New Glarus goes medieval.
Mustafa Ali is a bearded, secretive man who describes himself as a mystic. Judging by his robes and turban, he could be from North Africa or the Middle East.
“Many people ask me where I am from,” he said. “I tell them, this morning I woke up in my bed. My business card states that I am a resident of Planet Earth. But I am a mystic! If I tell you everything, where is the mystery?”
The enigmatic Ali is one of more than 125 actors, singers, musicians, jugglers and purveyors of trinkets, baubles, bangles and beads who will take part in the Gathering of Rogues and Ruffians Renaissance Faire coming to New Glarus Oct. 14-15.
Now its 10th year, the event will take place at the Wilhelm Tell Grounds and is expected to attract more than 4,000 people to experience what life was like in Europe from roughly 1300 to 1700, the period that bridged the gap between the Middle Ages and modern times.
Hundreds of fairgoers will stop in Ali’s tent during the weekend to listen to him spin his tales, said Jennifer Bethel, executive director of the fair.
“Ali (who goes by the name Eric Sorensen when he is not in costume) is a wonderful storyteller,” Bethel said. “In addition, his drum and flute music is delightful. He makes the people who come into his tent feel very welcome.”
Bethel, who is also the founding executive director of Monroe-based Shakespeare on the Edge, said the Rogues and Ruffians gathering began in 2008 as a sidebar to a children’s summer theater production of Shakespeare’s works in New Glarus.
“We decided we also wanted to have something else for families to do, so we added a little renaissance faire,” she said.
“That was year one and it grew from 75 people that first time around to something bigger than we could ever have imagined. And the two entities are still intertwined, with every youth, teen and parent who is part of Shakespeare on the Edge volunteering all weekend long during the renaissance faire. One could not exist without the other.”
Shakespeare on the Edge was created to bring the Bard’s works to youth in Green County and has grown from there, Bethel said.
“I saw a huge need in rural areas for art and artists’ opportunities,” she said. “I’d gone to an American Players Theatre production and seen Shakespeare’s 'Twelfth Night,’ where the character Malvolio was abused, mocked throughout the play as a fool and cruelly tricked into thinking someone was in love with him.
“So you could say Shakespeare on the Edge was created to help build self-esteem and respect for one another, as well as to enhance confidence and bring communities together. We now have a following around the Midwest.”
Bethel said she has many favorites who will be performing at the renaissance faire. One of them is Jacob Mills and his Trout About, a colorful, 14-foot-long aquatic salmonid creation that he wears around the grounds, often attracting a Pied Piper-like following of children.
“He is a wonderful actor, juggler and theatrical clown who has worked with circuses all over the world, including the Ringling Bros. in Baraboo,” she said.
Mills owns the Wild Rumpus Circus in Mazomanie, an arts circus camp, with his partner Marcia Miquelon. He teaches physical comedy, juggling, pantomime, clowning, low-fling trapeze and tightwire, while Miquelon teaches stilt walking, aerial arts and acrobatics.
For those who like pyrotechnics, the Fandazzi Fire Circus will perform during the weekend, swallowing fireballs, dancing, snapping burning whips and doing other tricks.
“They Fandazzi performers play gypsy music, do fiery displays and get the crowd to chant ‘More fire!’ every time they appear. All over the faire, you can hear people shouting ‘More fire!’ because they want to see the Fandazzi Circus,” she said.
New this year, Bethel said, is a Witch’s Lair with Gertrude the Witch, who will host an enchantress’ party where kids can have their fortunes told, do arts and crafts with Gertrude and listen to her tell funny stories.
Another winner is the Legion’s Armory, a group of high school students who have studied military arts from the Middle Ages. She said they make historically accurate armor and have built a trebuchet, a type of siege machine that was used to throw large rocks, dead animals and sometimes human corpses over enemy fortifications.
The Guild of St. Michael will bring cannons and muskets, firing them periodically during the day and into the evening, Bethel said.
At other locations, kids can play games at a medieval carnival. There will also be horse and pony rides for children and four stages with numerous shows during the weekend, including plays by Shakespearean actors.
Other performers include Pizpor the Magician, Odorferious Thunderbottom and Loxen Bagel and the Washtub Wenches.
Bethel warned that there is a long and somewhat steep trail that takes visitors down a hill and through the woods to a clearing where the Gathering of Rogues and Ruffians is held.
“Going down is just fine, but coming back up can be a grind. So we've added a trail stage to break up the climb about halfway up the hill, though performers may be going up and down the slope depending on what they’re doing. Our thinking is that having some entertainment on the trail will help people get back up and distract them from the ascent.”
However, if they don’t want to take on the hill, she said a shuttle bus will be available to transport fairgoers.
“The faire really is an escape from the modernday world when you come down the slope and step back in time,” she said. “There is just so much happening and fanfare, a lot of things to enjoy.”
More information: Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids 4-12 and free for kids 3 and under. A weekend pass is $16 for adults and $8 for kids. Some activities cost extra. See agatheringof roguesandruffians.com.
Getting there: The Wilhem Tell Grounds, W5199 Highway W, New Glarus, is about 100 miles west of Milwaukee via I-94, Highway 18 and County Roads PB and W.