Advertisement
As we are shorring up our "Story" (how we got where we are, who we are etc) I though it might be helpful to hear other MED Ren groups stories for inspiriation..... I have the storyline from Oojam, a California Ren Faire dance and music troupe. Also, I have invited a few of their members onto our chat line for any pearls of wisdom that will be helpful to us in our caravan travels....
Oojam's story:
My father Mahmoud had grown ill and was unable to lead the caravan to the many faires to trade our spices, fabrics and jewels so his oldest daughter of his first wife and her husband Hamzah have decided to do it for him. His oldest son Azir was away fighting wars when we headed off, but we ran into him on the way so now he has joined us as well.
My character is a mid-wife (so when I'm absent I'm out delivering a baby). On our travels we came across a Jewish woman who was in labor. Her husband said if it was another girl he would have them both killed, so I lied and told him the boy child was born dead, then disappeared in the night with his new baby girl to save her and her mother from death. This is how we ended up with Hadara.
Then we were traveling the road and came across a slave girl who had run away,(Tamara), so we took her in and now we want to test her skill to see if she is worthy of being in our tribe. Then we make her dance and ask the audience's opinion. At this point the men fight over who will marry her, at which time, my dear sister-in-law Somatrdevi jumps up and complains that she has been waiting a long time to marry and why shouldn't she get to be the first to marry. At this point I make her show off her assetts (dance) and ask for a bridal price of X amount of camels from diffierent men in the audience.
On to Mercy and her daughter Lynnaya, their caravan was attacked on the road and they were the only 2 survivors left, so we scooped them up too!(Mercy dances in honor of those who she loved or in celebration of her good fortune to be rescued)
some of our drummers are soldiers in training, one who has a bad eye already plays,Halil, the man who saved Azir's life in battle and took a blow for it. Now they are close friends and he lives with us on the caravan route and is one of our musicians (drummer)
These are just a few of our story pieces. We try to add to it every weekend, so that at the end of the run we have told the overall story of Oojam.
Hope this helps! We even let the little ones (5 total from ages 4-6 yrs) run around the stage and even dance a set! This really gets the audience going!
The most important thing is to talk to your audience. I sometimes will just give them things to do during the show. I teach them to Zaghreet, or tell them to hiss if she is very snake like. I tell them that "Aiwa" means yes and "Hizzy, Hizzy Habibi: means to shake it my sweety or dearest. We even yell out" Yella, Yalla " which means come on! This makes them feel good to know how to respond to something they like.
Good luck and Please keep me posted. I'm anxious to hear how things go!
May the sun always shine upon you,
Marjhani
Oojam's story:
My father Mahmoud had grown ill and was unable to lead the caravan to the many faires to trade our spices, fabrics and jewels so his oldest daughter of his first wife and her husband Hamzah have decided to do it for him. His oldest son Azir was away fighting wars when we headed off, but we ran into him on the way so now he has joined us as well.
My character is a mid-wife (so when I'm absent I'm out delivering a baby). On our travels we came across a Jewish woman who was in labor. Her husband said if it was another girl he would have them both killed, so I lied and told him the boy child was born dead, then disappeared in the night with his new baby girl to save her and her mother from death. This is how we ended up with Hadara.
Then we were traveling the road and came across a slave girl who had run away,(Tamara), so we took her in and now we want to test her skill to see if she is worthy of being in our tribe. Then we make her dance and ask the audience's opinion. At this point the men fight over who will marry her, at which time, my dear sister-in-law Somatrdevi jumps up and complains that she has been waiting a long time to marry and why shouldn't she get to be the first to marry. At this point I make her show off her assetts (dance) and ask for a bridal price of X amount of camels from diffierent men in the audience.
On to Mercy and her daughter Lynnaya, their caravan was attacked on the road and they were the only 2 survivors left, so we scooped them up too!(Mercy dances in honor of those who she loved or in celebration of her good fortune to be rescued)
some of our drummers are soldiers in training, one who has a bad eye already plays,Halil, the man who saved Azir's life in battle and took a blow for it. Now they are close friends and he lives with us on the caravan route and is one of our musicians (drummer)
These are just a few of our story pieces. We try to add to it every weekend, so that at the end of the run we have told the overall story of Oojam.
Hope this helps! We even let the little ones (5 total from ages 4-6 yrs) run around the stage and even dance a set! This really gets the audience going!
The most important thing is to talk to your audience. I sometimes will just give them things to do during the show. I teach them to Zaghreet, or tell them to hiss if she is very snake like. I tell them that "Aiwa" means yes and "Hizzy, Hizzy Habibi: means to shake it my sweety or dearest. We even yell out" Yella, Yalla " which means come on! This makes them feel good to know how to respond to something they like.
Good luck and Please keep me posted. I'm anxious to hear how things go!
May the sun always shine upon you,
Marjhani
posted by:
|
Kentucky
|
Advertisement
Advertisement
