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Written by Marissa Hutton-Gavel
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Thursday, 31 May 2007 |
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 When Mary Lott was a girl growing up in Texas, she wanted to be a veterinarian.
Instead, she grew up to get a degree in theatre arts and to become a costumer for stage acts. Then, in her 40s, she came out from behind the stage to command the spotlight, but not in the traditional sense. Unless you consider swords, chain mail and bows and arrows traditional roles for women.
When she was 54, she joined the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), where she developed a love for archery and heavy sheath fencing.
Two months ago she began training for combat archery, a sport she slyly refers to as “basically medieval paintball.”
Today, the semi-retired mother of two is a member of Women on the Edge, a group of women that wields swords instead of kitchen utensils and dawns chain mail in place of an apron.
“The grandkids think it’s hilarious that Nana goes out and beats on people,” she said with a smile.
Mary works with the handful of women in her group, ages 18 to Mary’s modest 59, to sharpen their skills with the sword and get them ready for performances around the state. Each member serves a year and a day apprenticeship before they are allowed to fight in shows. This year’s Colorado Medieval Festival will be their second chance to show off what they’ve been practicing for the last 10 months.
“It’s like dance with a deadly weapon,” she said. “The only difference is we play with pointy things that can hurt you. Safe or sharp edge, our blades are real.”
The blade ladies (www.bladeladies.com) utilize six set moves, paired up in different variations and choreographed to appear spontaneous.
“It takes us up to 160 hours to get a fight ready to go,” Mary said.
Their 30- to 45-minute set at the medieval festival at Monfort Park in Greeley will feature a tri-fight, or three women fighting together at once — new to their routine.
“Women have been taught for too many years to be victims,” she said. “I push my girls hard.”
Each fight incorporates Chinese, Japanese, Western European, Viking and 1800s fighting styles, combined into blocks and hits that Lott said will only leave bruises through their clothing. “We don’t do the Zena look,” she said. “We wear exactly what men wore.”
Lott goes by her stage name, Morgaine. Mythically speaking, Morgaine was a goddess of war and represented the triple mother, or maid, matron, crone. “It just gives me an outer shell,” she said of her stage name. “My real name does not denote a fighter.”
With her slight Texas drawl and polite demeanor, it’s no wonder she chose a more appropriate name for performances.
“You probably won’t recognize me when I walk on to the field. The demeanor is completely different,” she said. “I can’t tell you why. It just is.”
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TO GO TO THE FESTIVAL
Colorado Medieval Festival
June 1, 2 and 3
Monfort Park, 47th Avenue in Greeley
Noon-6 p.m. Friday
10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
$10 for an adult day pass, $20 for a three-day pass
$5 for youth tickets, $10 for a three-day pass
Children under 6 get in free
Along with belly dancers, live music, story tellers and special Medieval brew www.coloradocastle.com—————
PLAYING WITH SHARP OBJECTS
The women spend anywhere from $120 to $170 on each handmade sword they order from Chivalry Sports in Arizona.
Their shields are made of two-inch plywood sheets.
The women practice blocks and parrys: defensive moves to deflect their opponent’s sword.
Lott likens the show’s physical intensity to a Pilate’s workout on a reformer table.
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