Women in long, colorful dresses with flowers in their hair sipped wassail and chatted with one another. Men in oversized hats adorned with festive feathers rehearsed their lines and waited for dinner to wind down.
The 19th Annual Renaissance Christmas Dinner was celebrated December 1 and 2 in the Hynson Lounge. First held at WC in 1981,the Renaissance Dinner is a popular annual tradition. Among the festivities are several forms of entertainment.
"It's a wonderful collaboration of the arts," said junior Katie Kolacki, who performed in the choir and in Fakespeare.
The renaissance event is catered by the WC Dining Services
Following the dinner, the Royal Fakespeare Players preformed scenes from Hamlet, A Midsummer's Night Dream, and The Taming of the Shrew. Each scene was performed twice, once as an ad-libbed farce and then as Shakespeare intended the scene.
After the actors completed their scenes, the Early Music Vocal Consort entered the dining area to sing carols.
The Early Music Vocal Consort had been preparing for the dinner since the beginning of the the semester.
Garry Clarke was in the audience at the first Renaissance Christmas Dinner in 1981 and has been part of every dinner since then. "The students seem to enjoy all this," Clarke commented.
Following the carols was Renaissance dancing, preformed by dancers under the direction of Karen Smith.
Olivia Morales said, "The worst part is trying to recruit guys.
But it's a good time for everyone once we get going."Eric Kuzmunski echoed those sentiments. "Every year it's a different ordeal," she commented. "Karen has to pull us out of the woodwork.
We all form a close bond though. We put a lot of work into it."Finally, the Instrumental Consort, which had been playing in the background most the night, performed several pieces.
The experience was deemed a success by both the performers and the diners.
Luke Witt, a Fakespearian actor, enjoyed the evening. "It's all a lot of fun. I love seeing everyone dressed up in silly costumes. It's a very loose, very fun atmosphere."
A popular event, the dinner sells out every year. Those interested in attending next year are advised to order their tickets well in advance.
300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, Maryland 21620 | 410-778-2800 | 800-422-1782