The annual Victorian Faire, which opened last weekend, surprised its guests with a new addition to the festival fun, vibrio cholerae. The cholera causing bacteria, which was a hit in London in the mid 1850’s, was added to the water supply in order to give attendees a real feel for old London.
“Every year we try to up the ante in hopes of taking people further into the magical world of 19th century London. We felt we were denying people a taste of the real fun by omitting this rascally bacteria,” said artistic director Ed Friars. Just two of the ideas under consideration for next year are a cesspool under the floorboards and an on-site slaughterhouse, both of which have the potential to capture some of the wonderful aromas of the time.