Lakewood Lore

Travel back to the days of old when Knights were bold

Once a year, Lakewood harkens back to the age of chivalry, when knights were bold, when fair maidens wore high, pointed hats, and when knights had jesters and lived in castles surrounded by moats.

The occasion is the Boar's Head Festival, "an old English yuletide feaste," presented by the choir of Lakewood Congregational Church, with numerous other members of the church assisting.

This year's [1993] medieval happening -- the 17th -- is scheduled for 7 p.m. two Tuesday and two Wednesday evenings (Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, and Dec. 7-8), in "Ye Greate Social Hall" of the church on Detroit Avenue at West Clifton Boulevard.

"Picture a mid-15th century dining hall replete with heraldic banners and a greeter in beefeater apparel, a wassail bowl toasting ceremony, and boar's head and yule log processions," said Lakewood's Marcia Detwiler, the "Lady of the Manor," who through the years has designed most of the costumes and has acted in the cast since the festival's inception.

"Follow up with a delicious dinner that includes crown roast of pork and flaming plum pudding served by wenches (costumed ladies of the church)," she went on.

"Then, add entertainment by madrigal singers and court musicians, dancers, jesters and a magician, plus sing-alongs of familiar Christmas carols."

The idea of the pre-Elizabethan gala here was begot in 1977 by A. Robert Chapman, once minister of music and costumery, and was captivated by the festival put on by Trinity Cathedral on Euclid Avenue at East 22nd Street, according to Detwiler, who reported she then was serving as his volunteer secretary and gopher.

Chapman decided he could do a show at his church with the help of Detwiler, who already had gained prominence for making costumes.

At the time, she had done them for "Camelot" at Huntington Playhouse, for the opening show at Beck Center ("Mary of Scotland") and for The Group's first big performance in Lakewood Civic Auditorium ("Revoltin' Developments").

Although Chapman left in 1978 for a similar musical post at a Roanoke, Va., church, the local festival was continued. For 14 years -- until year -- Robert Schneider, as the church minister of music, held the reins

He has been succeeded by Marge Adler, an accomplished musician who played the organ for the Indians baseball games this summer, and whose husband, Jeff Hager, has performed with his trumpet at the festival for more then a decade.

The cast of the festival includes many longtime key participants, not the least of which is Bruce Grandy, who has been the chef almost from the outset. For the past 10 years, he has been assisted in the kitchen by Michael Veale.

The chef's wife, Betty, is one of the originals and remains active in the show. Meanwhile, daughter-in-law Carol Grandy is doing all the decorations this year.

Donald Stanley is one of the knights and himself made the coat of armor for this regular role. Lakewoodite Carl Badger, another veteran, will be "Lord of the Manor."

The Rev. Lyman Farrar, church minister, will play a friar and give the blessing. Tim Jones will repeat as a jester, a part he has held since the beginning.

Helen Corns, a talented actress in area performances, will be "Lady Helen" and lead the audience participation in the singing of the "Twelve Days of Christmas." Also, Fran D'Amico again will perform as the magician, a job he has had since 1988.

Detwiler's entire family, including grandchildren, has taken part at one time or another. Daughter Debbie Langenhop helps make costumes. Son-in-law Bill Langenhop is one of the most versatile of the actors. This year, he plays a lord, but is readily able to fill in for absentees.

Detwiler's late husband Roland (Rol), who died in March, wore the beefeater costume as greeter for many years and will leave a hard-to-fill vacancy. Also missed will be the late Paul Neuber, who played "the old man" in the production's "Good King Wenceslaus" skit until his death several years ago in his mid-90s.

The two-hour festival, a sell-out just about every year, is open to the public by reservation. Charge for adult is $20, and for children younger than 12, $7.50. Proceeds make up a major portion of the church's mission and service funding, and benefit area hunger centers. Those interested in attending can phone Jeri Kluiber at 226-6838.

Besides handling sales and making costumes, Kluiber sings and dances. Two years ago, while doing a medieval dance, she accidentally kicked one of her shoes into the audience. Just as it was about to hit a lady in the countenance (old word for face), a male guest reached out and caught the missile on the fly.

We were told that, while acts of spontaneity at the festival are somewhat frequent, they don't always -- like that one -- turn up trumps.

This article by Dan Chabek appeared in the Lakewood Sun Post November 25, 1993. Reprinted with permission.

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