Chivalry may be dead, and the closest thing to a castle keep in Iowa may be a towering grain silo, but the performers of the ISU music department see no reason why these fancies of the historical world should be forgotten. The days of illustrious knights, decadent nobles and oppressed peasantry are as contemporary as the mounting plague problem at their annual Madrigal Dinner.

The Madrigal Dinner is a 41-year-old tradition in the music department. The dinner raises money and allows performers to showcase their talents and immerse their audience in Renaissance culture.

Costumed cast members wander through the hall, making mischief among the banquet’s honored guests.

Working the hall gives student participants an opportunity to display their theatrical and comedic skills in addition to their musical talents.

The dinner’s jester Trevor Brown, senior in pre-biological/pre-medical illustration, says his role offers a unique chance to interact with the audience.

“I love being able to shout jokes back and forth, and insults,” he says.

He says audience members are more than passive observers.

“They love to have period banter, kind of conversational dialogue in the period accent,” he says.

However, chivalry and courtly behavior do not always prevail. Some guests can give insults as well as they receive them, he says.

“Some of them will shout right back if you yell an insult in their direction,” he says.

Noble lady Melissa Day, senior in music, recalls one annual guest’s great enthusiasm.

“There’s always a guy who brings the chocolate coins that are wrapped in gold. He always comes in costume, as well. Every time you come and ask him if he is enjoying his meal, or if he thinks that you’re pretty, he pulls you over and will kind of flirt with you. He will give you a couple of chocolate coins.”

Bands of wandering minstrels also patrol the hall. Nobleman Tyler Brown, senior in music, says the minstrels’ songs may once have been more controversial than the lyrics used at the dinner.

“Anytime someone sings ‘fa-la-la,’ we always just assume there was something naughty that was left out in the text – they have done studies on the music, and when they look at other manuscripts, things that where originally thought to be ‘fa-la-la’ where found to be something more risqu‚ than that,” he says.

The dinner also offers a variety of entertainment. Big events include a performance by the ISU Singers and a theater production featuring a story of courtly intrigue.

A fair maiden of the kingdom is pursued by two suitors. Each man hopes to gain the maiden’s hand, but – more importantly – avoid the gallows. Only one of the suitors can live. A single “kiss of life” from the maiden will secure the fate of one suitor and the doom of the other.

Many cast members agree that many of the dinner’s most memorable moments occur offstage. They protect their backstage secrets with a monk-like vow of silence.

“There are always some very incriminating experiences,” Trevor says.

“I don’t want to humiliate anybody, but those individuals involved know who they are.”