Off the Streets And On To the Stage And Back Again - Mumming in The United States

The curious evolution of mumming in the United States — from the street to the stage and back to the street again. Many Americans have their first glimpse of a mummer's play as part of a community Revel — a well rehearsed stage performance of traditional customs. Although the performance is staged, the cast always includes local Morris teams and musicians, and the link to that community is very strong. Originally conceived as a celebration of European customs and folklore, these revels have evolved to include customs from around the world. Inspired by the Revels and stories told by a grandmother born in England, my own group started out performing from house-to-house, and in railroad stations and coffee houses.