It
was dark night with touch of drizzle from the skies, but in front of the oil
lamps waited a brilliant surprise. By
torch light in procession played in by musicians came strange shapes all clad
in fantastic guise. There was King
Christmas, Common Jack, The Doctor and Beelzebub, St. George and the Prince of
Paradine, all gathered close in one covey to act and speak, to fight, to die,
cure, to live again and all the time to mum and mime.
This
is agreat living tradition being enacted around the winter solstice. It brought brilliant ideas to life of the
light that will return in summer. It
showed us what we can do in the dark nights of winter. With flaming torches, musicians and wonderful
actors all in an open theatre more often used as a car park this primal
spectacle was brilliantly brought to life.
There are so many reasons that I could give to recommend this
performance but the easiest way is to say that I enjoyed it and want to go back
for more.
6th January 2015 The
Old Bridge Inn, Ripponden, HX6 4DF
The Long Company
Mummers
