I would be more than interested to know whether the Padstow tradition started like the other Morris and Mumming traditions and then became 'hijacked' by the people wanting to act like Al Jolson? If so it is something we will have to watch for. Wonder if this happened in the US as well - Which is why the Mummers parade there has become the minstrel mimicry whereas the Mumming play here has not yet been infected?

Perhaps we have a Black and White minstrel virus travelling across the Atlantic? Wonder if Symatec know about it...

:D