Medieval Times Debuts New Show

On Tuesday night, I took in the premiere of the new show at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament at Arundel Mills.

The company has touted some changes to the entertainment and the meal, marking the first update of the experience since 2007. Members of the media were invited to take in the show.

Medieval Times, for the uninitiated, takes place in a stadium-style setting and features a “tournament” involving knights and horses. Spectators watch the show while eating a full meal without utensils, supposedly just like how it was done in the 11th century.

I attended a show with some co-workers in December, so I was able to see some of the new tweaks to the experience. The overall production is not drastically different, but there are some noticeable changes.

It appears as if Medieval Times has worked to give the horses a slightly larger role with some additional maneuvers. There is a new introduction involving a large Andalusian Stallion, known as the “Liberty Horse.” The company confirmed there were new routines with dressage elements.

The plot of the show is updated, though it follows the same general theme. There is a king and a princess, who host a tournament featuring six knights competing in various challenges. The jousting competition is essentially the same, though there is an additional contest involving a relay race on horseback. 

Medieval Times did not make any drastic changes to the battle portion of the program, in which knights go at it with swords, axes and other weapons. Officials said the fights are newly choreographed and that there is more action overall.

There’s an updated subplot involving a bad guy—in this instance, it’s an emissary from a kingdom to the north, who seeks to take away the princess and spark some sort of conflict which I didn’t quite follow.

How did I know he was the bad guy? Well, because of the smoke and the eerie music that played when he entered.

Speaking of music, Medieval Times officials said the show features an entirely new score. It was recorded by musicians in Kiev, Ukraine in a single day.

Medieval Times also announced some changes to the dinner menu. The fare is essentially the same, but features a larger barbeque spare rib, larger drinks, coffee and foccaccia bread. A roasted chicken remains the main course.

Adult tickets to Medieval Times cost $56.95 plus tax and processing. Children 12 and under are $35.95, and those under age 3 are admitted free.