P.T.Millington Collection (1971, M.Fox)
Main Variant |
Transcription
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UNDERWOOD - GUYSERS PLAY
Collected on the 12/1/1971 from Maurice Fox, barman and resident of the
Sandhills, Underwood, Notts., by Peter T. Millington.
COSTUMES:-
OPENER IN Swallow-tail coat, pressed trousers, top hat, black gloves,
no face make-up.
SAINT GEORGE Regalia of the Ancient Order of Foresters, ie. with a
Cavalier-type hat, sword and shield, face blackened.
SLASHER Dressed as a soldier, face blackened, wooden sword,
and shield.
DOCTOR Little man dressed in black, wearing a black bowler, and
carrying a small case with flask. Glasses perched on
nose, which is made up big and red.
BEELZEBUB Dressed as a "Sea-faring gentleman", with a handkerchief
tied round his head, big brass earings, face blackened,
carrying a club, and a dripping tin for collection.
TEXT:-
OPENER IN I open the door I enter in,
I beg your pardon to begin,
Whether I sit, stand or fall,
I'll do my duty to please you all.
And if you don't believe the words I say,
Step in Saint George and clear the way.
SAINT GEORGE I am Saint George from old England sprang,
My famous name throughout the world has rung,
Many brave deeds and wonders have I known,
I've made tyrants tremble on their throne,
I followed a fair maiden to a lions den,
. . . . . . .
SLASHER I am a brave soldier, and Slasher is my name,
I fought on many a foreign field, and gained a lot of fame,
My body of brass, my arms of steel,
No man on earth can make me feel.
SAINT GEORGE Stand back, stand back thou dirty dog,
I'll make thy buttons fly.
I'll cut thy belly right in two,
And thou shalt surely die.
(They fight and Slasher falls.)
OPENER IN Oh George! Oh George! What hast thou done?
You've gone and slain my only son.
A doctor, a doctor. Ten pounds for a doctor
DOCTOR I am a doctor.
OPENER IN How camest thou to be a doctor?
DOCTOR By travelling sir.
OPENER IN Where has thou travelled?
DOCTOR Italy, Sicilly, France and Spain,
Over the seas and home again.
OPENER IN What canst thou cure?
DOCTOR Itch, stitch, palsy and gout,
If there were nineteen devils in,
I would cast twenty out.
OPENER IN Here Doc cure me this man.
DOCTOR Here Jack take a little of my nick nack,
And let it run down thy tick tack,
And rise and fight Saint George again.
(Slasher rises)
BEELZEBUB In comes I Beelzebub,
Over my shoulder I carry a club,
In my hand a dripping tin,
Don't you think I am a jolly old man?
And if you don't, I do.
NOTES:- Mr. Fox states that the play was performed about 1940 (at the age of
about 12) . His home at the tine was the okd Sandhills pub, which used to
be on the other side of the road to the present building. It was a lodge of
the Ancient Order of Foresters, hence the costume of Saint George. Maurices
mother is still licencee. Mr. Fox said "Nowadays Guysers don't have such
good costumes though they dress up funny like and lads nowadays don't
know half it, and they garble it and the main thing is the collection."
The team included Keith Simpson and Ken Smith, from whom texts have also
been obtained. M. Fox was instrumental in first obtaining Mr. Simpsons
version. |
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