Mystery Play
Mystery play, one of three principal kinds of vernacular drama in Europe during the Middle Ages (along with the miracle play and the morality play). The mystery plays, usually representing biblical subjects, developed from plays presented in Latin by churchmen on church premises and depicted such subjects as the Creation, Adam and Eve, the murder of Abel, and the Last Judgment.
During the 13th century, various guilds began producing the plays in the vernacular at sites removed from the churches. Under these conditions, the strictly religious nature of the plays declined, and they became filled with irrelevancies and apocryphal elements. Furthermore, satirical elements were introduced to mock physicians, soldiers, judges, and even monks and priests. In England, over the course of decades, groups of 25 to 50 plays were organized into lengthy cycles, such as the Chester plays and the Wakefield plays. In France a single play, The Acts of the Apostles by Arnoul and Simon Gréban, contained 494 speaking parts and 61,908 lines of rhymed verse; it took 40 days to perform. They died out in many areas with the Reformation.
The form in which the mystery plays developed contributed to their demise at the end of the 16th century. The church no longer supported them because of their dubious religious value, Renaissance scholars found little of interest in their great rambling texts, and the general public preferred professional traveling companies that were beginning to arrive from Italy. In England the mystery cycles and miracle plays were suspected of Roman Catholic tendencies and were gradually suppressed.
At their height, the mystery plays were quite elaborate in their production. In England they were generally performed on pageant wagons, which provided both scaffold stage and dressing room and could be moved about readily. In France and Italy, however, a production might take place on a stage 100 feet (30 m) wide, with paradise represented at one end of the stage, hell at the other, and earthly scenes between the two. The plays did not attempt to achieve unity of time, place, and action, and therefore they could represent any number of different geographic locations and climates in juxtaposition. Mechanical devices, trapdoors, and other artifices were employed to portray flying angels, fire-spouting monsters, miraculous transformations, and graphic martyrdoms.
List of English Mystery Plays
Chester plays: These were some of the earliest and most famous mystery plays in England. They covered a wide range of biblical stories, from the creation of the world to the life of Jesus and beyond. People in Chester must have had a blast watching these plays.
Wakefield plays: These plays were performed in the town of Wakefield and were part of a cycle known as the Wakefield Cycle. They were rowdy and full of energy, bringing to life stories like Noah's Ark, the Crucifixion, and even the epic battle between Cain and Abel. Drama at its finest!
York plays: Ah, the York plays. They were performed in the city of York and were a real crowd-pleaser. They covered a ton of biblical events, from Adam and Eve's misadventures to the grand spectacle of the Last Judgment. People in York got their dose of divine entertainment for sure.
Coventry plays: These plays were a big deal in Coventry, another English city. They were part of the Coventry Mystery Cycle, and you bet they went all out. They tackled stories like the Nativity, the Three Wise Men, and the epic tale of the Flood. People in Coventry were probably on the edge of their seats.
Towneley plays: The Towneley plays, also known as the Wakefield Cycle, were performed in the town of Wakefield too. They were full of action, humour, and even some cheeky satire. Imagine watching the story of Noah's Ark with a side of jokes and jabs. Good times, I tell ya!
But wait, there's more! We've got a couple of pageants from a New Testament cycle that was performed in Coventry. They're hanging around too. And let's not forget about a fifteenth-century play about Mary Magdalene, one called "The Brome Abraham and Isaac," and a sixteenth-century play about the Conversion of Saint Paul. These guys managed to survive the test of time.
Oh, and I almost forgot! There are three surviving plays in Cornish known as the Ordinalia. They're pretty unique. And if you want even more, there are cyclical plays from continental Europe that made it through as well.
So, there you have it—these sets of plays that give us a glimpse into the biblical stories and the dramatic world of the Middle Ages. It's pretty amazing that they're still around for us to appreciate today.
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Miracle Plays:
Alright, let's talk about miracle plays, also known as Saint's plays. These were one of the main types of drama in the Middle Ages, alongside mystery plays and morality plays. So, here's the deal with miracle plays:
These plays were all about the life, miracles, and sometimes even the martyrdom of saints. They started off as liturgical performances in the 10th and 11th centuries, you know, fancy church stuff. But by the 13th century, they became more casual and were performed at public festivals. They added all sorts of non-churchy elements to make things interesting.
Now, most of the surviving miracle plays focus on two main characters: the Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas. These guys were popular during the Middle Ages, and people believed that their relics had some magical healing powers. So, you can imagine how these plays were a hit in that time.
The Mary plays were all about how she swoops in like a superhero to help anyone who calls upon her, whether they were good or naughty. She saves priests who made deals with the devil, women wrongly accused of murdering their kids, and even pregnant abbesses. One play, called "St. John the Hairy," is a real wild one. It starts with the title character seducing and murdering a princess. He gets caught, but then an infant declares him a saint. The guy confesses his crime, and guess what? God and Mary show up and help him revive the princess. And just like that, the murderer becomes a bishop. Talk about a twist, huh?
The Nicholas plays are pretty similar. There's this one called "Le Jeu de Saint Nicolas" by Jean Bodel, which tells the story of a crusader being saved and a Saracen king converting to Christianity. Exciting stuff!
Now, here's the sad part. Not many English miracle plays survived because good old Henry VIII decided to ban them in the mid-16th century. What a buzzkill! As a result, most of these plays were destroyed or lost. But hey, at least we still have some records of their existence.
So, there you have it—miracle plays, where saints take the center stage and perform all sorts of amazing feats. It's like a medieval superhero show with a touch of religious fervor.
List of Miracle Plays:
Alright, let's dive into some of those miracle plays. These plays were all about the lives and miracles of saints, and they were pretty popular back in the Middle Ages. Here are a few notable ones:
Mary plays: These ones are all about the Virgin Mary. She's like the ultimate superhero, swooping in to save the day. There's a play called "St. John the Hairy" where this guy seduces and kills a princess, but then Mary shows up, helps him revive the princess, and he becomes a bishop. Talk about a crazy plot twist!
St. Nicholas plays: These plays are all about good ol' St. Nicholas, the bishop from way back. They tell stories of his heroic deeds, like saving crusaders and converting kings. There's one called "Le Jeu de Saint Nicolas" that's pretty famous. It's like a medieval action-packed adventure.
Now, here's the thing—unfortunately, not many English miracle plays survived. They got banned by King Henry VIII in the 16th century, and a lot of them were lost or destroyed. What a bummer, right?
But hey, even though we don't have a ton of surviving miracle plays, it's still fascinating to think about how people in the past enjoyed these dramatic stories of saints performing miracles. They brought a mix of faith, entertainment, and a little bit of magic to the stage.
Morality Plays
Alright, let's chat about morality plays, those allegorical dramas that were all the rage in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. These plays were like a crash course in morals, where characters represented qualities like charity, vice, or even abstract concepts like death and youth. They were all about teaching us some valuable life lessons.
Now, morality plays were part of a trio of popular dramas during the Middle Ages, along with mystery plays and miracle plays. The focus of these plays was on a hero, like good ol' Mankind, who faced his own weaknesses head-on. He had to deal with some real bad guys, personified as the Seven Deadly Sins, who tried to bring him down. But hey, our hero had a chance at redemption and could seek help from figures like the Four Daughters of God—Mercy, Justice, Temperance, and Truth.
Now, here's the cool part. Morality plays were this interesting mix of serious themes and a dash of comedy. They were performed by semi-professional acting groups who relied on public support. Since they wanted to keep the audience entertained, these plays were usually short and had some funny moments. It's like they wanted to make you think while also giving you a good laugh.
For example, in a Dutch play called "The Miraculous Apple Tree," a devout couple named Staunch Goodfellow and Steadfast Faith get rewarded by God with an apple tree that keeps producing fruit all the time. The catch is that anyone who touches it without permission gets stuck to it. You can imagine the hilarious chaos that ensues.
In France, there's this famous morality play called "Condemnation des banquets" by Nicolas de la Chesnaye. It argues for moderation by showing the terrible fate that awaits a group of unrepentant party animals, including characters like Gluttony and Watering Mouth. It's a real cautionary tale.
One of the oldest morality plays still around in English is "The Castle of Perseverance" from around 1425. It's all about the battle for the soul of a character named Humanum Genus. The staging of this play even had an outdoor theatre-in-the-round, with the castle right in the middle. Talk about an immersive experience!
But if we're talking about the granddaddy of all morality plays, it has to be "Everyman." This play is considered the greatest of them all and is still performed today. It's a real classic.
So, there you have it—morality plays in a nutshell. They were like these entertaining life lessons wrapped up in drama and comedy. They aimed to make us reflect on our actions and choices. Who knew learning about morals could be so much fun?
List of Morality Plays:
Alright, let's talk about some cool morality plays! These were plays that taught important life lessons in a fun and allegorical way. Here are a few notable ones:
"The Castle of Perseverance": This play is an oldie but a goodie, dating back to around 1425. It's all about the battle for the soul of a character named Humanum Genus. Picture an outdoor theater-in-the-round with a castle at the center—epic stuff!
"Everyman": This is the big one, considered the greatest morality play of all time. It's still performed today, so it's got serious staying power. "Everyman" takes us on a journey where the main character faces the inevitability of death and learns some valuable lessons along the way.
"Condemnation des banquets": This French morality play by Nicolas de la Chesnaye packs a punch. It argues for moderation by showing the consequences that await a group of unrepentant revelers, including characters like Gluttony and Watering Mouth. Let's just say it's a party you don't want to attend.
"The Miraculous Apple Tree" (Het esbatement den appelboom): This Dutch play is a real gem. It tells the story of a pious couple named Staunch Goodfellow and Steadfast Faith, who get a special apple tree from God. The catch is that anyone who touches it without permission gets stuck to it. You can imagine the hilarious situations that arise from that!
These are just a few examples of morality plays that made waves back in the day. They combined serious themes with some comedic moments to keep the audience engaged. So, next time you want some deep thoughts wrapped up in an entertaining package, give these morality plays a whirl!
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