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"King" John McDonough and Richard Harden entertained the guests between courses.
Trinity Arts Hosts a Medieval Banquet
Much to the delight of the more than 70 guests, the hall at Trinity Episcopal Church in Torrington was transformed on Saturday, April 13 into a medieval court, complete with King and Queen, singers, musicians, dancers, servants, and even one wandering dog (useful in medieval times to clean the floor and wipe one's hands). One authentic course followed another as the feasters were regaled with early music by Every Man Guild, who played an assortment of period instruments, such as the lute, viol da gamba and crumhorn. Two of the members also presented a pavane (a slow, courtly dance) and Mimi Harden, Director of the Trinity Arts Series, performed a lively period dance to music on the recorder and the virginal provided by Karen Sovak and Paul Halley, Artistic Director of the Arts Series. The six-member Black Pond consort sang a full program of a capella madrigals, and the inimitable John McDonough as King provided literary entertainment between courses.
Following the banquet, the Trinity Arts Series presented its fourth event of the season, an outstanding production of Macbeth by Shakespeare & Company of Lenox. The sanctuary was transformed by the inventive set design, costuming and sound effects, creating a mythic setting somewhere between Braveheart and Bladerunner. Described by the Boston Globe as "perhaps the best all-American Shakespeare ensemble ever," Shakespeare & Company has brought its extraordinary productions into high schools and theaters throughout New England and New York for more than twenty years, although this was their first set in a church. Mark Woolett, whose portrayal of Macduff was brilliant, explained in the question-and-answer period following the play that many of the religious reference in Macbeth came alive to him in a new way in Trinity's sanctuary.
In its third year, the Trinity Arts Series is an independent not-for-profit organization presenting productions of music, drama, dance and exhibitions of the visual arts in the beautiful turn-of-the-century sanctuary of Trinity Episcopal Church, a one-of-a-kind theater. "We see our organization as playing a vital role in the revitalization of the city of Torrington through the arts," said Director Mimi Harden. "Trinity Arts offers a unique opportunity, a broad spiritual context in which to consider the range of human experience as presented through the powerful medium of art." The next event on Saturday and Sunday, May 11-12 will be Paul Winter's "Earth Mass," an ecological jazz mass featuring gospel singer Theresa Thomason and Paul Halley directing Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus. Call 860-482-4411 for tickets.
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