Visitors at Olympic Theatre Art’s “Kings, Queens, & Royal Scenes, A Renaissance Faire” fundraiser on Aug. 21 and 22 were entertained by a variety of activities in the theater’s parking lot off North Sequim Avenue.
“We are having fun helping raise money for these guys,” attendee Shelly Ament said. “They could use some improvements in their theater.”
Donna Stinson, operations manager for the nonprofit dedicated to promoting theater skills in Clallam County, said she hasn’t tallied the full amount but that the theater made at least $3,500 on Aug. 21.
Linda Alders, of Sequim, volunteering at the Sequim Lions’ food truck, agreed that the Saturday turnout was larger than Sunday. She said, “It’s going very well. Yesterday we had a bigger turnout than expected, and today is looking very promising.” She said that 14 Lions volunteered and, “We’re having fun with it.”
More than a dozen members of the Sequim Lions prepared a special meal for people who paid extra to be part of Queen Elizabeth I’s court while watching performances from six of William Shakespeare’s play.
From each play, director Richard Stephens chose a scene that features a royal protagonist. Between the scenes he wove a story of interaction between the queen and the playwright, allowing for audience breaks and additional dramatic action.
Under direction from Stephens, Marissa Meek and Timothy Thorns, actors performed their lines with passion and took full advantage of the extra space the parking lot provided.
There was a “huge amount of coordinating separately and then it all came together,” said Rosie von Engel, who was praised by others for her handling of the sets and props.
”(It’s) like you have all these puzzle pieces and then the day you set up – boom! It all comes to together.”
Other activities included in the price of admission were a coloring booth, storytelling, live music, and games such as darts and toss the rat: a variation of toss the bean bag using large rubber rats.
“The rats are very squishy and bouncy,” said attendee Katherine Graff of Sequim.
Storyteller “James the Obscure,” Hodgson, a past president of Story People of Clallam County who has been storytelling since 1968, attracted a steady stream of listeners.
The line to Eve Datisman’s fortune-teller stall was consistently long as she interpreted palm shape, size and line.
“I’ve been playing around with (hand-reading) since college,” Datisman said.
Datisman does not read professionally; she did the fortune telling to help the theater. She said the theater’s ad for volunteers called for wenches, but noted, “I’m 71, which seems a little old for a wench, so I said I could tell fortunes.”
Datisman said that on Saturday “there was a long line of folks still waiting after close” … and she read them all.
In an address to the crowd, Stephens echoed the sentiment expressed by many involved in appreciation of all the workers, volunteers, actors, and attendees who made OTA’s second Renaissance Faire a success: “As you know, theater is a collaborative enterprise.”
For more about Olympic Theatre Arts, see olympic theatrearts.org.
Dr. Rosie’s Plague Posies, “Where there are smelly scenes, you use them to freshen your nose,” said Rosie von Engel at the Olympic Theatre Art’s Renaissance Faire in Sequim on Aug. 22. The posies are a combination of rosemary, mint and melissa (lemon balm). Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Dr. Rosie’s Plague Posies, “Where there are smelly scenes, you use them to freshen your nose,” said Rosie von Engel at the Olympic Theatre Art’s Renaissance Faire in Sequim on Aug. 22. The posies are a combination of rosemary, mint and melissa (lemon balm). Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Dr. Rosie’s Plague Posies, “Where there are smelly scenes, you use them to freshen your nose,” said Rosie von Engel at the Olympic Theatre Art’s Renaissance Faire in Sequim on Aug. 22. The posies are a combination of rosemary, mint and melissa (lemon balm). Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Beefeaters at the service of Queen Elizabeth I lock a man in the pillory after his companion paid a golden coin for the service at Olympia Theatre Art’s Renaissance Faire on Aug. 22. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
“Jim the Traveler” Bufen and Shelly Ament listen as Eve Datisman reads Bufen’s palm at Olympic Theatre Art’s Renaissance Faire in Sequim on Aug. 22. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Courteney and Katherine Graff toss rats into holes at the Renaissance Faire in the parking lot of Sequim Theatre Arts on Aug. 22. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Courteney and Katherine Graff toss rats into holes at the Renaissance Faire in the parking lot of Sequim Theatre Arts on Aug. 22. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Carol Willis, former Executive Director of Olympic Theatre Arts, holds up an illustration of the future redesign of the the theater’s exterior at OTA’s Renaissance fundraiser on Aug. 22. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Patricia McArthur, as Queen Elizabeth I, expresses her displeasure to Shakespeare, flanked by maid-in-waiting Merrin Packer, at OTA’s “Kings, Queens, and Royal Scenes, Renaissance Faire” on Aug. 22. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Richard Stephens, playing William Shakespeare, speaks to the audience at Olympic Theatre Art’s Renaissance Festival in Sequim on Aug. 22. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Richard Stephens as Shakespeare speaks to the audience at OTA’s Renaissance Faire as Queen Gertrude and her advisor Polonious approach Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
William Shakespeare, played by Richard Stephens, comforts his actors after being scolded by the queen at OTA’s Renaissance Faire in Sequim on Aug. 22 Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
King Lear laments to the skies as the hard hearts of his daughter begin to drive him mad in a scene from Shakespeare’s King Lear in the parking lot of Olympic Theatre Arts in Sequim on Aug. 22 Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Mark Valentine, as King Lear, portrays a scene at Olympic Theatre Arts’ “Kings, Queens, & Royal Scenes, A Renaissance Faire” on Aug. 22. Looking on are, from left, Matt Forest as the squire to the Queen, Susan Cates as Goneril, Patricia MacArthur as Queen Elizabeth I and maid-in-waiting played by Merrin Packer. Sequim Gazette photos by Emily Matthiessen
