The Mummers’ Play was performed by members of Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers around certain village pubs outside Abingdon and then in certain pubs in Abingdon, beginning at the Punchbowl, pictured here. The drama involved the characters of Father Christmas, King George, Bold Slasher, a doctor, and Mrs Finny.
The play opened with Father Christmas entering the pub to surprise customers and delivering a prologue, in rhyme, beginning:
Make room, make room, my gallant boys,
And give me room to rhyme;
For I have mine to let you know
Tis merry Christmas time.
He then introduced King George, who gave another monologue and challenged onlookers to see if anybody dared fight him. The challenge was accepted by a man called Bold Slasher. They fought, and King George fell.
A doctor was called, and after much boasting and using some pills, the doctor healed King George.
King George and Bold Slasher fought again, and Bold Slasher fell. The doctor said he had already saved a life, and now another life was lost, and he called on somebody else to heal Bold Slasher.
People called for Jack Finny, and a person with rosy red cheeks entered and said, ‘You want Jack Finny’ in a deep voice, and then said in a much higher voice, ‘But I am not Jack Finny. I am Mrs Finny’. After another speech, Mrs Finney used a flashing umbrella stuck up the backside of Bold Slasher to bring him around.
After that, all the players walked around and around and around, singing a rhyme and wishing people a Merry Christmas.
A collection tin was then taken around. This year the money went to the Abingdon Foodbank.
