The Green Mountain Mummers will perform on Saturday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 27. The group will present its symbolic death-and-resurrection "street theater" rain or shine in seven locations in Windham County.
The group of 10 (mostly) Windham County residents is probably the oldest continuing sword dance and mumming troupe in the United States. Founded in 1975, the group operates in the manner of the old English morris and sword dancers from which the dances were originally collected: they meet to practice and perform only once a year. The Green Mountain Mummers sword dance was collected in northern England, but has developed its own Vermont character, which has been characterized as a "live political cartoon," often drawing on current events and providing social commentary through humor.
Six dancers are connected by holding long inflexible metal "swords" and, without breaking the ring, they weave and turn intricate figures, accompanied by live traditional music. Each figure ends with the making of a "lock" of the swords in a progressively more complicated manner. The final lock of eight swords is the fateful one which traps an "innocent bystander" in the middle and causes their "death." After the antics of a questionable doctor fail to revive the victim, the "Fool" saves the day with a magic ritual.
Visiting customs have long been an important part of the human existence. Caroling at mid-winter, morris dancing in the spring, and mumming are all related by this common thread of the need to reach out to one's neighbors at significant times of the year.
The audience for such performances is just as important as the performers, and they can participate in the ritual both during the mummers play and afterwards when the dancers pass the hat. It is the exchange that brings luck and the promise of spring's return.
The Green Mountain Mummers' full schedule for Halloween weekend in Windham County is as follows:
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Samuel Elliot Apartments, Elliot Street, Brattleboro, 11 a.m.; Pliny Park, Main Street, Brattleboro, 11:45 a.m.; Brattleboro Common, Park Place, 1 p.m.; Whetstone Inn, Marlboro, 2:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 27: Williamsville Town Center, Williamsville Road, 11 a.m.; Dummerston Center Common, East-West Road, noon; The Tavern lawn, Main Street, Putney, 1 p.m.
For more information or directions to any of the performances, call 802-254-9019.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.