Steel:The Show at the Colony Pirate Days

The 2nd Annual Colony Pirate Days which ran October 17 -18, 2009 at Stewart's Creek Park in The Colony, Texas had a lot to offer this year.

One of the best offerings was the return of a comedy show which had its debut at the festival last year.
I refer to Steel: The Show. This is a stage combat, sword fighting comedy troupe that does their slightly butchered rendition of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Pulling a couple out of the crowd, they dress the volunteers up, (with period hats) and give them a few basic instructions. My wife and I happened to be pulled into this on the afternoon we attended. It was hilarious. The actors do spout some lines from the play but also give it their own little twist.

When an actor demands that two other actors fight like men, one points out that she is not a man, and is going out to get a drink. Her partner is a bit taken aback by this. They manage to keep her from actually leaving the stage, but a sword fight does ensue.

When we were taken onstage, we were told to yell of a stunt double when ever either a sword came at me, or if someone moved in to kiss Juliet. The stunt double bit turned out to be a running gag.

We got to the famous balcony scene, and when my cue came, I had forgotten the lines. (Actually it turned out I was supposed to!) One of the actors was with me to feed me the lines. However my wife at least remembered the opening line of Juliet's response... The actor with her asked: "Why is it always the women who remember the lines?"

At any rate, by the end of the 20 minute play, 3 actors are lying on the stage dead ( having died magnificently, if not with a bit of overacting!) And Romeo and Juliet live happily ever after. You heard right, they survive in the version as performed by Steel: The Show.

When we finished we asked if they were looking for any other actors, and it turned out they were. So my wife and I are now rookie members of Steel: The Show!

We are being taught by the guy who started the troupe, safe but believable stage sword fighting techniques.

Steel goes to renaissance fairs throughout Texas, Oklahoma and even into Louisiana.We are both looking forward to our first performances.