| From the desk of the Boss Wench... |
| The Dagger and Rose Troupe is one of the many performing groups of the Renaissance Historical Society of South Florida. �The Friends of the Pub (FOPs) and the "Ladies", or Wenches as they are more commonly known, started with four wenches, a Pub Mistress, and a couple of guys who hung around. �This group had the important job of selling beer and wine out of one tiny, little pub at the Renaissance Festival at Vizcaya. �And that was pretty much all they did. �And even though we were tucked away, way in the back of the food court, the patrons still managed to find us.� |
| We now have our own encampment, three pubs, over forty Wenches and FOPs, and we perform two shows a day every day of festival. �Our FOPs and wenches range in age from their teens to their forties. ��Some are single, some are married, and these days we're even growing our own wenches. �We come from all walks of life and represent characters from all over the "known" world. �The whole Pub family is overseen by the Mistress of the Pub, or Boss Wench, who is actually one of the original four Wenches. |
| We have created this little time line to illustrate how we have changed over the years! |
| 1999 |
| 1991 |
| We became a performing group in 1992, starting small, with just a few bawdy ballads. �Our repertoire has since grown to approximately 25 songs, and we are always looking for, or creating, more. Our songs include: What shall we do with the Drunken Squire, The Chastity Belt, and The "Ladies"of the Dagger and Rose, our signature song. We also sing traditional Renaissance ballads, including: Maid of Bedlam and My Thing Is My Own, as well as songs with original music and lyrics written by one of our own (Bang Away With Me). �All these songs, or at least as many as can fill a half-hour, are used for our bawdy wench show, the Dagger and Rose Revue. �Our shows have been an audience favorite since we started them, and I have never been more proud than last Festival, when people stood in the pouring rain to watch, refusing to leave and find cover. |
| At the Fifteenth Annual Italian Renaissance Festival, the wenches and FOPs added peasant dancing to our repertoire. �Since then, the Symple Pleasures Peasant Dancers have become a regular performing group in the Society. �We are very proud to have been a part of starting it, and many of us still participate as dancers. � |
| In 2000, the FOPs finally agreed to perform in the show. �We wenches were very excited! �The guys did a great job, and were back for more in 2001, this time they had their own song. �In 2003, they took on the challenge of acting (Vergio) and solos (Bang Away and Ladies of the Dagger and Rose) and they haven't looked back!� �We have also been participating in the end-of-the-day Pub Sing at the Festival. This gives those of us not in the show a chance to shine. �And we DO shine at the Pub Sing! (It's always nice when people who do this kind of stuff professionally tell you what a great job you're doing.) |
| Throughout the year, the Wenches and FOPs serve and perform at banquets, private parties and other festivals. Our group performances at the Knights Banquet have been very popular and highly anticipated for the past 2 years. Our Corset-Lacing Contest is always spectacular! |
| �With new songs and new shows each year, with wenches and FOPs, and multiple pubs to take care of, we have come a long way from our humble beginnings. |
| So you think you may have what it takes to be one of us?� Join us now! |
| A "Brief "History |
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| 2000 |
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