Entertainment, performers, stage acts - The Great Lakes Medieval Faire

Entertainment at the Faire

Knights in full combat joust Travel back to 13th Century England! Marvel at the colorful pageantry of costumed villagers, artisan and musicians, laugh with merry entertainers, and cheer for your favorite knight in a full armoured joust. Come share the music, thrill at exciting stage presentations and jousting events.. great entertainment for all ages and enjoyment for the entire family awaits at The Great Lakes Medieval Faire!

The Timeless Tale...

Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Avaloch where we lay our scene. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-cross'd lovers now emerge in forbidden love, as Romeo of House Montague proposes to the daughter of House Capulet, the most fair Juliet. Drama unfolds as Lord Montague and Lady Capulet uncover their children's plans to elope.

Duke Escalus of Avaloch will have none of this feuding at his festival in honor of the visiting King and Queen. The Duke proposes a game of Living Combat Chess to settle the feud between Houses Capulet and Montague, and Sheriff Cordell Walker shall ensure fair play in the match. A victory for one side allows the lovers to marry, the other ensures certain banishment. Who shall win? Capulet or Montague?

The terms stand thus:

Should Romeo come out victorious, he will have earned the right to wed fair Juliet.
Should House Capulet take the game, Romeo shall henceforth be banished and never see his heart again.

For whom shall you cheer? The Capulet red or the Montague blue? Come see the excitement unfold before you, for the richness of reality speaks more eloquently than fine words.

Performers in the 2011 Faire include:

EmoMojo, Inc.	Jousting is the sport of Kings. Come see our armored Knights as they take up lances ten feet in length and try and unhorse their opponent into the dirt! There are three jousts daily.
Living Combat Chess Match	Sword and axes clash as the players fight for each precious square. Cheer your side to victory at this Battle Royale! A main event not to be missed - only one show daily.
Living Combat Checkers	New this year! Come and see the comedy that ensues when the peasants stage their own game of 'combat'. Add in Oberon, King of the Faeries, and anything can happen!
Broon	Internationally known variety comedian BROON presents a show of magic, juggling, fire eating and laughter all with an edgy improvisational style that promises no two shows will be the same. BROON has performed his special and sometimes weird brand of comedy in theaters and festivals around the country and around the world and he's happy to be returning to the Great Lake Medieval Faire once again. Note: Appearing the first five weekends (July 9th - Aug. 7th), only
Washing Well Wenches	They're wet! They're wacky! Come see medieval girls gone wild! (In a clean way.. what were you thinking? Shame!) The Washing Well Wenches bring us "good clean fun and wet, dirty women"!
Johnny Phoenix	The show is called Johnny Phoenix, comedy for a world on fire! To quote Johnny, "It mixes interactive comedy, variety arts (fire eating, whip work, and fire walk) with performance arts and stand-up comedy. Its message is strong and rooted in humanity."

Petunia of the Washing Well Wenches The sultry, sexy, fire-eating goodness of Broon Johnny Phoenix struggling to escape

Birds of Prey Description coming - patience is a virtue!

Danger Slash One half of the famous "Hack & Slash Show!" Watch Slash as he performs dangerous acts of questionable sanity. Will he survive? Don't miss it!
The DaVinci Bros
Comedy Opera Bob Da Vinci takes his audiences on a hilarious ride as they become players in his wacky view of art, history, inventions, culture, and opera - dynamic audience participation comedies make the audience the star as they becomes the orchestra, the sound effects and help to tell the story. Sensational family fun!
WonderFool Entertainer Joel Newlon brings his daredevil comedy show to the Great Lakes Medieval Faire. With zany comedy and feats done by no one else on earth, it's a must see for the whole family!
The Hopeless Romantics Comedy Show Telling love stories through out the ages, but the way they REALLY happened! Because in the books they got it all wrong! This Interactive Comedy Show involves the audience to portray some of history's most tragic couples.
Highland Games Join the fun! All are welcome to participate or just watch these challenging traditional Scottish Highland games. Prizes will be given out to the winners at each show! 2 shows daily

Lord Marshall Laww Lord Marshall Laww (the man that peasants love... to hate!) hosts Peasant Trials and Peasant Auctions. Each show is performed twice daily on the Sherwood Stage.

Lake Erie Pirates Description coming - patience is a virtue!
Note: Appearing (July 30-31st), only

Musical offerings:

Axel the Sot Heard on DOCTOR DEMENTO!
ALL HANDS ON DECK! for your favorite Drunken Sailor AXEL THE SOT! He's just come ashore from sailing the seven seas and he's brought back a BOATLOAD of COMEDY to share. Climb aboard at the DRIFT INN STAGE - 4 times daily for his NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY PUB SHOW! Get "Ship-Faced" with Axel as he brings you Outrageous Songs, Inappropriate Jokes, and Embarrassing Limericks. This Seasoned & Salty Sailor's Off-Brand Humor will make you BLUSH (All 4 Cheeks)!
First 2 Shows Rated PG-13; Last 2 Shows Rated R
Owain Phyfe A vocalist of the New World Renaissance Band, playing the "Greatest Hits" of ancient times, this well-traveled minstrel returns to our shire with music from abroad. Ancient songs in English, Spanish, French, Latin, German, Welsh, Provencal, Hungarian, and Ukrainian are presented for your pleasure. Ah, romance!
Silent Lion Intense instrumentals and lyrics of a Medieval mysticism reveal Silent Lion to be genuinely enchanted. Spirited and romantic or passionate and brooding, Silent Lion will bring you into their own magical world.
Rio Blue See his antics as he provides percussive accompaniment at the joust, the Chess match & other village events throughout the day. You can also find him with Owain Phyfe for most wonderous music.

Axel the Sot making a toast The incredible sounds from Menagerie Music Lady Ophelia More, of Lady Ophelia's Dance

Circa Paleo
(formerly Elysium & Emuziki) The violin sings ancient melodies. Ethnic drums paint a lush rhythmscape. These minstrels breathe new life into instrumental folk songs of old. Experience a passionate musical journey from East to West. Note: Appearing July 30-31 and August 6-7, only
Barrett Taylor Through the lanes of the shire this wandering piper roams, and the melodies of the Highlands will be heard by all.
Captain John Stout Description coming - patience is a virtue!
The Plunder Doggs Join this duo of scallywags as they perform seas shanties, pirate songs and traditional sailing songs, combined with comedy and story-telling.
Michael Manderen Be swept away by the melodious tunes of our Medieval Minstrel, played on lute and viola da gamba as he meanders through our magical lanes.
Lady Ophelia More's
Dance Show Lady Ophelia invites you to "Flirt the Old Fashioned Way," by dancing the dances of Merry Ole England and beyond! Watch, Dance, Frolic, and Flirt as you are entwined in the History, the Joy, and the Traditions of the dance. 2 audience participation dances daily.
Lady Judy Plester,
the Village Fiddler Nimble fingers and a dazzling array of melodies graciously come from Lady Judy and her violin. Sure to enchant and mesmerize one and all throughout the shire. Come and listen wherever you find her playing either alone, or with others, and you surely will not be disappointed.

Follow the Drama:

Opening Gate Juliet Capulet, yearning for her beloved Romeo Montague, sends for him as she daydreams of their forbidden romance. Romeo gallantly appears, hearing her musings, and proposes to her beneath the balcony, suggesting they marry that very day! This will not be easy for the lovers as Lady Olivia Capulet and Lord Theodore Montague, parents in the quarreling households, find this happening and forbid the union. Duke Escalus of Avaloch, escorting in the visiting King Henry II and Queen Eleanor, demands a stop to this feud that so disrupts the peaceful village. With fiery Tybalt supporting Lady Capulet and the loyal Benvolio and Mercutio behind Romeo, the two Houses must find a way to settle their quarrel to the Duke's satisfaction... but how?

Living Combat Chess Match To settle the feud to the Duke's satisfaction, Romeo Montague faces off against Lady Capulet and Tybalt in a winner-take-all fight for true love. The terms stand thus: should Romeo emerge victorious, he will have earned the right to wed fair Juliet; however, should House Capulet take the day, Romeo will henceforth be banished and never see his heart again. Villagers, peasant and noble alike, take arms to stand for the Houses in a fight of the heart through skill, strategy, and wit!
Living Combat Checkers Peasant Uprising? Or simply training exercise? Sheriff Cordell Walker and Friar Lawrence face off in a twisted tale of combat checkers, as Wilhelmina Hathaway, Avaloch's playwright-in-residence, tries to recreate the greatest love story ever told as peasants and fae take to the stage starring as rather inaccurate representations of star-crossed lovers.

For the Wee Ones:

Knighting Ceremony Bring the Kids! In the ceremony, King Henry II will dub Knights of the Realm and Queen Eleanor will pronounce new Princesses of the Land. Truly, a memory to be cherished.
The Adventure of Itsy Bitsy and Mr. Nibbles An adorable interactive puppet show re-telling of a childhood favorite! Join Itsy the Spider and her good friend Mr. Nibbles the "pack" Rat as he helps her climb back up the drain pipe while meeting friends and helping them along the way. An ideal show for children ages 3-7! Come and join in on the fun!
Faerie Crafts Perfect for kids of all ages! Come join the faeries in Arcadia, our Faerie Forest, and create magical paper masks, wands and more.

Entertainment Director: Jeanette M. Walmsley - entertainment@medievalfaire.com