For a concept that’s as old as legend, Medieval Times makes a valiant effort to keep reinventing it. The Buena Park dinner show launched a new plot and musical score changing up the story of jousting knights and feasting kings to keep its repeat guests,reportedly 70% to 80% of visitors,entertained. And it did just that for this “gentle guest” who has seen the show a handful of times over the past 20 years. The artistry of the sword fights, skill of the trained horses and rowdy audience participation overshadowed any recognizable changes to the script, which was in development for the past year. But those aspects of the dinner show are exactly why people keep coming back to Medieval Times (it certainly isn’t for the canned tomato soup or dry chicken in the silverware-less feast).
Unlike a traditional theatrical show, the actors really connect with audience members, making them feel like part of the show as they cheer color-specific knights on during jousts and demonstrations of lance skills, where good always triumphs over evil. At our show, the red knight kept up a sign language banter with our row (which was cheering for the green warrior) for the entire performance, delighting children and grown-up children alike. The new script doesn’t contain any real twists or surprises, which is a good thing, because the legend of the knights of the realm is engaging just as is. And so is the Medieval Times dinner and tournament.
,Julie Leupold
