For a small faire, there certainly was a wide variety of entertainments -- new and old, alike! -- to choose from at Muskogee. For example, I was very pleased to find that my current favorite "singing pirate" group, The Bilge Pumps (Photo, Above), were performing four times daily on ORF's Meadow Stage. Between their excellent music and hilarious stage antics, The Bilge Pumps have easily inherited the royal mantle formerly worn by The Corsairs -- before The Corsairs became successful musical artistes, that is. Again, the "Louisiana connection" was strong here. Since The Bilge Pumps always perform at LRF in the Fall, I naturally expect to see them there -- and make a particular point to catch all their weekend shows in Louisiana. So seeing them again at Muskogee in the Spring was a most pleasant and unexpected bonus for me, indeed! Also sharing the Meadow Stage with them was Manolete, a new one-man act I had not previously seen out on the circuit before (Photo, Above Left: when he's not entertaining an audience with a performance of Bolo Dancing at The Castle, Manolete dances with the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center). As you might well imagine, there were plenty of bawdy jokes and risque humor revolving around his BOLAS, (AKA "rubber balls on a tether"), during his show!!! Another new act for me was Twisted Blades (Photo, Below: in one scenario, two clumsy swordsmen attempt to subdue an agile, highly-trained swordswoman: go figure the odds!), a comedy swordfighting troupe -- no music, sorry! -- who performed daily on the Lake Stage by the Gypsy Camp. This was definitely "ale'n chips" comedy: the Medieval equivalent of the modern sitcom. For me it was just best to kick back and relax to truly enjoy the show!!!

A new twist on an old favorite was the bagpipe-and-drum band, Scotland Rising. It was great to see the bodhran player, Brian (Photo, Left: third from the left in this view, taken at the Celtic Quarter Stage), again -- and even better to find that the move out of Texas had been really good for him. Brian used to play with The Rogues (AKA The Scottish Rogues AKA The Rogues of Scotland), principally at TRF and Scarborough but also at venues as far away as Bristol in Wisconsin. After his recent marriage, tho, he apparently moved up to Oklahoma with his new bride and founded Scotland Rising. This is definitely a band of highly-talented musicians and, as always, Brian is a consummate showman. Every one of their performances at Muskogee were loud, fast and full of energy: just the way I like my bagpipes and drums. It was a wonder, indeed, that their audiences weren't dancing in the aisles by the end of each show!

Of course I would never miss a chance to see bellydancers in action. At Muskogee, that particular entertainment was provided by Shadia Dahlai and The Purple Roses of Cairo Professional Middle Eastern Dance Company. Interestingly enough, The Purple Roses are local for ORF, being based out of nearby Tulsa. Also interesting: they relied less on balancing props -- such as swords and bowls of fire -- during their shows than other such troupes, prefering to demonstrate their individual skills along with intricate dance steps and coordinated choregraphy (Photos Above and Below). Needless to say, all their performances at the Middle Eastern Bazaar held inside The Castle itself were always well-attended (Photo, Below: particularly by His Most Royal Highness, King Henry, seated at right in this view. Ah, 'tis right GOOD to be King!!!).

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Standard Disclaimer: This webpage is strictly an *Unofficial* look at the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival held in Muskogee, OK. The author of these pages is in no way, shape, manner or form connected with the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival (3400 Fern Mountain Road, Muskogee OK 74401 :: 918-687-3625 :: 800-439-0658), the Castle at Muskogee and/or any of the sponsors associated with this event. All opinions expressed are strictly this author's own. Unless noted otherwise, all photographs are copyright ©2000-2004 by George Laking.

This page created 19 June 2004