Hear Tara Miller’s interview with Lady Passion about Witch Secrets and Mysteries conducted on Friday, Aug. 31st, 2012, at the top of the home page at oldenwilde.org.

Samhain 18 looms and we're so excited about this year's plans!

Please volunteer to play a quickie fun role in the Pub Moot — a sacred tradition from Europe that's fun to perform!

Some roles require no speaking; others have only 2 rhyming quatrains; and 2 males — Death & John Barleycorn — have 4 rhyming quatrains to memorize. Easy breezy!

E-mail Lady Passion to commit to playing a role and she’ll work with you about costume options and send you the rehearsal schedule (Fridays at the Covenstead beginning at 7 pm from Sept. 28th thru Oct. 26th).

The parts needed & play script are at oldenwilde.org/samhain

Also e-mail Lady Passion if you want to get legally married, renew your vows, or get handfasted later the night of Halloween at Roger McGuire Green (Pack Square Park, the stage area).

We have the park reserved, but we need donations to finish paying the rental fees, and folks to help us tie commemorative ribbons on the wrists of those who want to “tie the knot” there, and donations to help us order these beauties so they’ll arrive in time! (You can donate now by clicking this link: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=5P69BBTQFCHD2.)

Let's show folks how it's done, yes? ;-)

The full 5-minute Mummer’s Play Script (with Ol’ Charmer chant to hear & learn) -- and the full description of our plans for Samhain -- is at:
oldenwilde.org/samhain

Or read it now:

The Death & Life of John Barleycorn

Cast of Players & Helpers:

    Witch — Lady Passion
    John Barleycorn — male volunteer needed
    Water — female volunteer needed
    Heat — female volunteer needed
    Death — male volunteer needed
    The Healer — Role taken
    Ol' Charmer — strong volunteer needed
              Ol' Charmer's Guides — 2 female volunteers needed
    The Fool — Role taken

The Play:

Witch in black leads flash rite by storming into specific pubs (TBD) with Players and others following.

Fool costumed as harlequin quietly orders Players' half-pints (and, if necessary, gets house music turned down), then faces audience to right of play area.

Players form side-by-side line facing audience. One of Ol' Charmer's guides blows on a loud, piercing whistle until everyone in the pub is paying attention.

Witch strides forward and casts circle with staff while rhyming:

In comes I ...
to cast a space —
I am the Witch
in this Mummer's Play!

You'll love our tale
Of love and loss —
Pray if you do
A coin you'll toss!

Witch backs to center place in Players' line.

John Barleycorn swaggers center stage from Players' line, and rhymes:

In comes I ...
my might to wield —
I'm John Barleycorn
of the sum'r fields!

You make me ale
and down my drinks —
then wonder why
your costume shrinks!

Players nod, exchange knowing glances, and assent in unison: It does tend to shrink a lit-tle each year!

Water glides from Players' line to Barleycorn, and seduces him with her back turned, gyrating lithely and rhyming:

In comes I ...
to work my wiles —
I am Water:
Steep in me awhile!

Your pride is great,
but mark me well —
You need me for
your precious ale!

Barleycorn enjoys Water's flirtation.

Heat strides from Players' line, and seductively circles the pair, rhyming:

In comes I ...
your lust to roil —
I'm sultry Heat:
I'll make you to boil!

What thirst you slake,
libation dew —
You need us both
to make your brew!

Water & Heat flee to Players' line as Death comes forward, menaces Barleycorn, and addresses audience, rhyming:

In comes I ...
to reap this grain —
I am Death:
I love only pain!

I stole your rights —
To water, air,
You can't stop me
'cause I don't fight fair!

John Barleycorn appeals to audience, rhyming:

I am the grain
of heart's content —
Before I die
Show him your contempt!

I found true love —
It takes all kinds.
Will I return
when sum'r sun shines?

Death taps foot dismissively during Barleycorn's lament, then turns his back on the audience and "slays" John Barleycorn with an exaggerated scythe stroke.

John Barleycorn milks death throes for audience amusement, ultimately turning his back to them and surreptitiously pulling out red strips of cloth pinned inside his front shirt pocket to denote a mortal wound. He wilts, "dead", against a pillar or wall.

The Healer comes to the rescue, shaking a rattle round him Shaman-style, bragging:

In comes I ...
to cure all woes —
I'm The Healer
I restore heroes!

You all trust me
to fix your gout —
Got six devils?
I'll cast sev'n out!

Healer's mojo proves ineffective. Healer hangs head and returns to Players' line as Death steps forward.

If doctors could
defeat my blade —
I'd privatize
your medic aid!

No, if you'd raise him,
you must find
a Spirit of
the wilder kind.

Ol' Charmer guides lead the Ghost Horse, jaws snapping, to Barleycorn.

Turns out, it takes one Spirit to resurrect another: So, Ol' Charmer nudges Barleycorn to life. All cheer as Barleycorn returns to Players' line, embracing Water on his left, and Heat on his right.

Fool raises arms, encouraging audience to join Players in twice singing, snapping fingers, and clapping to the Ol' Charmer chant:

Snap, snap!
Ol' Charmer is here —
To bring us a boon
And give us good cheer.

Clap, clap!
John Barleycorn dies
Our spirits to lift
But then he'll arise.

Witch closes the play rhyming:

Barley's cut
your glass to fill —
but grows again
on summer hill.

Love as you will it
your heart unconfined —
Pray toss us some coin,
We bid you goodbye!

Players bow arm-in-arm, then sing to audience:

If you haven't got a penny,
a half penny will do.
And if you haven't got a ha' penny
Then what are ya' doin' spendin' all your money in a pub?

Fool ushers Players to their half pints, and elicits audience donations when they can't reveal the character's identity.

Players down their half pints (if they desire), then depart to the next pub on the route, repeating the flash-rite play at each site.
 

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