Tarka Morris Men

The Tarka Mummers' Play

On the Tuesday before Christmas, on Boxing Day and on St. George's Day (April 23rd,) Tarka Morris Men perform a traditional Mummers' Play in the pubs around Bideford.

Mummers (sometimes called Guisers, Christmas Rhymers or even 'Morris Dancers' though they often don't actually dance) may be as old as the Morris itself. Like the dancing, the Mummers' plays are thought by many to celebrate the turning of the yearly seasons. In 'hero' type Mummers' plays like the Tarka  version, there is always at least one character who is first killed, then restored to life, and is killed again. We don't do  things by halves round here though, so we have three of them !

 

The heroic St.George is the character who symbolically defeats Winter's evil and upholds the good in the Tarka play. Like many other Mummers' troupes, we also include Father Christmas who brings good cheer to all and passes the hat round at the end. When we perform the play on St. George's Day, Father Christmas is replaced by 'Jack in the Green', the Spirit of Spring. An important part of the Mumming tradition is that the characters always speak in rhyme...... (well, of sorts that is.)



The Bold St. George

 

A 'Turkish Knight' begins the play:

 

The Turkish Knight

The Knight:

'Open the door and let me in, I hope your favours I shall win,
Whether I rise or whether I fall, I'll do my best to please you all.
St.George is here, and swears he'll come in,
He'll do his best to pierce my skin.
If you don't believe what here I say,
Father Christmas come in! - Now clear the way!'

Father Christmas (dressed in traditional green, by the way) :

'Here come I, old Father Christmas, welcome or welcome not.
I hope old Father Christmas will never be forgot.
I am not here to laugh or jeer, but for pocketfuls of money,
And a skinful of beer.
If you will not believe what I do say,
Come in, the King of Egypt! - Clear the way!'
 

The King of Egypt

The King of Egypt arrives and announces that his son St.George, is indeed in the company.  St . George declares that  he will kill a fiercesome Dragon. The Dragon dies in the fight and Father Christmas calls for a Doctor who can cure all ills....

The Dragon Defeated

Doctor:

'Fifteen pound it is my fee, the money to lay down;
But, as 'tis such a rogue as thee, I'll cure for ten pound.
I carry a bottle of Alicumpane. Here Jack, take a little of my flip-flop,
And pour it down thy tip-top. Rise up and fight again!'

Alicumpane for you, my lad.

The Doctor

The Dragon is restored, fights with St.George again and is defeated a second time. The Turkish Knight then declares himself as St.George's next opponent and like the Dragon dies twice, having been restored by the Doctor the first time.

St. George is having a bad day, but it's no problem to a hero like him. He next confronts 'Giant Turpin' who brandishes a 'tremendous bludgeon.' After succumbing twice, the Giant is defeated for ever, the Doctor is given some gruel for his efforts and then is ungratefully kicked out. Father Christmas declares to the audience:

Father Christmas:

'Now ladies and gentlemen, your sport is most ended,
So prepare for the hat, which is highly commended.
The hat it would speak, if it had but a tongue;
Come! - Throw in some MONEY and think it NO WRONG!'

Father Christmas goes round with the hat, his face plainly showing what he thinks of the amounts he collects from each donor. When he collects from the Squire though, he 'beams with delight.'

It's a Green Christmas here in Tarka territory.

Father Christmas

And for a couple of years, St. George has had  a fourth mystery opponent.  St.George beat him soundly too of course.....Well, he would do, wouldn't he?

It's a BIN liner, see!

FINIS