Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Ye Olde Madrigal Dinner is set!
Since 1975, the Staples-Motley High School Choirs have presented “Ye Olde Madrigal Dinners”, and will once again harken the call on, Saturday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 4, at 4:30 p.m.
Continuing the “Tradition of Excellence” guests of the King will be transported back five hundred years into the realm of English Lords and Ladies. This year Guests will enter the “Market Place” of the kingdom from the south gym where they will be taken on a new journey never seen before. After going through the city, guests of the King will be summoned by the “Crier’s Call to the Feasting Halle!”
Between the many courses of “Morsels to wyet thyne appetite,” guests will be entertained with music of the renaissance, featuring “The Boar’s Head Carol, Gloucestershire Wassail, Sicut Cervus, Ecsultate Justi” and more.
Many of these works were popular during the time of Shakespeare. Prime among them were madrigals themselves, with their “fa-la-la” refrains. Traditional Christmas carols will also be performed, a recorder trio, carolers, the Court Jester, strolling minstrels and of course, those despicable beggars.
No honored guest of the court shall go hungry in King Horn’s Castle, as the Royal Feast “fit for a king” will be masterfully overseen by Lady Lois Detloff, along with the careful eyes of the Royal Cooking Court. The courses will include the “wassail bolle,” seasoned vegetables and the boars taken in the hunt. And of course, the notorious “Flaming Plomme Pudding” will be served just prior to departure.
Also new to this year’s Madrigal is the seating of the paupers (in the stands) which will allow for guests to be involved in the festivities for a third of the cost. These esteemed guests will not partake in the feast, they will be entertained.
Tickets for this feast and celebration can be purchased; Nov. 21, 22, 23 and Dec. 1 and 2 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Nelson Insurance Agency, Staples, located on the corner of 4th St. NE and 2nd Ave. NE (one block north of the historic depot).
