P.T.Millington Collection (1972, A.Smith)
Version b |
Transcription
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TILLICOULTRY - CLACKMANNAANSHIRE
(SCOTLAND) - GUYERS PLAY
Written down by A Smith, of Nuthall, Notts, on the 19/1/1972 for Peter T.
Millington.
THE SKETCH FOR THREE
KING OF MACEDONIA I am the King of Macedonia,
I have conquered all the world except Scotland,
But since I came to Scotland,
My heart has grown cold,
To see such a nation,
So stout and so bold.
So frank and so free,
So step in Galatians, and. fight with me.
GALATIANS Here steps in Galatians, Galatians is my name,
Sword and pistol by my side,
I hope to win the game.
KING OF MACEDONIA The game Sir, the game Sir,
Is not within your power,
I will lash you and dash you,
Within a half an hour.
GALATIANS You Sir?
KING OF MACEDONIA I Sir, draw your sword and try Sir.
(Here you do a little fencing with wooden swords. One falls to the ground.)
? Horrible, Horrible. What have I done?
Ruined" my self, and killed my son!
Is there a doctor in the town who can cure this man?
DOCTOR BROWN Here steps in Doctor Brown,
The finest doctor in the town.
I have a little Inky Pinky in my waistcoat pocket.
I'll put a little to his nose,
And a little to his toes.
Now rise up Jack and sing a song.
? Once I was dead, now I'm alive,
Blessed. be the Doctor who made me revive.
? We'll all join hands and we'll never fight no more,
And we'll be good friends, as we were before.
LETTER WITH THE TEXT: -
Sir,
I was interested to read in last weeks Advertiser about Guysers. I have
been in these parts for 40 years now and not heard of Guysers down here
before. We usually went Guyesing on Halloween. My sisters and I put caps
and scarfs round our necks to look like boys.
I have tried to remember this, to the best of my ability. We were
always well received into homes, when doing this little act.
Hope it will help you in some little way.
Yours faithfully
A smith
Notes on the transcription:- This letter was written in reply to an article in
Eastwood and Kimberley Advertiser. In the area of circulation, the play is
performed. by Guysers, hence the spelling of the name of these performers.
The words were written with no interuption or labelling of characters.
Some of the divisions and atributions are therefore open to criticism. The
informant gave no further details of address, so no further enquiry can be
made as to location, dates, etc.
TILLICOULTRY (Continued)
In writing the follow up to the article to which Mrs. Smith had replied,
an allusion was made to this Scottish play, and the fact that some information
was missing. As a result, the following letter was received:-
56 Highfield Road,
Nuthall,
Nottingham,
NG16 1BS
7/2/72
Mr. Millington
Dear Sir,
I have read your article in this weeks Advertiser, and. sorry I can't
give you any more information, about Scottish Guysers.
I came from a very small town in Clackmannanshire, (Tillicoultry) and
never heard of the play, being, in our town hall, or in any other Hall.
The Scots uphold Halloween and have parties, and it was getting into
these parties, that we did our play, then collected some money, much in
the same way as carol singers do here at Xmas.
Sorry I can't help you more.
Yours faithfully
(Mrs.) Agnes Smith.
P.S. I have just looked up Pears Cyclopedia, and found out that Galatians
was a person. |
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