We happened to be in Lincoln Cathedral the day of the preview performance of the Medieval Mystery plays, which we had read about but never thought we would see.
It was a lovely, but cool evening. The audience was largely family and friends of the cast. The Dean and his wife were there.
The plays are fascinating to watch - each guild brings its banner, and announces themselves at the beginning or their play. The stories are the bible stories, but with humour, occasionaly very broad humour at that.
The cast appeared to be local amateurs, but were a quite talented group.
Great fun and amazing to think these plays have been done for centuries.
It was a lot more interesting as the actors played medieval guild members playing the parts in the plays. I particularly liked the three women "from the merchant guild" who played devils, serpents and anything evil - social commentary here?
ReplyDeleteThe setting (Cathedral, bells, crows) and weather certainly added to the experience too.
What's this about the Dean and his wife? Were you having tea and crumpets when I wasn't looking?