Although the "Abram Pace
Eggers" are all members of Abram Morris Dancers and the financial
proceeds of the annual Easter outing are used exclusively for funding the
annual Morris Dance on the last Saturday of June, they are still a
separate group. Membership is, like the Morris Dancers, by annual
invitation and the group only exists to perform the play during the week
before Easter. Rare exceptions to this unwritten rule include an invitation to perfom at Sidmouth Folk
Festival in 1990, performances
in Lünen, Germany during a town-twinning in July 1991 and two performances
(in different years) for an academic group at Lancaster University
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The script
started as a standard chapbook version but has had minor changes
introduced over the years, usually as the result of an individual's
ad-libs, forgetfulness or other forms of personalisation which
"work".
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The play is in two parts and follows the usual pattern.
The Miser clears a space for the "merry actors" to "repeat
their merry rhyme". St George declares that no man can equal him, is
challenged by Slasher, whom he defeats with a sword thrust in a very
uncomfortable place! The Miser calls for a Doctor who eventually revives
Slasher by means of his "wee" bottle. In the second part St
George is challenged by the Prince of Paradine who is swiftly dispatched
with a spear. The King of Egypt then enters, searching for his son and is
informed by St George that he has killed him. The King Of Egypt calls upon
his champion, Hector, to fight St George. After some verbal sparring and a
sword fight of at least two thrusts and a parry, Hector is wounded and
departs. The Miser returns and insults St George by selecting from his
written list of "Shakespearean" insults. They arrange to meet
later to settle the argument. Beelzebub enters with his club, followed by
Little Devil Doubt who demands money from the audience, threatening to
sweep them all into the grave if they don't pay up!
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The play finishes with the pace egg song:
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"Here's two or three jolly boys all of one mind,
We have come a pace egging and we hope you'll prove kind
And we hope you'll prove kind with your eggs and strong beer,
And we'll come no more nigh you until the next year."
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