Morris and mumming

[watervole]

Fingers crossed, I think Anonymous Morris have our youngest dancer yet.

C is age 12.  We picked him up after we did a workshop for a local scout troupe.  He's keen, well-behaved, is already developing a good standard of dance after only two sessions and we're very pleased that we decided to break our minimum age of 16 to take him.

We're also working on a mumming play.  We tried to do one last year, but half the cast went down with flu, which rather put the kibosh on that.

So far, this year, it's looking promising.  We're well into rehearsals - or at least, as much rehearsals as mumming plays require.

We've had two run-throughs now and 2/3 of the cast have their words memorised.  Young C is playing the Valiant Solder and has got his part learnt (ran through it with his parents) and is acting with gusto.

Graham, our St George, makes me crease up with laughing every time he comes on (he has to tell me not to giggle) .  He's a gently camp St George with a slightly wistful look - reminds me of Sgt Wilson in Dad's Army.  Graham has done mumming before (a long time ago), and was keen to do it again.  He created his own approach to the part.

At practice we have plenty of sticks lying around and a broom that we use for Henry's broom dance.

When it comes to the lines:

"In comes I, St George!  A valiant man,
With naked sword and spear in hand,
I fought the mighty dragon"

- he promptly picked up a stick for a sword and brandished the broom as a menacing spear...

So that got a laugh and we've stuck with it.  The sword fight scenes are very entertaining!

The costumes are all very simple, as is traditional with mumming.  The Turkish Solder is Pam with a towelling turban.  As Beelzebub, I get a stick, a frying pan and a little party pair of devil's horns.  The doctor gets to wear a black hat.  Father Christmas gets a santa hat.  We'll all wear our normal purple tatter jackets and I may possibly put on some red face paint.

All I have to do now is to find a date when the entire cast are able to perform... And pubs that are keen to have us.  (Tried the Foundry Arms yesterday and they're fine, so that's one already.)

Comments

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

This is a happy reading! COngratulations on your new young talent!
I also believe your mumming will be a success - as far as your people enjoy it, your performance can´t fail!
Hee, I wish I could see you in your Beelzebub mask...
I am really glad for you, the Anonymous are your "child"!
Please can you explain " put the kibosh on something"? Actually what is that kibosh?

[watervole.livejournal.com]

It's an odd phrase and its origin is unclear. It goes back around 150 years. You don't hear it that often now, but it is still in colloquial use.

We don't know what 'kibosh' actually means. There is speculation that it might be a whip or bludgeon, or even the evil eye, but we really have no idea.

It means that something caused a screw up. eg. Tim arriving late really put the kibosh on Sarah's party. or The rain kiboshed our plans for a picnic.

Here's a wartime example in a song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imLm6qnrxMk

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!
I think I must have seen this film as a student - it is by Richard Attenborough - or isn´t it?

[julesjones]

Good to hear that C came back this week -- I was very impressed with him at his first practice session.

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

That sounds absolutely wonderful - a proper mumming play is a thing of beauty. I'd recommend pubs, but I don't think any of mine are even remotely close.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I'm not entirely sure that 'beauty' is the word I'd choose, but I certainly do love watching them.

[rockwell-666.livejournal.com]

Sounds great, best of luck with the play.