Merrie Olde England beckons Dec. 11 - 13
By Aubrey N. Walder
Hear ye, hear ye, come one, come all to Merrie Olde England Dec. 11 - 13 for the annual Madrigal Dinner.
A $22 ticket entitles you to a lavish 16th century feast and entertainment that includes Renaissance music, dancing, gymnastics, and a jester, all in the Grand Hall, more commonly called the Upper Gym.
Serving the meal and providing the entertainment will be nearly 50 performers in the Collegiate Chorale, Brass Ensemble, Recorder Ensemble and Chamber Singers, all dressed in 16th century costumes.
This holiday extravaganza is being staged by first-year director Kathy Sarver. Sarver has directed music groups and assisted with play production at the college for several years.
William Hall, who started the Madrigal tradition at IVCC 25 years ago, is assisting with choreography. Hall, who retired from the IVCC music staff in spring 1977, produced 23 Madrigal Dinners on campus.
Sarver said she was enjoying her work with the diverse cast of about 50, a mix of college students and members of the community.
"I’m a grade school teacher, so it’s been nice working with the older students and adults from the community," Sarver said.
The menu for the dinner, one typical of old English banquets, will feature Rock Cornish Game Hen. The food is being catered by the Illinois Valley Banquet Center in LaSalle which has prepared the meal for several years.
This is the first year for the dinner to be staged in the Upper Gym. Past dinners were in LRC-D or LRC-E, but those rooms now house a computer lab, Project Success and the Counseling Center.
Sarver said the acoustics in the Upper Gym are not as good as in the LRCs, but the performers are acclimating to the change. The Upper Gym seats about the same number of people with around 160 seats available each performance.
The dinner usually sells out, so Saver advises anyone interested in attending to pick up tickets soon. Tickets must be purchased in advance in the bookstore.
The performance will begin at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 12 and at 2:30 on Dec. 13.
11/19/98 the Apache