What is a Mummers’ Play?
ell, it’s a good question. In academic terms it is often referred to as a ritual folk play that has been performed throughout Britain at Christmas/New Year for at least the past two centuries – and, perhaps, much longer. Although each play has its own characteristics, certain core elements of the play’s structure remain common. First, combat takes place between two protagonists resulting in death/injury to one. Second, a well-travelled quack Doctor raises the fatally injured character to life. And, finally, some form of conflict resolution takes place. It is possible that the theme of death and rebirth is reflected in the season at which the play is performed -- near the winter solstice and turn of the New Year.
Variations of this basic story-line provide the play’s dynamic and enduring quality. The King Stone Mummers’ play is based on two old Oxfordshire plays interspersed with the participant’s own ad-libbed dialogue.
"In comes I..." The KSR cast comprises Little Johnny Jack, Father Christmas, Princess Fair, King George, Turkish Knight and The Doctor. We can be seen around the towns and villages of West Oxfordshire in the weeks leading up to Christmas performing the play, dancing Rapper and collecting for our chosen charity, Katharine House Hospice, Adderbury.
A new comers' perspective...
In April 2011, a new member joined our troupe. This is an account of his experiences in his first mummers season:
“Little did I know that one day back in April I would meet a group of people that would turn out to have a significant part in my social life. I encountered ‘The King Stone Rappers’ because a close friend of mine needed some moral support when playing the fiddle for them to dance rapper. They were a good and friendly bunch and could be seen to get steadily ‘merrier’ as we went from one pub to the next. By the end of that evening I had been recruited, which included: going on a tour with them to Germany and dancing out with many other morris sides.
With Christmas coming on, it was time to revive the mummers play and I was handed the part of Little Johnny Jack. On my debut, I was frantically trying to learn the words of my character whilst on the bus to Woodstock, where we performed the play for the first time this season and danced rapper a total of four times at the museum. Despite being confident that I knew the words, stage fright got the better of me, but at least I began to get a feel for the part and the play.
Our ‘season’ got well under way in the second week of December touring 17 pubs in four evenings followed by a daytime tour of Oxford City pubs and streets. For me there was another 8 evening pub sessions in two days the following week. Unfortunately I could not be with them to finish the week nor accompany them on Boxing day (the traditional day for mumming and morris).
There were a couple of aspects that I was uncomfortable with. The fight between King George and the Turkish knight could be seen as Christianity triumphing over Islam, reminiscent of the crusades and the other was having to black my face, both of these things not being very ‘PC’ in modern times. However, I comforted myself in the fact that that I interpreted my roll as that of an C18
th chimney sweep; and the death and resurrection of the Turkish knight was a symbol of the circle of life. My confidence grew with every performance and by the time we finished at the Killingworth Castle, Wootton on New Year's Day I relished playing the part.
Not knowing how the mummers had done things before, I just naturally launched into folk session mode at the end of each evening, singing songs and playing tunes. This was in fact a novel thing for the side, but we had some great sessions and the audiences enjoyed them so much as a fitting end to the evening. So, now I am a mummer (and soon to be pace egger come Easter) and a rapper. I will toast the anniversary come Easter that I met the side.
”
Peter ‘S2’ Standing, 2011.
Peter brought a pleasant dimension to our little troupe this Christmas. Being an accomplished folk musician, his forays in to music at the end of the evening brought an added bonus, not only to the audience, but to us as well. Another endearing aspect of his performance was his ability to perform the part that has very little interaction with the rest of the actors, their dialogue is aided by their to and fro with each other. Peter was able to adapt and perform admirably without this easy bantering that the other performers shared. And, as such, he was able to enfold the play for the audience.
