LAKEPORT — In a meadow dotted with orange poppies and blue bonnets, a group of costumed Konocti Christian Academy students celebrated William Shakespeare last weekend at the school”s ninth annual Renaissance Faire.
Seventh- and eighth-grade students performed an abbreviated version of “Much Ado About Nothing.”
Fifth- and sixth-graders performed “King Henry the V,” a story about Henry”s assumption to the British throne, the ensuing war between France and England and his ultimate marriage to Catherine.
Third- and fourth-graders performed a comedic rhyming version of “Romeo and Juliet,” entitled “Kids in Tights.”
The second- and third-grade classes, under the direction of teacher Kerry Call, did a performance of “Morris Dancing,” a traditional form of English folk choreography dating back to the Middle Ages. Girls used handkerchiefs as a prop during the performance and boys carried sticks, using them to add to the rhythm as they clashed them together in synchronized movements.
The kindergarteners also participated in the festivities with their version of the “Twelve Days of Shakespeare,” a recitation of some of the Bard character”s more famous expressions and lines.
Along with the performances, students enjoyed a host of Renaissance-era activities such as brass rubbing and iron forging.
Additionally, students and their families were able to visit booths offering baked goods, arts and crafts and other period-appropriate craft items. Authentic hair braiding, face painting and archery lessons were also available.
Toward the end of the day, students watched a trebuchet demonstration as a grand finale for the event. A makeshift castle was set up at one end of the meadow, while at the other end, the huge catapulting device flung watermelons, bags of flour and other ammunition.
