Yes, the plot turns up over and over again in the most disparate places. Often, it is so disparate that people are positive that one could not be connected to the other.

I laugh when I hear kids talking about how great "8 Mile" the Eminem movie is. I became curious, so I watched it when it came out on cable. It's the movie "Crossroads" all over again!!! Watch both and pay close attention to the endings of each. And, really, you find the same plot redone in different garb in "White Men Can't Jump". This new tv show I keep seeing trailers for--"Skin"--is just Romeo and Juliet all over again.

Then again, it's difficult to see, on the face it, any connection between mumming plays and blackface minstrelsy. Read Professor Cockrell's excellent book and any doubt will be removed. He does a very thorough job of showing the connection. Chris Ware, a ragtime/minstrelsy enthusiast in Chicago, then produced a spate of 19th century minstrel photos and old postcards with connections so close to the mumming play that, if any doubt might remain after reading Cockrell's book, there could be little doubt of the connection after examining Mr. Ware's photo exhibit.