A sunny afternoon at the Gorsedh Kernow saw the first performance of Callington Old Cornwall Society’s Flash Mob of ‘Why the Devil Doesn’t come to Cornwall!’
This has been written and produced as part of the Tales of the Tides Project by friends of Callington Old Cornwall Society as their contribution to the project. Written by Jon Nash, fresh from his success at the Edinburgh Festival, and Kathy Wallis, with extra inserts by other members of the cast, it tells of why Old Nick Himself, played by Dave Nicholson, no longer chances crossing the Tamar for fear of ending up in a Mrs Barnicutt’s, played by Alli Huson, pasty and being driven back across the Tamar.
On his way to find out what Cornwall is all about and why it is so special he is guided by The Cornish Chough, Matt Blewett, encounters Tamara, Eve Salthouse, the spirit of the river, and Miners in Calstock, Christine Hordley, before arriving on Kit Hill where Callington OCS are celebrating Tansys Golowan. Here he finds people celebrating, mistaking it for another way down below, with music provided by Sue Robson and dancing with Phil Nile and Ian Chanter.
Still tempted by the lush smell he is determined to find the secret recipe for Cornish pasties but Mrs Barnicutt steadfastly refuses the final ingredient, threatening it to be Old Nick Himself if he keeps asking her. Pursued by her brandishing her chopper ONH , with the help of the Cornish Chough, returns to the safety of Devon, back across the Tamar and refuses to ever come to Cornwall again.
By Kathy Wallis ~ Gwithyades Hengovyow – Secretary of Callington OCS
