The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #9075   Message #58350
Posted By: Barbara
12-Feb-99 - 06:53 PM
Thread Name: Instant Mummers Play: Just Add...?
Subject: RE: Instant Mummers Play: Just Add...?
Ours always included:
an intro and exit parade of all the characters in outrageous getup led by a button accordian player performing a song that the crew and audience could sing together

various stereotypes: judge, doctor, landlord, minister or priest, hysterical wife, sexy flower vendor, cop, and always the central benighted schmucks, who do everything wrong

obviously a LOT of slapstick, including an operation on the patient where everything you can think of is pulled out,(rubber chickens, silverware, etc.)and the patient dies

a Morris dance. In our case the sword dance,which was used to decapitate John Barleycorn

other songs/dances as appropriate

lines for the audience, like "No!, NO! look out for the cop!" "Behind you!"

Flamboyantly foolish costumes

And the end often turned into a parade through camp. Where did I do this? Between 1973 and 80 at the San Francisco Folk Music Club New Years.
Blessings,
Barbara