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holiday cottages shropshire Comas in Ludlow holiday cottages shropshire holiday cottages Shropshire, Ludlow castle, Ludlow festival, comas in Ludlow, the marches, Ludlow, England, castle, comas, council of the marches, holiday cottages, holiday cottages Shropshire You may find the text below interesting to read if you are planning to stay in our holiday cottages.  The triumph of Virtue over Evil after protection by a Heavenly spirit, this was the main theme of the Masque "Comas" in Ludlow. During The Earl of Bridgewater's term as the President of 'The Council In The Marches Of Wales' at Ludlow Castle in 1634 the Masque of Comas was first performed on 29th September in the Great Hall of the castle. The plot is based on the loss and recovery of the Earl's three children in woods near Ludlow, England. Evil was Comus, a pagan god invented by Milton who tempts travellers to drink a magic liquor which transforms their faces to those of wild beasts. Virtue is represented by a Lady, played in 1634 by the 15 year old Alice Egerton. She is separated from her brothers, played by her real brothers, as they travel through the wild wood. She is accosted by Comas, disguised at first as a shepherd, though he later reveals his true character, and tries to tempt the lady to join his bewitched crew. The Lady resists temptation with such spirit that even Comas acknowledges that she is "moved by some superior power", though the intervention of Sabrina, the goddess of the Severn, is needed to free her from the enchanted chair in which Comas has imprisoned her. The heavenly spirit, played by Henry Lawes, then delivered the three children back to their parents, Lord and Lady Bridgewater. Comas was repeated at least 4 times from1934 to 1959 this later one was attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret. The success of these and other plays led to the beginning of the annual Ludlow Festival during which in 1984 there was a production of Comas in Ludlow castle to mark the 350th anniversary of the very first production. Lines near the beginning of the masque are a reminder that an important function of the Council of the Marches was still to control the Welsh. "And all this tract that fronts the falling sun, |
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