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Medieval Times Knights Teach Park District Campers Swordplay, Chivalry

By Ted Cox | July 24, 2017 4:00pm
 Day campers at Adams Playground Park heartily endorse the knight's code with a couple of actors from Medieval Times.
Day campers at Adams Playground Park heartily endorse the knight's code with a couple of actors from Medieval Times.
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DNAinfo/Ted Cox

RANCH TRIANGLE — Day campers at Adams Playground Park were instructed in the ancient arts of swordplay and chivalry Monday by a pair of knights from the Medieval Times dinner theater.

Donald Webber, as the Blue Knight, and Michael Kiburz, as the Yellow Knight, staged a half-hour lesson for about 45 campers, aged 6-10.

Honesty, loyalty and integrity are the knight's code, Sir Donald told the kids, "and helping around the house whenever you can."

Using wooden swords, the campers were instructed in how to position oneself for combat, and how to strike to the right and left, even as Sir Donald took pains to add, "Never swing a sword at anyone."

Prithee, that stricture nonetheless couldntst keep him from offering, "Now, are you ready to see Sir Michael and myself fight to the death?"

"Yeah!" Shouted the kids.

The two knights did thus engage in some lusty swordplay, with sparks flying from their blades as they clashed and clanged.

Until at last Sir Donald, the knight who did most of the talking, was laid low by Sir Michael, the silent knight until it was his time to utter a whoop of victory.

Having risen from his pretended final resting place, Sir Donald did join Sir Michael in some Q&A from the kids.

"How far away do you guys come from?"

"About 40 minutes," said Sir Michael, amidst the Edenic environs of northwest-suburban Schaumburg.

"Let's have just a few more questions," said Sir Donald. "Yes, my lady?"

"Where are your horses?"

Sir Donald did explain that, as Adams Park has no stable, they came instead in something with the power of 400 horses that seats four people.

"A car!"

"A car," pondered Sir Donald, "is that what you call it?"

Both mentors and students having learned from one another, the knights didst collect their wooden swords and headed on to their next engagement with Chicago Park District day campers, leaving behind — as a show of their good faith and intent to one day meet again — bags for the campers containing coupons for reduced admission and other bargains at Medieval Times.

Drew Barnes, a Medieval Times spokesman, said the theater's program with the Park District is "expanding pretty rapidly," from six groups last year to 14 this year, and the Adams stop was about halfway through the summer season.

Maureen Belling, Park District supervisor at the Adams Playground, 1919 N. Seminary Ave., said it was one of the handful to play host to the Medieval Times knights last year, and it proved to be such a hit that they were invited back.

"It's a popular thing. The kids love it," Belling said. "We're incorporating the whole superhero, 'we're all superheroes' sort of thing, so it's a great addition."

The Yellow Knight meets the Dark Knight and other day campers at Adams Playground Park. The knights' visit played into the theme that "we're all superheroes." (DNAinfo/Ted Cox)