Greetings,
Alert One!
Traditional mummers plays always feature a
battle,
a death or two, and a resurrection. Stock characters are a hero, often
Saint George, a villain, Turkey Snipe (or Turkish Knight, or Dragon), a
much-traveled and boasting Doctor who administers a magic potion, and
other
lesser characters: Little Devil Doubt, Giant Blunderbore, TwingTwang,
Hobby
Horse, etc. There is often much ad-libbing social comment - so this
fits
right into the tradition.
Saint George W.
A Mummers Play
Adapted and Illustrated by William L. Brown
Act I: Two Saints and No Dragon Devil Doubt:In
comes I, Little Devil Doubt
Father Election: In
comes I, Old Father Election,
Saint George and Saint Al:
[simultaneously]:
Father Election: But
I know, there stands without,
Turkey Bill:
In comes I bold Turkey Bill.
Saint George and Saint Al:Go
and cut your funny dance,
[they fight each other, but neither falls] Devil Doubt:The
foe is vanquished, without a doubt,
Saint George:
I did? Er, yes, I did, I cut him down,
Saint Al:
I see no spot from which I bleed,
Father Election: Oh Dear Oh Dear what have you . . . . Devil Doubt:OOPS!
Beg your pardon! My mistake!
Saint George:Now just a ding dong minute here! Saint Al: Thank
you, thank you! Now sir, your turn,
Devil Doubt:Or,
. . . maybe not! It's hard to say!
Father Election: Speed
thyself, thou Devil Doubt,
Doctor:
[impatiently shaking bottle of magic potion]
Devil Doubt:[to
audience] Let's Doubt remove,
All: NO! NO! Father Election: The
vote, you fool, was for the winner
Devil Doubt:Oh,
dear, oh dear, I am confused.
Father Election: Oh
for land's sake,
Devil Doubt:I've
got the hand count, but the leg count is hard,
Saint Al: Not
fair! What injustice!
Father Election: Awful
that will be, I'm sure,
Devil Doubt:A
huge success for me this year!
Doctor:
I've been to Italy, Spitaly, Germany, France and Spain,
Father Election:
Relax, Doctor, the time ripeneth not.
[all exit in confusion]
Act II - click
here
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© 2000, Wm. L. Brown, www.wmlbrown.com (include this line if forwarding, please)