By TOM LAVIS

TLAVIS@TRIBDEM.COM

What was it like celebrating Christmas in 11th century England?

One way to find out is to attend the 39th annual Madrigal Christmas Feast, featuring food, drink and a festive spirit.

The lavish, interactive dinner-theater is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4-5 and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6 in Cosgrove Hall at Mount Aloysius College, Cresson.

The college re-creates a holiday feast in a castle in the Middle Ages during a highly anticipated event each year.

“We are going back to a time when the lord and lady of the castle invited their vassals for a holiday meal,” said Michelle McGowan of Altoona, who directs the madrigal as Lady of Misrule.

She is joined in this medieval mayhem by Lord Chamberlain, portrayed by Jonathon O’Harrow of Altoona.

They lead the audience in songs and dances, such as “Wench Toss” and “The 12 Days of Madrigal,” in which audience members are urged to jump to their feet, shout and spin their napkins in the air.

“We tried eliminating the wench toss several years ago, but it was brought back by popular demand,” McGowan said.

The lord and lady will once again be portrayed by James Dugan of Altoona and Jan Bergamaschi of Ashville.

The Middle Ages-style event features a cast of local actors, singers and acrobats performing as nobles, wandering minstrels and jesters.

“We count on as many as 130 volunteers made up of Mount students, alumni, faculty and community members,” McGowan said.

From the minute people walk in the door, they’re part of the show, she added.

Guests are encouraged to come in period attire.

Performers wander among individual tables, making it difficult for people to ignore them.

“We love when the audience is involved, but we don’t force anybody to take part if they don’t want to,” McGowan said.

Cosgrove Hall, the campus dining hall, is transformed into a great hall of an 11th century castle.

“We have it decked out with a lot of greenery and fruit, shields and crests,” McGowan said. “Some characters have their own costumes because they reprise their roles year after year.”

Madrigal is a music term referring to four- and six-part harmony, and the Mount’s madrigal has an abundance of music.

Nancy Rosensteel-Way, music instructor and choral director at the Mount, has been designated as Lady of Song.

Music, vocal and instrumental, is heard throughout the madrigal performance. Music is performed by a chorus, soloists, court bards and a brass ensemble.

“We also offer a madrigal chorus course for credit for students wanting to participate in the chorus but who are not part of Vox Nova,” Way said.

“Additionally, we have community singers who return year after year to perform. Their roles are theatrical as well as vocal as they interact regularly with audience members as lords and ladies of the castle.”

Not every selection is 100 percent accurate to the time period. Way tries to stay with English carols but does branch out when necessary.

“Basically, I find pieces that are from about 1400-1750,” she said.

“The idea of the evening is to entertain the audience. If I find too many period pieces that just don’t seem to have the kick we need at a particular time, I substitute.”

Some pieces this year include “The Holly and the Ivy,” “Masters in This Hall” and “The First Nowell.”

McGowan said the madrigal is a great way to kick off the Christmas season.

“We have it early enough in December that it doesn’t interfere with other events and activities closer to Christmas Day,” she said.

The interactive dinner-theater is expected to perform for three sellout crowds, so reservations are recommended.

“It’s a five-course meal with so much fun in between courses that it takes hours to enjoy,” McGowan said.

“We have changed the opening for this year’s event as well as making it more child-friendly.”

At each performance, boys and girls will be selected from the audience to be knighted.

McGowan said guests might see the same technical performance on all three nights, but each performance is based on audience reactions.

“It’s like a play within a play,” McGowan said. “There’s a basic outline to the play, but once we pull some audience members into it, there’s a lot of improv.”

The menu features such authentic Renaissance recipes as roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, bread pudding with raisin sauce, English scones, roasted vegetables and spiced tea.

Vegetarian meals also are available upon request.

Unlike ancient days, dinner does offer some amenities from the 21st century, such as silverware, which did not exist in medieval days.

Everyone involved in the production will be in costume, including the wenches who serve the food.

Tickets are $40 per person.

Seniors can buy tickets for the Dec. 6 show for $35.



Merriment

What: 39th annual Madrigal Christmas Feast.

Where: Mount Aloysius College, Cresson.

When: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4-5 and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6.

Tickets: Visit www.mtaloy.edu/madrigal.

Cost: $40. Seniors, $35 on Dec. 6.

Information: 886-6395.