Pennsic Performances You Should Know About

Pennsic 45 begins this weekend. Before I head out, I wanted to mention that there are some wonderful friends of mine being showcased this year in the Performing Arts tent who don’t (or haven’t) regularly performed there. You should definitely check these folks out, if you’re wondering how to be profoundly entertained at War:

• Monday August 8, 8-9 pm: Mar Yaakov HaMizrachi, Tales from “The Book of Delight”
  Tah Sh’ma! Come and hear! Storyteller Mar Yaakov HaMizrachi in performance of his reconstruction of the period work “The Book of Delight” by Yosef ben Meir Ibn Zabara. Zabara wrote this classic work of folk tales in about the year 1200 in Toledo, Spain. Hear how a clever fox seeks to trick a foolish leopard to his doom! Only the leopard’s wise wife stands between our Well Meaning but Foolish Hero and his certain death! In this contest of wit between a loving wife and a cunning foe, whose cleverness shall prevail?
  I wanted to mention this performance first because it’s a late addition to the schedule, and thus may not end up listed in the printed book. I first saw Yaakov at Marion of Heatherdale’s “Heather and Friends” concert four years ago.He is one of my favorite storytellers–funny, wise, insightful, with impeccable taste, timing, and scholarship–and I’m excited to be bringing a story of his to War this year to perform. I saw him perform this amazing hour-long feat of Russian-doll-nested stories last year, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
• Monday, August 8, 5-6 pm: Aibhilin inghean Daibhidh, The Irish Frau
  Aibhilin, the Irish Frau, performs a mix of music for harp and voice, from period songs to modern SCA compositions, to rousing a capella SCA warsongs. And of course, a little humor thrown in!
  Aibhilin is a very talented recent friend, and this is her first stage performance at Pennsic.
• Sunday, August 7, 5-5:30 pm: Mesterno Tyzes “Zsof” Sofia, Magyar Tales
  Join Zsof into the world of the Magyar (Hungarians) with a telling of their tales. She will tell of ghosts, vampires, battles, and the strength of her people.
  If you haven’t heard my Laurel tell tales in her Hungarian persona, you are missing out.
• Sunday, August 7, 5:30-7 pm: M. Rosalind Jehanne and M. John Lyttleton, A Little Knight Music
  Mistress Rosalind Jehanne and Master John Lyttleton present songs of chivalry, humor, and nobility, accompanied by good friends.
  This is a double-act by two of the SCA’s most accomplished and best-loved performers.

A few highlights to consider. But really, every night starting Friday of Peace Week, there is amazing entertainment available in the Performing Arts tent (cough, cough). Make sure you check some of it out.