Medieval Banquet back on the menu

LOCAL residents have the opportunity to be thrust back in time to the age of chivalry and bawdiness (minus the bloodshed) at the Medieval Banquet organised by the Port Alfred Knights Templar this Saturday night.

The event was last staged in Port Alfred two years ago. The organisers, from the Port Alfred Masonic Lodge, took a break last year, but there were calls for the banquet to return by people who had so thoroughly enjoyed it in the past.

Basil Mills of Grahamstown will bring his battle re-enactment group again, and guests can look forward to thrilling duels, jousting and belly dancing, as well as audience participation in some mock duels, a tug of war and maypole.

Some of the best laughs in past years were when the king invited audience members to participate in the best cleavage competition – almost always entered by Gary du Randt.

Guests are encouraged to dress in period costume or face the king’s wrath, meaning enduring a penalty.

Audience members may also find themselves briefly in the stocks for various offences.

The fare, served with limited utensils, is “poachers brothe with goode breade, royal roasted beasts with scrumped vegetables a plen, and apple pie and fresh creame” for dessert.

Get your tickets at R150 from Francois on 082-490-8454. The venue is the Port Alfred High School and the banquet starts at 7pm.