FASH CHAT: Mumming – A True Tradition
For over thirty years, at Christmas, King John's Morris Men from Southampton have performed a version of the Bursledon Mummers Play. Audiences have varied from thousands or more at the Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke to one man and his dog at more than one Hampshire hostelry over the years.
Mummers plays are seasonal plays that can be traced back at least to the Middle Ages although few written references can be found before the eighteenth century.
Usually the principal characters are a Hero, his chief opponent, the Fool, and a quack Doctor. The defining feature of mumming plays is the Doctor, and the main purpose of the fight is to provide him with a patient to cure. There are many variants of the play throughout the country. Although most are performed in the period around Christmas there are also other seasonal variants such as the pace egging plays at Easter and Souling around All Souls Day.
The Bursledon play is introduced by the disturbing character of Johnny Jack 'with his wife and children at his back'. He introduces the early characters of Father Christmas, King George (our hero!) and the much vilified Turkish Knight. The latter two characters have a monstrous battle and I will not spoil the surprise by telling you who is killed. A wonderful Doctor is found who performs a number of miraculous 'cures' to try and bring the corpse back to life.
Our performances of the play allow us to collect for charity. Over the years literally tens of thousands of pounds have been collected, mostly for local children's charities.
The play will be performed by King John's at a number of pubs during December (see King John's web site for further details - www.king-johns-morris.org.uk, and note Printable pdf file for King John's Morris Christmas Mumming 2007
In addition they can be seen at their traditional Boxing Day performance in Old Bursledon itself from twelve noon onwards, you will be able to see some fine Border Morris performed there too.
We'd also love to see you at our Ceilidh on 23rd February with The King's Band and Simon Care, at Hedge End Hall. Call me on 01489 588187 for more information.
And as well as King John's Mumming, this year Fareham Council have invited three groups from Stourvale Mummers, Red Stags Morris and Wickham Morris to perform their plays on Saturday December 1st, alongside the Farmers' Market. If you have never seen these peculiar English plays before, then go and see one this year.
New Years Day Morris Dance
Come and join Wickham Morris at noon on January 1st at the White Lion, Soberton. Come and watch and have a relaxed lunch after a long night, or come and sing, play, dance. Morris dancers and musicians from other sides welcome, as a group or just come and join in with Wickham.
Calling all Club Secretaries
As we start the new year, please send me your dates, if you want them publicised in Solent Waves.
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Submitted by (to whom technical queries and requests for additional links only) and Edited by Dennis Wheeler, Penshurst, Vicarage Lane, Swanmore, Hants SO32 2PW 01489 892911 editor@fash.org.uk).