I have no shame...

[watervole]

Went to the theatre last night to see the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the New Scorpion Band do a Christmas show with a strong bias towards folk songs, etc.  Someone had had the bright idea of offering half-price tickets to local morris sides.  Three of Anonymous Morris were there and I saw people from several other local sides.

Part of the performance was a mumming play by the New Scorpion Band (St George vs Turkish Knight, St George gets killed twice).  Good fun and had at least one idea (doing the sword fight as a dance) that I may steal for next year.

After the play finished, the conductor announced that anyone wishing to see another mumming play could see Purbeck Mummers at their next performance.

You only get one guess as to which audience member promptly shouted out where Poole Mummers were next performing (which the conductor kindly repeated with his mike).

Friday, the Brewhouse, Poole 8pm.

Comments

[wibble-puppy.livejournal.com]

Interesting stuff! thanks for that :) I can't remember where I found the text we used, unfortunately - probably in one of the books I studied at university, and all our books are in storage - but if I come across it again I'll double-check the date and sourcing. Its speeches were simpler than the folkplay one, but it followed a similar plot.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

A lot of the later ones (that one was an early chapbook version) have simpler text. Oral tradition rapidly smooths out bumps as things pass down by word of mouth.