Folklore: Ron Baxter's One-man Mummer's Play

Subject: Folklore: Ron Baxter's One-man Mummer's Play
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 05:17 AM

Last night I was one of the fortunate few gathered in The Fleetwood Folk Club, there to witness (amongst other delights) Ron Baxter performing his one man Mummer's Play, quite spontaneously & apparently unrehearsed, but he got it bang on - words, delivery & several assorted and borrowed hats. This has set up Christmas just perfectly for me, even if the cold that has been plaguing my household these past few weeks seems to have decided today's the day...

So I'm off to bed with a hot toddy and a Phil Rickman novel, and a happy memory of a sterling performance by one of few individuals to whom I would apply the word genius without hesitation.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ron Baxter's One-man Mummer's Play
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 09:58 AM

Thanks for the yuletide report from Fleetwood.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ron Baxter's One-man Mummer's Play
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 25 Dec 08 - 03:23 PM

Ron Baxter was one of the original perpetrators (I think that's the right word) of the famous/infamous Cod End Mummers of Fleetwood, Lancashire, who operated for several years in the late seventies/early eighties. They performed numerous versions of these seasonal plays, including the Lancaster and Kirkby Lonsdale Pace-Egg plays. They presented the latter play annually for several years in Kirkby Lonsdale, where local historian and former Mummer Jonty Wilson presented them with the suit he had worn in the traditional side many years before. His (and their) hope was that eventually enough local interest would be generated to get a local side performing the play again.

The first time I remember seeing a one-man version of the play was in the old Fleetwood Folk Club at the Queens Hotel, Beach Road, where Phil Wilson (of Blackburn and Oz) used to be an occasional visitor. He had a collection of hats, weapons and other props which he used to full effect.

I unfortunately missed Ron's rendition the other night, but I have seen him do this before. He has a phenomenal memory, and I can believe he would be capable of doing this spontaneously, ie without a practice run!

Ross

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ron Baxter's One-man Mummer's Play
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Dec 08 - 04:20 PM

Peter Collins of Sussex does this as well. He starts off as Father Christmas with his sack, and produces the various hats and props from it.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ron Baxter's One-man Mummer's Play
From: GUEST,Valmai Goodyear
Date: 25 Dec 08 - 04:20 PM

The post above was from me.

Valmai

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ron Baxter's One-man Mummer's Play
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 09:00 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ron Baxter's One-man Mummer's Play
From: Folkiedave
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 05:59 PM

The first person I ever saw do it was Steve Heap - yes that one - in Hull at a ceilidh.

Probably around 1967/8.