Well you don't need me, but just to add another voice. One from a country of usually easy-going live-and-let-live folks. I can't seem to get past the fact that this whole discussion, and it's a good one, began with:
A bunch of BRITISH fellas - carrying on an old, possibly ancient BRITISH tradition - in BRITIAN.
I'll grant you that Britian has not always kept their ideas to themselves in the past, but it seems to me that here we have them minding their own business. There was no suggestion that British Mummers were about to impose their ideas,uninvited, on American audiences.
The tradition of Folk-theatre is understood extremely well by the people of the UK, it seems to me. I can't buy the idea that some Americans feel that, without even understanding this tradition, they have the right to tell them to change or stop it.
I only speak for myself, you understand, as an observer from Australia, but I'm fairly well aquainted with English folklore, theatre, folk-plays and traditions. I am also fairly well aquainted with American folklore and 19th century American theatre and songs. I am married to an American who understands the American perspective on a personal level.
So that's my two bob's worth. Cheers, Joy