Link to Facebook album on Mr. Webber's FB page. Link to Medieval Times restaurant.
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Senior English students took part in a Renaissance Fair recently on the outdoor stage next to the cafeteria. They seemed to have had a lot of fun, based on all of the laughter I heard from across the street.
What came to mind when the senior English teacher told me about preparations for the event was the nightly spectacle at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament in Dallas, or as its website calls it, the "Dallas Castle".
Last spring break the missus and I, the stepdaughters and their husbands, and the grandchildren went to a show. Someone made reservations for all of us before we drove up there, but I don't recall who.
One gets into the Medieval mood as soon one sees the building. It looks like an old castle! And that's just for starters. There is a water-filled ditch resembling a moat running across the front of the building with a wooden bridge going over it. The bridge looks like something from that time, and when you get close enough to the building you notice all of the details that make you feel as if you're entering a castle.
Once inside, which also looks like someone's idea of a Medieval castle (of course) everybody gets a cardboard crown similar to those you get at Burger King, and then are called "my lord" or "my lady". All of the employees are dressed in Medieval-type clothes.
There is some time to pass before dinner and the show, so everybody waits in a beyond giant space that resembles a Medieval village with a gift shop, a bar, and a space where you can see (and smell) the magnificent white horses used in the show.
Then, people dressed as a king, queen, and other Medieval-types come out on a balcony and announce the show is about to start. Then, a loud speaker (tries to) organize everybody according to names of colors printed on the tickets because the "knights" wear different colors, and you sit in certain places to cheer on your "knight".
Finally you go in, and sit in numbered chairs according to your ticket. Seating is kind of like Rudy's Barbecue, and runs in giant ovals around the arena down below. Think of putting Rudy's tables at Shirley Field, so everybody is eating at giantly long tables placed around the stadium while watching a football game.
Waiters and waitresses come around and take your order for a drink. I ordered tea, but there are other choices available.
The menu is tomato sauce and a giant piece of bread (you dip the bread into the sauce), followed by a giant piece of barbecued chicken that includes the wing and leg, a half of a potato, garlic bread and for desert a warm apple pastry.
It doesn't seem like much but you don't leave hungry!
Oh, and the waiters and waitresses call everybody "my lord" and "my lady", which is cool.
While you're eating the show begins! "Knights" on horses parade around, and on a balcony the "king" and a "princess" with other "royalty" sit and sometimes speak royal things into microphones for all to hear. Of course, everybody is dressed in Medieval clothing styles.
Giant nets are dropped from the ceilings, which protect the "lords" and "ladies" (those of us who are eating) from broken pieces of weapons that fly around during the fights.
The show centers around the "knights' trying to defeat the bad guy who wants to take over the "kingdom". The "knights" parade around on white horses, then the real fun begins.
The section we sat in was to cheer on the yellow 'knight". He wore a yellow costume. The other five knights had their own colors, and the other sections cheered them on.
The "knights" fought each other, and the winner of all the fights got to fight the bad guy. Of course, that "knight" defeats the bad guy, and all is well in the "kingdom".
I hope you can go some day and enjoy dinner and see the show.
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I have an album of 16 photos on Facebook which shows much more of what took place during the evening.