CASA DE FRUTA
– In a quaint English village at the turn of the 16th century,
the nobles and townsfolk alike were awaiting the appearance of the
queen.
CASA DE FRUTA – In a quaint English village at the turn of the 16th century, the nobles and townsfolk alike were awaiting the appearance of the queen.
Although she was expected at 1:30 p.m., no one dared to call her late. They’re on queen’s time.
“If it’s have past one for her grace, it maybe not for us,” said Sir Henry Stanley, Earl of Darby, in Old English dialect.
Meanwhile, Sir Francis Drake, known as the “Old Salt Dog,” was giving a quick lesson in bowing to the queen when she made her appearance.
“You bow in true reverence because displeasing the queen can cost you more than your life,” he warned.
Just then, Queen Elizabeth and her entourage arrived at the gates of the town. Drake welcomes her majesty into the gates and shouts of “God save the Queen,” echo through the streets of town.
And so begins a day at Renaissance Pleasure Faire at Casa De Fruta, which opens this weekend with a host of dignitaries.
The Renaissance Faire, which also has shows in Southern California, New York and Wisconsin, started in Blackpoint 37 years ago before moving to Vacaville and then making its way back to the Valley after it was approached by the Zanger family, which began Casa De Fruta with their fruit stand a century ago.
“We decided we’d be better off closer to our original home,” said Ted Durden, general manger of faire. “We’re delighted to be here and the Zangers are happy to have us.”
Ever since the July 4, more than 1,000 volunteers have been working to put together a town among the trees of Casa De Fruta along Pacheco Pass Highway that will make visitors forget about the worries of the present and go back a few centuries to enjoy the life of the Renaissance.
“We take you back in time as you go through the doors,” Durden said. “What we’re creating is a late-1500s-early-1600s village. We want to be less of a Disneyland and more of a quaint village feel.”
And, because of the more than 150,000 visitors asking for more last year, the faire will be open an extra weekend this year, running through Oct. 19, which is just fine for Sir Francis Drake.
Drake, played by Will Wood, a 36-year veteran of the faire, is a former school teacher who has been playing Drake for all but one of the faire’s years.
“I’m a very slow study,” Will Wood joked.
Wood knows all about the life and times of Drake. He quickly reeled off facts about the explorer’s life, how the man once was on the California coast and loaded up a ship full of 26 tons of silver and 80 pounds of gold to return to Europe.
Wood is one of several staff members at the faire that help teach as many as 800 volunteers that play roles in the show as people of the Renaissance era.
The courses cover language, dress, history and culture and are taught by staff members. And it’s quite fitting that the faire began as a teaching tool itself to teach people about the history of Renaissance.
In order to look the part, the actors wear costumes that are almost exact matches to what would’ve been worn at the time.
David Wine, who plays the Earl of Darby, has one of those costumes.
“If you were to take him back in time, it’d be a perfect fit,” Durden said.
Visitors can buy or rent costumes of their own to fit in at the faire. While buying a costume can cost several hundred dollars, renting can be as little as $25 to $60.
“You can see if it’s as fun as it looks,” Durden said. “And it really is.”
For most of the actors at the faire, it’s a break from their normal jobs.
“It’s a once or twice a year thing,” Durden said. “They volunteer to be a part of this re-enactment.”
One of them is Gay Linn Kirkpatrick, who plays the part of the queen. While she works as a secretary in the East Bay Area Monday through Friday, she spends her weekends being a queen six months out of the year.
“It’s exhilarating, and it’s very fun being the most incredible woman in history,” Kirkpatrick said.
During the faire, there will be 18 food vendors and 150 arts and crafts venders. It runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 19. Tickets to the event are $20 for adults, $17.50 for seniors, students and military, $9.50 for children and free for children under 5 years old. Casa de Fruta is 12 miles east of Gilroy off Highway 152.
