The Journal

Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: Lifestyle

Media Credit: Jenny Meinhardt The St. Louis Pirate Festival boasts authentic period dress and speech.

Although they aren't known for their swashbuckling ability, members of Webster University's Anime Society lent a hand at the Wentzville, Mo. Pirate Festival's opening weekend Sept. 15 and 16, operating two of the game booths at the event.

The festival itself is run by Renaissance St. Louis, the same group that hosts the St. Louis Renaissance Fair every spring. For the Pirate Festival, Renaissance St. Louis turned Wentzville's Rotary Park into the island of Martinique, a French colony filled with villagers, soldiers and, of course, pirates. The Festival hosts a variety of vendors selling everything from swords and jewelry to period-authentic clothing and leatherwork. Hungry visitors can get something to eat at one of the food stands and enjoy a cup of java at Arrbucks Coffee.

Senior film production major Katrina Johnson, head of the Webster University Anime Society, is the main force behind the student group's inclusion in the event. Johnson appeared at the fair in full pirate regalia as Lonely Lilly. She and the others ran "The Bucketeer," a game of skill where the loser had a bucket of water dumped on his head, and "Broadsides Water Balloon Battle," where contestants launched water balloons at each other using slingshots.

Johnson met Doug Glenn, the executive director of the event, while she was using the fair grounds for a class project, a short film titled "The Tale of Sir Phillip." After another group that was supposed to be operating the booths dropped out, Glenn called Johnson to see if she could offer some help.

"Doug Glenn asked us if there was a group we knew who would be willing to work at some of the game booths," Johnson said. "I basically just told him that we would be happy to help."

Johnson also said there was another reason for participating.

"I thought this would be a great fundraiser for the March convention that Anime St. Louis, a group that brings anime lovers in the area together, is having," she said.

She said she succeeded, earning more than $550 between both events on the first day.

For those who weren't interested in getting wet, there were other attractions. One of the stage acts, Thom Bedlam, a comedian and magician from Toronto, brought his own brand of fun to the Festival.

Continued...

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