P.T.Millington Collection (1971, M.Machin)
Source:
May Machin (Inf.)
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON NOTTINGHAMSHIRE AND DERBYSHIRE FOLK DRAMA RECORDED BY PETER T. MILLINGTON: BRINSLEY Notts SK4646
P.T.Millington Collection,
Col. 29th Dec.1971
Brief note as follows:-
"Recorded on the 29th December 1971 from May Machin of Hall Lane, Brinsley,
About 40 to 50 years ago, Guysers used to practice in the washroom at her
cottage. There were about twelve participants, but she was not really able to
recount any of the words of the play.
From outside, all the Guysers sang:-
We are the daily beggars,
That come from door to door.
We are the neighbours children
That you have seen before.
Beelzebub's lines were something like:-
Here comes old Beelzebub,
.........................
Money I want, money I crave,
If you don't give me any money,
I'll sweep you to the grave.
The Doctors lines included the couplet with the rhyming words 'Bottle' and
'Throttle.'
For costumes, all had black faces, and were covered with coloured paper, tacked
onto normal clothes. They wore very tall plain 'dunces' hats, occasionally
with a star shape on etc. In addition, Beelzebub carried a broom, and the
Doctor wore a top hat and carried a bag."
Index Terms:
| Locations: |
Brinsley, Notts. (SK4649)
|
| Years: |
Perf. 1920 to 1930; Col. 1971
|
| Subjects: |
Guysers; Play; Song; Text Fragments; Beelzebub; Doctor; Costumes
|
| People: |
Peter Thomas Millington (Col.)
|
| Archives: |
TDRG Archive, Ref. TD00354
|
Last Updated Feb 1987 by Peter Millington.
|
