Before Natasha had finished singing, fourteen-year-old Petya rushed in delightedly, to say that some mummers had arrived.
The mummers (some of the house serfs) dressed up as bears, Turks, innkeepers, and ladies--frightening and funny--bringing in with them the cold from outside and a feeling of gaiety, crowded, at first timidly, into the anteroom, then hiding behind one another they pushed into the ballroom where, shyly at first and then more and more merrily and heartily, they started singing, dancing, and playing Christmas games.
Ten minutes later, all the young Melyukovs joined the mummers.
The only remaining part of a traditional mummers play is used, and mixed with the special effects of today.
I know it's Carmen, but the company really got off lightly with just a few mummers from the audience.