| This page has several sections:
A synopsis of the play. A production history of the play. |
Act One, THE SECOND SHEPHERDS' PLAY, is set in Wakefield, England, in 1479. Mak, a sheep thief, steals a lamb from three shepherds and takes it home to his cantankerous wife, Gil. When the shepherds arrive at Mak's cottage in hot pursuit, Gil puts the lamb in the cradle and jumps into bed herself pretending she has just had a baby. Thus the most unholy of nativities is created. After the shepherds decipher the ruse they return to their flock and on the way they encounter The Angel of the Lord who announces the birth of The Christ. The shepherds then go to Bethlehem and worship the newborn child. Nine-tenths outrageous and hilarious parody, one-tenth devout adoration, THE SECOND SHEPHERDS' PLAY has come down through the ages as the most entertaining and inventive of all the medieval English miracle plays. This new translation by David Budbill renders the play in modern English yet retains the original poetical form, both the pre-Elizabethan cadences and the original rhyme scheme.
Act Two, A PULP CUTTERS' NATIVITY, set in northern Vermont in 1979, exactly 500 years later, is a funny, sad, raucous, raunchy and devout recreation of THE SECOND SHEPHERDS' PLAY. Characters from Budbill's well known JUDEVINE return to act out this modern version; woodcutters, Antoine, Doug and Vietnam veteran Tommy Stames, take the place of the 15th century shepherds and a stolen chain saw replaces the stolen lamb. JUDEVINE'S Arnie also returns to become the thief, and Arnie's cantankerous wife, Gil plays the original Gil. In this version the Announcing and Attending Angel is a waitress from the local diner. PULP CUTTERS' NATIVITY follows the original play very closely, almost speech for speech, and within those speeches there is great similarity in content. The two plays illuminate each other and make for a warm hearted, entertaining, compassionate and honest contemporary alternative to A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
Ample space for the generous use of music within and surrounding both plays. With music, running time is a little under two hours. Strong language. Four Men/Two Women, plus musician or musicians. Simple set. Those interested should contact the author at the address and phone above or his agent:
Literary and Theatrical Agent: Susan Schulman, The Susan Schulman Literary Agency, 454 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036 phone: (212) 713-1633 |
2004
All photos on this page by Robert Eddy
Contact the author for reviews and production history: budbill@wildblue.net
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Last updated:11/11/2007