I.T.Jones Collection (1981, I.M.O'Brien)

Main Variant

Transcription
K9/4

FOLK PLAYS AND PLOUGH MONDAY CUSTOMS

  Today's date: 3. 2. 81

Name of informant: I. M. O'Brien (Underwood W.I.)

Address: 18, SMALLEY CLOSE, UNDERWOOD, NOTTS.

Age: 60 Occupation: Retired Born at: SELSTON, NOTTS.

Is this a personal recollection: In part.

If not, who was the source of the information? Mrs. R. Kirk, Underwood, W.I.
(Please specify name, address, relationship to you, occupation, age and, place of
birth if possible):


Where and when was the custom performed? SELSTON PARISH, NOTTS.
(Please give details of the town or village, places visited, the year or years it was
performed and the time of year if possible):


Please describe the custom as fully as possible
(e.g. What was said or done, quoting words if possible. Why it was done.
Who took part in the performance. Did they wear any special clothing? Did they or
the custom have a special name? Any relevant background information)
Continue overleaf if neccesary:

Usually performed just prior to Christmas by
young males. Costumes usually improvised from any
old clothing possessed by actors, often worn in
an unusual way (eg inside out) to cause
amusement, Faces sometimes "blacked".

Plays had a common basic plot (ie, fight) but
there were different versions, even in villages
in close proximity.

The dialogue of the play quoted was
performed in the Bagthorpe area. Dialogue
from a play performed in Selston is quoted
in red. The informant remembers a play
performed as late as* 1938 circa.

Referred to locally as "Guysers" or "Bull guysers."

Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Please return to Mr. I.T.Jones, l6 Wensley Road, Woodthorpe, Nottinghan.

* Another W.I. member remembers a performance
in 1950 circa. I saw it performed in 1944 in Underwood.


Characters
Little Devil Doubt.
Beelzebub
St. George
Doctor
Bull Guy
Slasher (or Black Prince)
Father

Announcer: Room. room, brave gentlemen, give us
  room
  For in this room we wish to perform,
  Perform our merry rites
  If you don't believe what I say, step
  in St. George and clear the way

OR ALTERNATIVELY:

  I open the door, I enter in.
  I beg your pardon to begin.
  Whether I stand or whether I fall,
  I'll do my duty to please you all
  And if you don't believe these words I say
  Step in, St. George, and clear the way.

St. George: In comes St. George, from old
  England sprang,
  My famous name through the world
  hath rung.
  Many great deeds I have made known
  I have made giants tremble on the throne.
  I followed a fair maiden to a giant's gate,
  Confined in a dungeon to meet her fate.
  Then I resolved in true knight heraldry
  To burst the doors and set the prisoner
  free,
  When a giant almost struck me dead,
  But by my valour I cut off his head.
  I've searched the world around and
  around,
  But the equal to me I have never
  found.

Slasher:
  In comes a gallant soldier,
  And Slasher is my name,
  With sword and buckler by my side
  I hope to win the game.
  My body of iron, my head of steel,
  My hands and feet of knuckle bone;
  And no one can make me feel.

(St. George and Slasher fight
  Slasher falls)

Father: St, George, St. George, what hast
  thou done?
  Thou hast killed and slain my only
  son,
  My only son lies bleeding there
  Send for a doctor.

Doctor: In comes the doctor, a noble doctor,
  too.

(? Doctor, doctor, where have you been?

Doctor: Italy, Sicily, France and Spain,
  Over the hills and back again
  Here, Jack, open thy click-clack,
  Take this nick-nack


  Let it run down thy trick-track
  And rise and fight again)

  In this pocket I have a bottle
  Which I will pour down his throttle.
  It will cure the itch, the stitch, the
  palsy and the gout
  If there are nineteen devils in the skin,
  I will fetch twenty out.
  So open thy throttle and take from
  this bottle
  And rise up and fight again.

St. George: Let nothing more be said,
  For if I draw my sword
  I will surely cut off thy head

[
Beelzebub: In comes Beelzebub, over my shoulder
  I carry my club.
  In my hand a frying pan,
  Don't you think I'm a jolly old man
  For, sires, this is Christmas tie,
  The time to cut up goose pies,
  pork and turkey;
  The sound of the horn;
  The beat of the drum.
  Make room, brave gentlemen, and let
  the actors come. ]
{side note: "THIS SPEECH MAY COME
  AFTER THE ANNOUNCER's
  FIRST SPEECH"}

Little Devil Doubt: In comes little Devil Doubt,
  With my breeches inside out,
  Money I want, and money you'll pay
  If you don't give me money,
  I'll sweep you away.