S.R. (1926)


Source:

S. R. (Auth.)
THE MUMMERS' PLAY: More Light on the Origin of Plough Monday Masque
Nottingham Journal, 12th Jan.1926, No.31235, p.4 d-f

The author starts by mentioning the reproduction of Mrs. Chaworth Musters' version of a Plough Monday play [Cropwell, Notts.] in A.H. (1926), and its discussion in E.K.Chambers' (1903) "The Mediaeval Stage". However he clearly disagrees with Chambers' discussion of folk plays. Race recognises two sorts of play, the Christmas St. George play, and the Plough Monday play. The St.George play is the older version, with a plot or structure dating back to pagan times, and a text dating back to the Crusades. The Plough Monday play he considers to be a "2nd edition" produced to extend the actors' touring season. He notes that Robin Hood did not appear in Notts., plays, and that the "Recruiting Sergeant" of Plough Monday plays probably originated with the Napoleonic Wars. He further notes that chapbooks were a source of some plays in the 1870s.

Quotes fragments of Notts., texts from Cropwell, the Selston district, and "North Notts. round Retford", the latter probably taken from E.Sutton (1913).

Main variant

Transcript

THE MUMMERS' PLAY
More Light on the Origin
of Plough Monday Masque
MRS. CHAWORTH MUSTERS' ver-
sion of the Plough Monday play
See full transcript...

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Index Terms:

Locations: Cropwell, Notts. (SK6836); Retford, Notts. (SK7080); Selston, Notts. (SK4553); North Nottinghamshire, Notts.
Years: Publ. 1926; Publ. 1870s
Subjects: Plays; Origins; Chapbooks; Plough Monday; St. George; Christmas; Robin Hood; Recruiting Sergeant; Plough Monday; Chambers,E.K. (1903); H.,A. (1926)
People: Sydney Race (Auth.)
Archives: TDRG Archive, Ref. TD00201;
Notts. County Library, County Folklore Box

Last Updated Jan 1990 by Peter Millington.