Mummers' Play
Ancient masks hide ancient fears in the heart of Haddonfield.
Mummers' plays are folk plays performed by troupes of amateur actors, traditionally all male, known as mummers or guisers (also by local names such as rhymers, pace-eggers, soulers, tipteerers, wrenboys, and galoshins). The term refers especially to a play in which a number of characters are called on stage, two of whom engage in a combat, the loser being revived by a doctor character. This play is sometimes found associated with a sword dance though both also exist in Britain independently. Plays may be performed in the street or during visits to houses and pubs. They are generally performed seasonally, often at Christmas, Easter or on Plough Monday, more rarely on Halloween or All Souls' Day, and often with a collection of money.
- Setting
- Haddonfield
- Context
- Local Halloween Tradition
- Theme
- Folklore and Masking
- Status
- Cultural Backdrop
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The earliest evidence of mummers' plays as they are known today is from the mid- to late 18th century. The earliest complete text of the 'Doctor' play is an undated chapbook of 'Alexander and the King of Egypt', published by John White in Newcastle upon Tyne between 1746 and 1769. A text from Islip, Oxfordshire, dates from the early 19th century. A play from an unknown locality in Cheshire, close to the border with Wales, dates from the 19th century. Chapbook versions of 'The Christmas Rhime' or 'The Mummer's Own Book' were published in Belfast, c.1803-1818. A mummers' play from Ballybrennan, County Wexford, Ireland, dating from around 1817–18, was published in 1863. It is from the 19th century that the bulk of recorded texts derive. Mumming, at any rate in the South of England, had its heyday at the end of the 19th century and the earliest years of the 20th century. Most traditional mummers groups (known as 'sides') stopped with the onset of the First World War.
In Their Own Story
In Ynysmeudwy near Swansea groups of four boys dressed as Crwmpyn (hunchback) John, Indian Dark, Robin Hood and Doctor Brown took the play from house to house on Bonfire Night and were rewarded with money. In 1418 a law was passed in London forbidding in the city 'mumming, plays, interludes or any other disguisings with any feigned beards, painted visors, deformed or coloured visages in any wise, upon pain of imprisonment'. Mumming was a way of raising money and the play was taken round the big houses. Most Southern English versions end with the entrance of 'Little Johnny Jack his wife and family on his back'. Johnny, traditionally played by the youngest mummer in the group, first asks for food and then more urgently for money. Johnny Jack's wife and family were either dolls in a model house or sometimes a picture.
Reader's Guide
The principal characters, presented in a wide variety of manners, are a hero, most commonly Saint George, King George, or Prince George (but Robin Hood in the Cotswolds and Galoshin in Scotland), and his chief opponent (known as the Turkish Knight in southern England, but with other names such as Slasher or Prince of Paradine elsewhere), and a quack Doctor who comes to restore the dead man to life. Other characters include: Old Father Christmas, who introduces some plays, the Fool, and Beelzebub or Little Devil Doubt (who demands money from the audience). Despite the frequent presence of Saint George, the Dragon rarely appears although it is often mentioned. A dragon seems to have appeared in the Revesby Ploughboys' Play in 1779, along with a 'wild worm' (possibly mechanical), but it had no words. In the few instances where the dragon appears and speaks its words can be traced back to a Cornish script published by William Sandys in 1833. In some parts of Britain and Ireland the plays are traditionally performed on or near Plough Monday. These are therefore known as Plough plays and the performers as Plough-jags, Plough-jacks, Plough-bullocks, Plough-stots or Plough witches.
Did You Know?
- The word 'mummer' is more likely to be associated with Early New High German 'mummer' ('disguised person') and 'vermunmen' ('to wrap up, to disguise, to mask one's face') than with Middle English 'mum' ('silent') or Gree
- In 1418 a law was passed in London forbidding 'mumming, plays, interludes or any other disguisings with any feigned beards, painted visors, deformed or coloured visages in any wise, upon pain of imprisonment'.
- The earliest complete text of the 'Doctor' play appears to be an undated chapbook of 'Alexander and the King of Egypt', published by John White (d. 1769) in Newcastle upon Tyne between 1746 and 1769.
- In some regional traditions, such as those in Sussex and Hampshire, the mummers' play ends with the entrance of 'Little Johnny Jack his wife and family on his back', though this character is not a universal feature of So
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mummers' Play in Haddonfield lore?
In this local Halloween tradition, amateur troupes known as mummers perform folk plays featuring masked characters and ritualistic combat. These performances serve as a cultural backdrop where ancient masks are used to confront deep-seated fears within the community.
Who typically performs these plays?
The actors are traditionally all male amateurs called mummers or guisers, who may also be known by local names like rhymers or soulers. They travel through streets and visit houses to present their dramatic skits during the holiday season.
What is the central plot of the play?
The story centers on a staged fight between two characters where one is defeated and subsequently revived by a doctor figure. This cycle of death and resurrection often accompanies or exists alongside traditional sword dances in the region.
Why are these plays important to Haddonfield's history?
These performances preserve old folklore and masking customs that act as a vessel for the town's collective anxieties. By reenacting these rituals, the community maintains a tangible link to its ancient past amidst modern celebrations.
Where do Mummers' Plays take place?
Performances occur dynamically in public streets or during intimate visits to private homes and local pubs. This mobile setting allows the tradition to permeate daily life while keeping the atmosphere of mystery alive throughout Haddonfield.