of Warwick, maerwynn@neo.rr.com.
There are a number of local restaurants and businesses within an easy drive of the event. See directions below, grouped by *, **, and *** categories from the listings.
Sit-Down Restaurants
Fast Food Restaurants
Pizza Restaurants
Groceries
Pharmacy
Lodging
Retail Stores
*Turn left onto Schneider from event site. Turn right at light onto Market Ave. These restaurants are clustered within and around the Washington Square Shopping Center.
**Turn left onto Schneider from the event site. Go straight through the light at Market Ave. to Middlebranch Rd. Turn left onto Middlebranch and travel north to Easton St. at the light. These restaurants will be clustered in or around the Oakwood Square Shopping Plaza.
***To get to Belden Village, proceed west on Schneider (the road where the church is located) to Cleveland Avenue (may be called South Main St. at this intersection). This is where Schneider ends. Turn south on Cleveland Avenue, and follow it to the traffic light at Everhard Road. Turn right (west) onto Everhard Road, and you will come to the Belden Village area as Everhard passes underneath I-77.
Performing arts are a featured theme this year, and our team is already planning for a day filled with song, theatre, and other performances. Guest performers are welcome -- contact our Class Coordinator to arrange a schedule slot. Also, note that we have a track of classes that are focused on performing arts.
This is the main schedule for the event (subject to change). Schedules for Martial Activities and Classes are on their respective pages. Times are U.S. Eastern Standard (EST).
| 8:00 a.m. | Doors open for staff and merchants only | |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | Doors open for populace | |
| Lists open for armor inspection | Main Hall | |
| 10:00 a.m. | Lists open for martial activities | Main Hall |
| Classes begin | Classrooms | |
| 11:30 a.m. | Lunch tavern opens | Populace Lounge |
| 1:30 p.m. | Lunch tavern closes | Populace Lounge |
| 4:00 p.m. | Martial activities close | Main Hall |
| Classes end | Classrooms | |
| 4:30 p.m. | Pyramis and Thisbe | Main Hall |
| 5:00 p.m. | Brendoken Baronial Court | Main Hall |
| 6:00 p.m. | Feast begins | Main Hall |
| 7:30 p.m. | Bardic Circle | Populace Lounge |
| 9:00 p.m. | Site closes to populace | |
THL Milica of Varna (Katherine Courtney) 330-493-4616
milica@4th.com
Lady Ursula the Widow (Michelle Hartz-Coutts)
mhartzcoutts@yahoo.com
Lady Cynthia (Cynthia David)
709 33rd St NE
Canton, OH 44714
(330)492-8257
cjdavidcpc@aol.com
Sgt. Einar Blakklar
einar@neo.rr.com
Lord Lorenzo di Calabria
lorenzosca@gmail.com
THL Francesca de Onorati
francesca@4th.com
Baroness Catriona nicHugh Mclaey
catriona@neo.rr.com
Lady Maerwynn of Warwick
maerwynn@neo.rr.com
Maistor Justinos Tekton
justin@4th.com