A Play
Chalky seems to have winnowed his early papers fairly thoroughly, and not a lot has survived. I conclude therefore that what remains is material to which he attached some value. This ‘Christmas Play’ is a carbon copy on a single sheet headed ’3.’. Sheets 1 and 2 have not turned up.
The use of the word ‘Christmas’ in place of ‘Yule’ indicates that this is a very early attempt by Chalky to devise a seasonal ritual. It is not known whether it was ever performed.
The words to the song ‘Lord of the Dance’ were written by Sydney Carter in 1963 to a traditional Shaker hymn tune. It became extremely popular quite quickly, and was widely used, for instance, in school assemblies. Chalky was fond of this hymn, and it was sung at his funeral in its original, Christian form.
A Christmas Play
Part One is solemn:
The oak king dressed in oak leaves is beaten with holly clubs. A branch is chopped down (the beheading) and carried to the fireplace which should have bright (paper) flames. A wren (Bran’s sparrow) flies out of the oak and hides in an ivy bush. A robin flies out of the holly tree and chases the wren.
