How to go
What: The Fair at New Boston
Where: George Rogers Clark Park, 936 South Tecumseh Road, Springfield
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31
Cost: Adults $8; active military with ID $5; children ages 6-12 $3; and children ages 5 and younger no cost
More info: 937-882-9216 or www.fairatnewboston.org
Sights, sounds and smells make The Fair at New Boston a distinct experience. Still it wouldn’t be the same without the re-enactor factor.
The re-enactors are devoted to creating characters based on real people from the years 1790-1810. Numerous people, from as young as age 2, dress in period costumes and create their own characters at the two-day Fair, which will be held Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31, at George Rogers Clark Park.
“Our goal is for you to actually interact with the characters,” said co-fair master Katie Rose Wright. “When you go over the hill to the Fair, we want you to be immersed in this time period.”
It takes dedication. A costume itself doesn’t sell the character, and that’s where Marcia Nowik comes in.
She’s a veteran theater director coaching the re-enactors in their new roles, something of a challenge for her, as well.
“Theater is two hours; this is (a few) days, so there’s immersion into the character. It’s a little different with the attention to detail and historical contents.”
One of the new characters debuting in 2014 is the Lord of the Taps, who wore a red coat with taps and spigots on it. His job was to sample the ale at the taverns.
Bringing him to life is Craig Schulz, a veteran re-enactor of more than 30 years. He and wife Millie were fair masters in 2002-03, and he went on to portray a German pretzel vendor.
Although not a new character, fellow fair veteran, Andy Schuirr, will be hard to miss with his Johan Schurr, based on a family ancestor. His backstory is being a Revolutionary War soldier whose foot was shot and he can’t follow in his father’s steps as a blacksmith, so he now runs a tavern.
It’s that attention to detail rooted in real people that differentiates each character.
Sommer McGuire is a newcomer who worked with Nowik in local theater. She’s got a new character, the fish monger.
This was a poor woman who would wade in the river to catch fish and beg the people to buy her wares through a distinct cry or bark, which Nowik was advising her on.
The Fair will always be on the lookout for new re-enactors. Or ones who want to reinvent themselves.
“Springfield is my home,” said Schulz. “I could travel 12 hours to another historical event or 15 minutes for one of the most accurately portrayed events of its kind. It gets into you. Once it does, you’re hooked.”
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