COSTUMES
Dress the Queen in a white robe, cut like a Grecian robe, with flowing sleeves. It has a border of golden hearts, cut from gold paper. She has a girdle of heavy gold cord, with a heart at each end, also a tiara of lighter gold cord, surmounted by a heart of gold. She carries a sceptre of gold, surmounted by a heart. Choose a pretty girl for the part.
Her Maidens are in pale blue and silver. The dresses are made from crepe paper, with double skirts, full waists, and large sashes. The waists have Dutch necks and short puffed sleeves. Trim the neck, sleeves and both skirts with silver tinsel. The stockings may be blue or white, the slippers white or black. The hair should be flowing, held back from the face with a band of blue, edged with the silver, tied in a bow at the side, little silver hearts dangling from the ends of the bow. On the upper skirt, or tunic, is a row of silver hearts. Each carries a scarf or ribbon about two yards long, and four or five inches wide. These may be of some sheeny lining material. Point the ends, and hang a silver heart from each end, and from the centre. When the scarfs are not in use, they are thrown over the head, and hang down, in front, over the shoulders. They may be blue, to match the costume, or pink, of a shade that will harmonize with the blue.
St. Valentine wears a long, white robe, girded with red and decorated with red hearts. He has a long white beard, easily removable, also a red cap or hood, to which is sewed long white hair. He carries a large, handsome valentine.
His Attendants wear long red robes, girded with white. Each carries a valentine.
His Pages are two tiny boys, in white robes, with red girdles. All these robes should be so fashioned that they may be quickly and easily thrown off. Underneath all are dressed in court costumes, of red and white—long hose, puffed trunks, doublet or tunic, belted in, and puffed sleeves.
The Queen’s Pages are tiny girls in white, fluffy dresses. One has a big sash and hair ribbon of pink, also stockings to match. The other has them of blue. They have also bows at the shoulders, with short loops, and long ends. The blue ribbon has golden hearts attached to the ends; the pink one has silver hearts.
The Fairy is all in fluffy white. Her dress is made of mosquito netting, very short and full, with a full empire waist. White ribbons of varying lengths hang from the folded girdle, also from a band which encircles the low, round neck. To each of these ribbons is fastened a tiny silver bell. The sleeves are merely deep ruffles, cut in points, to each of which is sewed a bell. The slippers have rosettes, with the bells. Around the head is a white band, to the lower side of which the little bells are fastened. To the centre of this, in front, is fastened a silver star. Her wand is white, with a silver star at the end. Below the star are several streamers, with the bells.
Cupid is a tiny boy, in a short, scant slip of pale pink, over very short white trousers or trunks—short enough not to show. The slip is cut straight, with low neck and no sleeves. A drapery of white mosquito netting, passing over left shoulder, and under right arm, nearly covering slip, gives a fleecy, cloud-like effect. He has little wings of pale pink, and wears no shoes nor stockings. He carries a little silver bow and a golden arrow. A quiver holding two or three more arrows may be slung from his right shoulder, and hang at his left side.
SCENE.—The Palace of Hearts. The throne, in the centre background, is a chair, set upon a raised dais, the whole draped with purple. Upon the floor, in the centre of the space left before the throne, draw a large circle. Divide it into eight parts, by lines crossing at centre. Draw a smaller circle inside the other, having for a radius one-third the radius of the larger circle. The little drill or dance by the Queen’s Maidens is done on this diagram. Deck background with gold hearts.
(Curtain rises on Maidens, standing at either side of throne, baskets of flowers in their hands.)
First Maiden.
Oh, where is the Queen? Why so long delay?
She should not be late on her natal day.
Second Maiden.
Hark! She is coming! We ready must be
To join the procession, and bow the knee.
(Maidens pass to entrance, form double line, between which the Queen, her Pages holding up the court train, passes. The Maidens then fall into line, two and two, behind them. The procession should pass entirely around platform, and to C. back. Then, while the Queen and Pages pass down one side, to C. front, the Maidens pass down C. and form aisle to throne, up which the Queen passes. When she reaches the throne, she seats herself, the little Pages seating themselves on the dais, on either side. Maidens arrange themselves on either side, and sing “Hail to the Queen.” The music is that of “Little Stars” in “Festive Songs for Little Singers.”)
HAIL TO THE QUEEN
All hail[1 to her, our lovely Queen, the fairest in the land.
We joy to be her Maidens true, before her throne to stand.
We welcome[2 her with glad accord, to her we bow[3 the knee.
Our hearts[4 are hers in love and truth, and evermore shall be.
Chorus
Hail[5 to our fair Queen! Hail to our fair Queen!
Hail[6 to our fair Queen! The lovely Queen of Hearts.
(Rise during interlude.)
On this, our Queen’s own natal day, we’ve sought in fairest bow’rs,
And bring,[7 as birthday offerings, these baskets of fair flow’rs.
We’re bound to her with links of love—with Love’s own silver chain.
Yes, we are hers in love and truth. Long[8 may she live and reign.
Chorus
(Motions)
1—Baskets in left hands. Raise right hand high. 2—Right hand out, toward Queen. 3—Sink on one knee. 4—Right hand on heart. 5—Wave right hand high, through line. 6—Raise right hand high as possible, hold through line. 7—Hold baskets, in right hands, out toward Queen. 8—Raise baskets high, in right hand. In singing second chorus, they do not kneel. At 5, swing baskets, high, through line. At 6, raise them high to right. Hold to end of line. At close of song, they march in front of throne, and lay baskets on lower step of dais, leaving room for Queen to step from throne.
Queen.
Thank you, my maids. They are offerings rare.
Never were blossoms more sweet and fair.
But I somehow am sad on my natal day.
Third Maiden.
We will dance, to drive dull care away.