Mumming plays

Subject: Mumming plays
From: selby
Date: 08 May 00 - 02:33 PM

I have in my mind a fanciful notion to try and organise to perform in my location ( Selby, Yorkshire, England )a mumming play. Having checked around I can only seem to find mumming teams in America. Do they use St George the Doctor etc Has any one got a link to an actual play. And a contenciuos question are women allowed to be Mummers. Keith

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Barbara
Date: 08 May 00 - 02:38 PM

Hi selby, yes women can be mummers. I have been one. We've had a number of discussions of the cast of characters and format for mummers. If you put the word "mummers" in the main forum and digitrad search box (without the quotes) you will get a plethora of threads that discussed the topic.
If you can't figure out how to do that, post here again, and I'll make some links for you.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Amergin
Date: 08 May 00 - 02:41 PM

Excuse my ignorance please, but what's mumming?

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Áine
Date: 08 May 00 - 02:43 PM

Dear Keith,

Here's a link to the Eydon Mummers' Page. It has a link to a short script of a play they performed in 1997, which I think is the play you're looking for. Good luck!

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Amergin
Date: 08 May 00 - 02:46 PM

Thx, Aine, for answering my auestion as well.

Amergin

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Grandma Marshall
Date: 08 May 00 - 02:47 PM

I know they do things differently in Britian but here in America, a MUMMERS parade is hardly a fertility festival! Any banjo players who can expound on this event (when and where with maybe a pic or two?) Diane

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Áine
Date: 08 May 00 - 03:16 PM

Dear Keith,

Click here for another script for St. George and the Turkish Knight.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Áine
Date: 08 May 00 - 03:20 PM

And here is a link that describes the "American" mumming experience.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Jacob B
Date: 08 May 00 - 03:49 PM

Here's a link to a mummers' play that I wrote.

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 08 May 00 - 04:03 PM

There a several books which contain English Mummers' plays and discussion/analysis of them (E. K. Chamers (1) and Alan Brody(2)), but the biggest collection I know if is that of R. J. E. Tiddy (published posthumously in 1923 by OUP, and reprinted by Paul Minet, Chicheley, 1972), 'The Mummers' Play'.

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Chocolate Pi
Date: 08 May 00 - 05:10 PM

We did a mummers's play every year in our elementary school Winter Revels (emphatically _not_ Christmas Revels, since 1/3 the school was Jewish and another 1/4 was first-generation immigrants, mostly Chinese and Russian); characters were played by boys and girls alike; most often without regard to the gender of the character. Because I was a big participant in the drama program, I think I had played every mummer's role by the time I graduated eighth grade. Our version was specific to our school, and seemed to be forming its own folk process there; the doctor said something like "In come I, the doctor, by golly/ Just off of the Green Line trolley." I seem to recall that our script was originally adapted from something the Cambridge Revels did one year.


Chocolate Pi

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Mbo
Date: 08 May 00 - 05:25 PM

Oooh! Mummer's Day Parade! January 1st! Philadelphia! String Band Division! OH DEM GOLDEN SLIPPERS!!!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 May 00 - 05:44 PM

I think you'll find there are Mummers a lot closer than America. Here's a link to some Mummers near where I live in Essex - and here is one from Northampton, with a play text but I'm sure you'll find plenty in Yorkshire, if you hunt around..

I suggest you get hold of WebFerret, free from this site, and type in Mumming and explore the links.

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 May 00 - 05:45 PM

No, that's not WebFerret - this is though

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: GUEST,Ickle Dorritt
Date: 08 May 00 - 05:53 PM

I know that a Mummers play was performed in Coventry Cathedral for many years and I am fairly sure they run them in York - can't recall seeing them in my part of Yorkshire though Selby.

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: GUEST,JZG
Date: 08 May 00 - 06:07 PM

For some few years now many of the folkies (plus nerds with folkie connections) that I know have had a tradition of writing and performing mummers' plays for friends' weddings. It was the morris dancers what started it (they being the ones who usually do things like mummers' plays around here, not counting Christmas Revels). We've strayed fairly far from the traditional roots in some ways; our plays usually portray the couple getting married and have lots of in-jokes that people who know them well will get ... also horrible puns; sometimes a song parody; the entire thing is written almost all in rhyme, and someone *always* gets killed and brought back to life ...

JZG

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 May 00 - 07:25 PM

I think you'll find that Coventry and York have cycles of Mystery Plays, presenting episodes from the Bible, as do other places like Chester and Wakefield. The real Mummers Plays are usually about King/Saint George vanquishing various opponents, being cured by the Doctor, and then other characters such as Beelzebub and Fiddler Wit come in and do their bits.

The Shakespeare Morris Men of Stratford on Avon have a collection of about 10 mummers plays from local villages collected approx 1880-1930, and each winter we perform one of them in three pubs every Friday night from end November to 12th Night (Jan 6th). We also do a St George & the Dragon play on April 23rd (St Georges Day AND Shakespeare's Birthday) at the George Inn after evensong at St George's church in the village of Lower Brailes. We also perform the Snowshill, Gloucestershire (pronounced Snozzle) play on June 11th, which happens to be a Sunday this year.

If you're in the Cotswolds then, come and see us at Snowshill Manor or the Snowshill Arms, and see an authentic mummers play, not a synthetic, plastic 21st century apology for one.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: roopoo
Date: 09 May 00 - 02:47 AM

Keith -

I have one or two scripts at home. Ian used to perform The Calverton Plough Play (based on the Cropwell Bishop play - not a St. George one, but has a recruiting Sgt) and also take part in the Mansfield Play (which does have St. George). Ask me next time you see me. I've got a recording of the Calverton Play, plus somewhere a few photos.

I saw the Lichfield play once. I thought it was excellent! Is my memory deceiving me, or was there a cannon in it somewhere?

I acheived an ambition and played the Doctor in a Christmas play at a party one year. I still think that's the best role in a lot of plays, although the Calverton's "Bold Tom"....and the Smurf....

mouldy

I also have a book called "So You Want to Start Mumming". I came across the American Mummers whilst trawling around a couple of years ago. Sounds extremely lively, and did if I remember aright, grow from something akin to the UK mumming in the last century. If I'm mistaken, I apologise.

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: selby
Date: 10 May 00 - 01:01 PM

Thanks to everyone for the info, MouldY I'll see you Wednesday night when you have your "posh frock & pearls on " once again thanks Keith

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 10 May 00 - 01:27 PM

I've been part of a number of American mummers plays, starting with The Christmas Revels
Now I'm involved in two annual mummers plays here in so'western New Hampshire. They emphatically have NOTHING to do with the Philadelphia mummers parade! One is put on by the local morris teams, the other is part of a Unitaria church's Solstice revels and tends to de-Christianize Father Christmas but keeps St. George. It's a great way to bring in the yule tide season whatever your persuasion!

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Micca
Date: 10 May 00 - 02:09 PM

There was a mummers play complete with St. George, performed in the First In , Last Out pub, at Hastings(UK) on the Mayday weekend this year, by members of Fowlers Troop. Slawit Guise from near Huddersfield, do some including a 2 minute Mcbeth, which is very funny, they might let you have the script, send me a private message and I will send an e-mail addy.

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 May 00 - 08:01 PM

When it gets round to the right time of years for it, someone remember to start a Mudcat Mummers Play here...

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: selby
Date: 11 May 00 - 02:35 PM

For us on the Mudcat does there have to be a right time of year I will post a thread and lets start.

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: bobby's girl
Date: 11 May 00 - 06:44 PM

Ebor Morris used to do a Mummers Play in York when we lived there in the mid-80's, and I danced with the local women's team, Acorn.

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: selby
Date: 12 May 00 - 01:43 PM

I forgot all about Ebor morris doing one, I am wondering if the catters going to Whitby this year could manage a play and perform it ? Keith

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: roopoo
Date: 13 May 00 - 04:16 AM

As the wife of a current (when he's in the country) Ebor Morris man who joined in 1987, I must admit I haven't ever seen them do a play. It must have been abandoned. They have a Christmas party in December and a New Year dance-out, but there is nary a sign of a play. Acorn are still going. Both sides actually got up and went to York Castle for 6am on Mayday then did a circuit of the city walls, dancing at each of the Bars (gates!!!), raiding Radio York en-route, and then ending up at a pub in Toft Green for breakfast.

bobby's girl: re Ebor - John Lundy has recently retired as Squire as he doesn't dance these days (musician now), but he would have probably been Squire when you were there. Dave Mooring is still there too. One of our local GPs would have also been in when you were with them, although he gave up due to workload about 1985/6 I think. It was in the days of the "Side of Johns": John Clark. John Lundy's lady, Chris Bishop, is Squire (or foreman) of Acorn. Do you know her?

I will mention the mumming next time I see them. They have quite a number of more enthusiastic types with them these days (ie youngish) and maybe they might feel moved to do it again. If anyone can find the script!

mouldy

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: GUEST,Pete Millington
Date: 12 Jul 00 - 06:14 PM

There is a large collection of British folk play texts at the Traditional Drama Research Group site at http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/projects/tdrg/.

Details of the text of a Plough Stots' play from Selby performed about 1892 can be found at http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/projects/tdrg/Notts/Td00292.htm (Yorkshire Post, 11th Jan.1937, p.6) The text comes with a photo too.

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: oggie
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 03:42 PM

Lincoln Morris Men used to perform a Plough Play, collected from Branston near Lincoln, back in the 1970's. I have a copy somewhere and will mail it to anyone who wants (It's too long to put on-line in a hurry!)

Handsworth Sword Dancers (Sheffield) perform either a Mummer's Play or a version of the Derby Tup outside the churh at Handsworth on Boxing Day.

All the best

Steve

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 11 Apr 10 - 06:23 AM

Links to Sheffield re: folk drama related matters has now changed as per below:

These have been replaced by http://www.folkplay.info/Texts.htm

The new link to the Traditional Drama Research Group website http://www.folkplay.info/ is easy to find, a search for the group name, or tdrg/texts will take you there as will a simple search for mummers plays, folk drama etc.

The website is by far and away the most comprehensive site for all aspects of mumming and related customs.

There are links to even more texts via the 'Links' section.
http://www.folkplay.info/Links.htm which contains over 2,500 links to other websites itself a mammoth task carried out by Chris Little their webmaster.

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: squeezeboxhp
Date: 11 Apr 10 - 07:29 AM

look up Yorkshire film archive then Midgley pace egg play and the whole George play as done in the village is captured in the 50s in colour film +sound.
Coventry Mummers have a website as do Bradshaw Mummers from Halifax, we have about 20 plays not all george plays but the outcome is about the same good, evil, death, and resurection

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Apr 10 - 04:09 AM

I know it's an old thread but if anyone is interested there is a full script for a mumming play in this online book -

Lancashire Legends

Sorry if it's wrong - The linked is blocked from work as containing streaming content. I can chack it when I get home.

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: Mumming plays
From: GUEST, Jim Hancock
Date: 12 Apr 10 - 04:49 AM

Hi there

Visit http://www.yorkshire-folk-arts.com/directory/mummers.html
for a list of Yorkshire teams.

All the best

Jim hancock