Wonders of the Renaissance come alive at Faire

It's a battle between clans at the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire in Ansonia's Warsaw Park, weekends between June 22 through July 7. It's a battle between clans at the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire in Ansonia's Warsaw Park, weekends between June 22 through July 7. Photo: Contributed Photo Photo: Contributed Photo Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Wonders of the Renaissance come alive at Faire 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Here's the quandary in short: It has been three years since the Grand War began between the Northland Contingent and the Cuulayne Allied Legion.

Now, Northland King Mendax has proposed a peace treaty with the Allied Legion's Queen Erulisse.

Can Mendax be trusted? Are his intentions honorable? And who assassinated the sad queen's husband, leaving her to rule alone?

These and a myriad other questions may indeed be answered during the next three weeks at the third annual Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire at Ansonia's Warsaw Park.

"When I was 10 years old, I visited my first Renaissance fair in New York, and I was completely in awe," said Daniel GreenWolf, a professional magician and co-producer of the event. "It was a world like I had never experienced and my imagination went wild. I knew then that Renaissance fairs would be part of my life as an adult. They really do inspire your imagination."

Warsaw Park will be transformed into Anleigh (pronounced Ahn-lee), a small village in the kingdom of Cuulayne, where the Midsummer Festival is presented.

Both sides (about 250 characters in costume) in the Grand War consider it neutral territory. In addition to plenty of villagers, soldiers and royalty, the village is populated by "elves, fairies, orcs, goblins, animal-kin and dwarves," he said.

Among the entertainment featured will be GreenWolf, who tells ancient stories and performs such feats as fire breathing; Knights of Gore combat demonstrations; Granny Gruesome's Gleeful Tales; the Voice of Anleigh Renaissance music; Tribal de Luna belly dancing; a Crime & Punishment troupe that combines examples of Medieval torture tactics with "modern hilarity"; The Harper & The Minstrel, with Celtic harps, flutes, recorders and pennywhistle; Sasha the Fire Gypsy; and Duncan Inches' Stand-Up Shakespeare.

On the second and third weekends, a highlight is George Bogorad's Juggling Madness show, in which he uses everything from "clubs, to axes, to jugs, to chickens," the producer said.

Embracing the Earth pottery demonstrations, Thyme Awaye Celtic folk music and sword demonstrations by the Athena School of Arms also are slated. Three Pints Shy, described as a raucous pub band, performs on Saturday, July 6, only.

Food and refreshments will be available for purchase from the fair's own Flippyn Byrd Tavern, as well as from independent vendors selling Turkish delights, desserts, ice cream and other picnic fare.

GreenWolf said that another huge draw of the Renaissance Faire is its bazaar with more than 40 unusual crafters and such vendors as Medieval Moccasins; Crystal Wand Curiosities, Silver Moon Herbals, Knyghthawke Armory, Dragon's Nest jewelry and Edged Beauty swords and daggers.

GreenWolf added that 10 percent of the proceeds will go to the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven in honor of those within the troupe who have battled cancer.

"The Renaissance was such an incredible time when science, art and music were all experiencing a renewal. It was a time, unlike the Middle Ages, when people again were celebrating life," GreenWolf said.

"We try to re-create the historical and add the magical, the fantasy," he said. "We're trying to create joy and fun."

pasboros@ctpost.com/ Twitter: @PhyllisASBoros

Warsaw Park, 119 Pulaski Highway, Route 243, Ansonia; June 22-23; June 29-30, July 6-7. 11 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. Saturday night shows, 7-9 p.m. $16 ages 15, older; $11 ages 10-14; $6 ages 5-9. $12 veterans, seniors, disabled and members of the Peace Corps. Season pass $50. Saturday after 5 p.m. or Sunday after 4 p.m. $8. www.mfrenfaire.com.