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Isca Morrismen Silver Jubilee
The Alderley Play
As part of the entertainment laid on at Magor during the 25th Anniversary Weekend, the Addlington Morrismen presented their own version of a Cheshire Mumming Play that can be dated to before 1788. The Alderley Play was revived in 1820 and performed by the Barber family continuously until 1937 when performances lapsed; during this period the Barber family always took all the parts and the performances were given on All Souls Eve until 1911 when they were moved to the Christmas period. Thanks to the meticulousness of the Barber family's notes and and to the expert guidance provided by both Mary Houseman (nee Barber) and Fred Barber, the Adlington Morrismen were able to revive the tradition in 1977.
  
The Adlington men adhere to the style of the original costumes and were well received by the large crowd in Magor. The play starts with 'Enter In' demanding room for St.George, the hero.
And as the next three characters enter the arena, Colonel Slasher squares up to St. George . . . . .
. . . . . and they eye up each other
But before they can start to skirmish . . . . .
. . . . . in comes Beelzebub, the devil
to speak his peace. But it's time for a fight and . . . . .
. . . . . having fought a duel with Prince Paradise, a second fight between St. George and Colonel Slasher gets under way
And now that Colonel Slasher lies dead on the ground, have we a doctor to be found?
Oh yes we do, but where do all these strange doctors come from?
and having revived Colonel Slasher by administering his 'Ally-cum-plain', enter the Groom with his collecting horse.
and finally, a successful rendition over, it's time to take a bow
And that's your lot folks!
The Isca Morrismen wish to make due acknowledgements to Mary Houseman and Duncan Broomhead for information concerning this ancient play.
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