the Marshfield Paper Boys
the Marshfield Paper Boys in the courtyard of The Crown
Every Boxing Day, the Paper Boys, or mummers, perform throughout Marshfield. At 11.00am, the town crier leads the mummers out of the church hall to the first of four venues -- the Market Place and the top of Sheep Fair Lane, both of which recall the town's agricultural past, and at St Martin's Lane and in front of the Alms Houses -- where they perform their six-minute play. The last performance is outside one of the town's three pubs (a different one each year). Afterwards, money is collected for charity and the pub landlord dispenses ale among the troupe.
When mumming began in Marshfield is unknown, but there appears to be documentary evidence of mummers' plays since the 11th century. The Marshfield play was discontinued in the 1880s when a number of the players died of influenza. Then, in 1931, the Reverend Alford, vicar of Marshfield, heard his gardener mumbling the words 'Room, room, a gallant room, I say' and discovered that this line was part of a mummers' play. The vicar's sister Violet Alford, a leading folklorist, encouraged the survivors of the troupe and some new members, including Tom Robinson (whose place was later taken by his brother), to revive the tradition. The Paper Boys have performed nearly every Christmas since (there were no performances during World War II).
The Paper Boys' play is basically a fertility ritual with traces of medieval drama and incorporates the story of St George and the Dragon. It was never written down, and over the centuries, it gradually changed through the addition of ad libs and misunderstandings. The nonsensical corruptions of the text reveal its origins as a story told by illiterate peasant folk, unaware of all its allusions.
There have to be seven characters as seven was thought to be a magic number. They include Old Father Christmas (the presenter of the play), King William who slays Little Man John who is resurrected by Dr Finnix (a rebirth theme). There's also Tenpenny Nit, Beelzebub who carries a club and a money pan, and Saucy Jack who talks about some of his children dying -- there are many references in mummers' plays about social hardship.
The Paper Boys have to belong to families that have lived in Marshfield for generations and they must have the Marshfield accent. When a role becomes available, precedence is given to the relatives of present members of the troupe. Because it is a fertility rite, women are not allowed to participate.
Each costume comprises a garment made of brown cloth covered in sewn-on strips of newspaper -- hence the name 'Paper Boys'. Each mummer maintains his own costume, repairing it as necessary. It is thought that , in the distant past the costumes bore leaves instead of paper strips.
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