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Post by bladesparks on Nov 3, 2008 13:48:03 GMT -6
I'm going next weekend. Any personal reviews? Particularly for the Arte of Defense show?
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Post by Dan Gorman on Nov 5, 2008 0:00:10 GMT -6
I'd skip Arte of Defense and see Arsene instead. Repeatedly. I like that show. If your taste runs to juvenile/raunchy, I recommend Sound and Fury. They have a new show this year. It's worth seeing, as is their other show. They do both at different times. It is an adult show though -- I wouldn't take kids and about kicked one of the kids from my club out when I saw him there last week. Also the belly dancers are impressive -- both the ones in the Greek area and the ones on the stage back by the German food (mmm, tasty German food). This may be because anything showing any kind of rhythm impresses the hell out of me, and, well, they're belly dancers. I don't really see any of the other shows any more -- I can do the banter with the performers as they go through the acts these days. If you haven't been that often -- Ded Bob is a should see at least once, and The Other Brothers (formerly Throw Up) are pretty solid most years, I'd imagine them to be so this year. I've never been a fan of the joust there -- but then, I'm not a pro wrestling fan either. they could have gotten outstanding while I wasn't looking. Stay for the fireworks and the Tartantic show outside the gate following. Dan
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Post by fox on Nov 5, 2008 8:43:55 GMT -6
I've never been a fan of the joust there -- but then, I'm not a pro wrestling fan either. they could have gotten outstanding while I wasn't looking. They didn't. Agree wholeheartedly about Arsene. Arte of Defense was much better this year. Less silly banter and some fairly robust action. Choreography was tight when I went. I've seen Ded Bob. I have noted no change in his schtick. I didn't know the Other Brother routine was the old Throw Up act. If I get back this season I'll check it out. Belly Dancers were good. Cute seeing the giant "puppets" (for want of a better word) intereact with the kids. Caste in Bronze was delightful. One does not get many opportunities to see a carrilon being played.
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Post by Aldo N on Nov 6, 2008 9:55:35 GMT -6
I'll agree with Dan on belly dancers and Other Brother, with fox on Arte of Defense. Missed Arsene this last trip, but going back this weekend.
Iris and Rose are sometimes funny, sometimes lame and NEVER for children. (I am always amazed how many parents with kids storm out of the Sea Devil Tavern once the show starts, having ignored all of the MANY disclaimers the ladies make before beginning.)
schlager7 turned me on to the competitive jousts at 4 Winds Faire, so I rarely take in the Hanlon-Lees company's show at TRF. For my money, the group at Scarborough (also choreographed like H-L) has tighter actions and more "convincing" combat. Still, it is the actual competition at 4 Winds that gets my vote.
I'll note that 4 Winds also still does a "human chessmatch" routine. I really miss the days when TRF had one.
I also go for the music: Cast in Bronze, Istanpitta, I Madrigali, E Muzeki (now morphed into Wine & Alchemy), Tartanic, etc...
I will also admit that I attend "in garb" (costume).
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Post by fox on Nov 27, 2008 9:47:40 GMT -6
The last (and only) 3-day weekend of the Texas Renaissance Festival begins tomorrow. If you haven't been yet, go. If you have never been, definitely go!!!
Just a personal suggestion here: If possible go "in garb." It makes it all even more fun.
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Post by bladesparks on Nov 27, 2008 9:59:28 GMT -6
I went last weekend. I had much fun, as usual, and got a lot of my Christmas shopping done for those folks who are sometimes tougher to buy for.
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Post by schlager7 on Nov 30, 2008 17:53:06 GMT -6
Nicole and I just returned from our final visit (today being the last day). Only caught one show. We mostly shopped. The one show was the Arte of Defense. I enjoyed it but noticed that there were only three primary performers. Earlier this season there were four. I was curious if something happened to cause one to bow out.
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Post by fox on Dec 1, 2008 8:28:47 GMT -6
My experience at TRF is that they like to try "new" ideas and mix things up a bit on the last day. You said "three primary" performers. That implies one or more secondary performers. Am I correct in guessing there were some others?
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Post by Sage on Dec 1, 2008 12:50:39 GMT -6
Hey everyone. I was just searching on google when I stumbled on this forum. I work out at TRF as an actor/fighter. I play Puck the satyr from A Midsummer Night's Dream in case anyone was wondering. Anyway the reason there were only 3 fighters in the Art of Defense this past weekend is because one of our four fighters that perform in that show (yes there are only four) pulled a muscle in his neck in a fight and couldn't perform for the rest of the weekend. Just wanted to be sure everyone was properly informed.
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Post by schlager7 on Dec 1, 2008 22:30:19 GMT -6
Ouch. When did that happen? We saw the second show on Sunday.
Also, just FWIW, I think the quality of the fights improved with the smaller cast. Things seems much tighter than years back when every weekend seemed to have a different lineup.
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Post by skiff85 on Jan 15, 2009 14:38:57 GMT -6
Hey, My name is Travis Bryant, I was one of the performers in The Arte of Defense this past year as The Amazing Peter O'Toole. Yes, we were forced to perform with three on the last day due to a pulled muscle in his neck, and it was very interesting. I'm glad to see the positive response though
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