MEDIAEVAL CHRISTMAS PLAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17223, 14 December 1923, Page 20 (Supplement)

MEDIAEVAL CHRISTMAS PLAYS.

THE BEGINNING OF THE ACTED DRAMA. The first plays of mediaeval Europe were acted in church. An idea of the scale on which the plays were performed may be gained from a re- | cord which has come down to us of the York Corpus Christi pageant of 1115. There were no fewer than fifty-four separate scenes, each scene being undertaken by a separate trade guild. The scenes directly concerned with the Nativity, for instance. were nine in number. and were the work of the companies of the Spicers, the Founders, the Tylers, the Ohaundlers, Goldsmiths and Gold-beters (they, appropriately enough, had charge of the episode of the Visit of the Three Kings), the Masons, Marashals Girdellers and Naylers. Let ns endeavour to re-create an image of how these plays were performed. The method varied, probably with the locality and the period, but we shall not he far wrong if we imagine a succession of open cars and waggons drawn through the streets, each stopping at stated positions for the actors to play their scene. By this means the spectators at any given point along the route would witness the many scenes of the- play in duo sequence, while each scene would have to be played over as many times as there were stopping places on the route. A FAMOUS NATIVITY PLAY. A colcL wind of homely humour blows through these plays, keeping the atmosphere fresh and human; while the scenes which bring us into the presence of the Holy Child and His Mother are written always with a natural and most touching tenderness. The famous Wakefield Nativity Play of the Shepherds affords examples of both aspects of the are of the mediaeval playwright. The scene opens on a cold hillside where three shepherds meet by chance at midnight. They are not particularly pious shepherds. They are all horn grumblers, and one of them is a political agitator who would certainly have been a Labour leader if be bad been horn in these days. It says something for the mediaeval respect for free speech that in what was practically a municipal entertainment the drama was allowed to open to sentiments such as these : Lord; what these weathers are cold, and I am ill happed ; I am near numb of hand, so long have I napped: My legs bend and fold my fingers are chapped. We silly shepherds, that walk upon the Xo wonder, as it stands, if we be poor. For the tlith of our hands lies fallow as the floor. We are so lamed. So taxed and shamed, AYe are made hand-tamed, AYit-h these gentlerv-men. Thus they rieve us of rest, Our Lady them wary, These men that are lord-fest, they cause the plough tarry. The second shepherd is no more of an optimist. But his troubles are worse even than political or economic 1 He is a married man. But as far as J ken, or yet as I go, AYe silly wed-men dree mickle woe ; AA'e have sorrow then and then, it fall often so. For as I read epistle, I have a wife to my fear, As sharp as a thistle, as rough as a briar. She is browed like a bristle with a sour lenten cheer. She is as great as a whale, She has a gallou of gall : By him that died for us all I would I had run till I lost her ! THE SHEEP THIEF. The shepherds, having lightened their souls of these and kindred complaints, lie down to sleep on the hillside. But while they sleep a thief comes along and steals one of their sheep. The thief takes it to his wife at a neighbouring cottage and they decide not to kill it there and then for fear its bleating may awaken the shepherds. Y'et they-know the shepherds will wake soon and will come and search tho cottage. How to conceal the thelt '? It is now that the wile has a brilliant idea. Sbe will feign to be in child-bed, and the sheep shall be laid down by her side as if it were her new-born baby. This is done, and presently the shepherds are heard knocking at the door. They are admitted, and alter a scene of the most broadly farcical comedy, their suspicions are aroused, and approaching the bed they rip off the bed-clothes and discover the fraud. As the shepherds are returning to the told an angel appeal’s to them with his “Gloria in 1 Excelsis ” : Rise, hired-men. for now is lie born That shall take from the fiend that Adam had lost. To Bedlem go see. There lies that free, In a crib full poorly, Betwixt two beasts. AT BETHLEHEM. The shepherds obey, and at Bethlehem make their humble offerings:— Hail, cornelv and clean; hail, voung child ! Hail, maker, as I mean, of a maiden so mild ! Lo, lie laughs, mv sweeting A welcome meeting! I have given my greeting Have a bob of cherries ? And again : - Hail, darling dear, full of godhead! I prav thee be near, when that I have need. Hail! put forth tliv hand ! T bring iliee but- a ball Have and play thee with all, And go to the tennis. Even so little of quotation will sufI fice, J. hope, to prove the charm of these old plays, their rugged, common English humour, their exquisite fidelity to the spirit of Christmas.