YE OLDE MADRIGAL FEASTE WAS A TREATE

Guests at the Jackson High School Choral Department's Ye Olde Madrigal Feaste Dec. 9-11 experienced the calendar being turned back four centuries.

A 1599 feast at the castle of King Dole, somewhere in Medieval England, the evening featured period food, costumes and entertainment.

Hosted by Father Time (Adam Sherinski), who had to continually watch himself and the rest of the cast to avoid anachronisms like Robin Hood with a cell phone, himself with a pager or the queen with a laptop computer, the madrigal stayed true to the circa 1600 Renaissance madrigal tradition. In ye olde days, madrigals were performed (often without musical accompaniment) to entertain nobles and commoners alike. About the time this feast was set, madrigals began to appear in written form.

The JHS Choral Department handled both the music, the play which tied the various acts together, and the numerous pieces of period entertainment well. The fact that the often-rhyming script was written by the JHS congregation is even more noteworthy.

The plot which connected the various acts and numbers together revolved around the royal court. Old King Dole (Brian Haas) had not been his usual merry old soul, so Queen Beth (Arika Lucy) decided to throw a feaste in his honor. Guests included the Duke and Duchess of Glouchester (Chris Shank and Andrea Penland), Sir Henry and Lady Abbigail of Nottingham (Zach Morgan and Janice Doberenz), Lord and Lady Clairmont (Layne Beller and Christy Miskell) and the joke-cracking Lord Otto O'Quay (Joe Niswonger) and Lady Olivia O'Quay (Kerrie Gordon).

The fizzled romance of Dole and Beth's daughter, Princess Elaina (Becca Johnson) and Prince Charming O'Quay (Chris McQuay) also came into play. Elaina loved stable knave Ryan McQuay. The prince, meanwhile, loved Maid Marianna of Nottingham (Julie Roth). The prince and the pauper (played by the real-life McQuay twins) turned out to be long-lost twins who merely swapped identities and fiancs.

Entertainment was also provided by court Jesters Chester the Jester (Tim Nicolai) and Lester the Apprentice (Andy Young), the ladies-in-waiting, the serving wenches, Chef Tuffy (Keenan) and his kitchen crew and the court musicians and choirs. Too many, in fact, turned in strong performances to list.

Among the rare pleasures was seeing a live harp number, featuring Sophie Grathman on the harp, with Andrea Penland singing "Greensleeves." Many traditional Christmas songs and hymns hearkened back to a time when the Christmas celebration was still firmly focused on the birth of Christ.

The backdrops and props added to the overall effect, as did the food. The programs were also marvelous, with interesting tidbits in Olde English type and Medieval spellings. "The Book of Curtasye" was quoted, with such suggestions as "Guest myst hav nayles cleane or they wyll dysgust theyre table companyones" and "Guests myst retane theyr knyfes or they shall be forced to grubble with theyre fingers."

"I was pleased with the performances," said Director Jean Schweain. "I thought the audience participated and seemed to be having a good time, which is our goal."

The audience did, indeed. Good food, good music, a charming play and an intriguing look back in time made Ye Olde Madrigal Feaste a pleasure to attend.