After the reality check of the first week of class, I think a lot of students were ready to go back to Winter Break fantasy world: Sleeping in, hanging out and generally forgetting about responsibility for a few blissful weeks. When the weekend came around, I was more than ready for a healthy dose of escapism.

I needed anything that wasn’t a packed lecture hall or the bleary-eyed 8 a.m. class. The remedy was an evening in the world of the renaissance, via the ISU music department’s annual Madrigal Dinner.

My expectations were immediately crossed when I sat down at the table and surveyed the place settings. Tastefully arranged around my plate sat one of the more extensive spreads of silverware I have ever encountered.

This was a tad disappointing. I had hoped a more medieval, eat-with-your-hands type etiquette would prevail. Not to mention it exposed my lack of experience with multi-fork dining arrangements.

Luckily, my tablemates, who included a gypsy and a marauding pirate, were kind enough to instruct me in the proper use of the utensils. So much for trying to look cultured.

I didn’t have much time to nurse my ego. The festivities began with a spirited toasting of the occasion. Several costumed characters took turns offering a toast, each one punctuated by a rousing shout of, “Drink ale!”

The toasting also gave the crowd our first taste of madrigal humor – a shameless string of cheesy puns more at home on an episode of Laugh-In than a renaissance banquet. There was even a Monty Python-style imaginary horse, complete with coconut shell sound effects.

At first I resisted the campy jokes, but before long I was won over by the charm of atmosphere. Honestly, who can do the, “men jump and then women jump,” dance with the kitchen wenches and then decide they’re a humor critic?

Of course, the real highlight of the night was the music. Students and faculty displayed their talents with confident bravado. It was plain to see they enjoyed their masquerade, and their enthusiasm spilled out onto the audience.

In the end, a great time was had by all and only one poor fellow lost his head to the executioner. Now, that is a story no keg party is likely to match.