A Hallowe’en Carnival and Wax-work Show

CHARACTERS

Folly—An older boy.
Owl—A small boy.
Cat—A small boy.
Witch—An older girl.
Stilt-Walkers—Any number boys and girls.
Mad March Hare—A small boy.
Jack-o’-Lantern—A small boy.
Poppy Ladies—Four girls.
Chinaman—A boy.
Eskimo—A boy.
Japanese—A girl.
Holland—A girl.
Indian—A boy.
Negro—A boy.

Silhouettes of bats, black cats and owls are hung by threads from the ceiling. The characters are grouped about the stage. They wear fancy costumes and masks, and pose as statues. Boys on stilts, standing at right and left, help give a comical appearance; and children dressed in costumes of all nations, carrying national flags may be in the groups. Folly wears the most comical costume of all, he is attired as a court jester, half the costume black, half yellow, wears a cap and bells, carries a noisy rattle.

Scene I

[The first song is sung back of the scenes. Have stage darkened, only Jack-o’-Lanterns as foot-lights.]

Tune: “The Campbells Are Coming.”

On Hallowe’en Night, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho,

The Witches and Brownies, Ho, Ho. Ho, Ho;

The Owls and the Cats. Ho. Ho. Ho, Ho,

On Hallowe’en Night, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho.

[Lights come on.]

Folly:

I am Folly, always jolly,

Though I’m seldom seen;

I am Folly, always jolly,

Late on Hallowe’en.

And if I am not mistaken,

All these statutes waken, waken!

Ha, ha, ha, hear Folly’s laughter,

Fun and frolic follow after.

[Folly touches the characters one at a time, with wand or rattle, they rise stiffly, come to life and recite.]

Owl:

I am the Owl, who—who—who?

On Hallowe’en I follow you.

Cat:

I am the Witch’s Cat, oft’ seen

Late at night on Hallowe’en.

Witch:

Oh Folly, you’re a cunning fellow,

In your costume black and yellow;

Why not give a wax-work show,

To entertain before we go?

Folly:

I’ll wake the funny old stilt-walkers,

Perhaps they’ll serve as the end talkers.

Stilt-Walkers:

We’re rather tall, wherever seen,

But we’ll enjoy this Hallowe’en.

Mad March Hare:

I’m the Mad March Hare, I do declare,

Not popular now, anywhere;

And if you give a wax-work show,

I’m very sure I want to go.

Jack-o’-Lantern:

Jack-o’-Lantern, jolly rover,

Happy is, in glad October.

Witch:

Ha, ha. Folly, I’ll cast a spell.

Incantations I know well;

My Poppy Ladies, I will call,

They’ll wrap in slumber one and all.

Folly:

My silver whistle, I will blow,

The Poppy Ladies come, ho, ho.

[Enter Poppy Ladies in crepe paper costumes, go through any pretty little dance and sing.]

Tune: “Coming Through the Rye.”

Poppy Ladies in October

Sing a lullaby;

And sweet dreams you will discover,

Sandman hovers nigh.

Dreamland fairies in October

Form a magic ring,

Hallowe’en brings many a rover,

Poppy Ladies sing.

[They go out, the Witch casts a spell indicating certain characters, who will take part in the wax-work show in the next scene.]

Witch:

Ho, ho, come broomstick, cast a spell,

On Hallowe’en, when all is well;

All turn to wax, while sleeping, sleeping,

Close your eyes, let’s have no peeping.

You shall whistle, and you shall sing,

You shall recite of fall or spring;

You’ll be a wild rider in the show,

You’ll dance a solo before we go.

The boys and girls from many a nation,

Will appear in their own creation;

And only Folly can break the spell,

Ha, ha, ho, ho, we wish you well.

Scene II

The characters now are wax-like figures, very still, sitting in a row. As Folly touches one with a wand he rises and goes through the stunt suggested by the Witches spell in the last scene. One dances, one sings a nonsense song, one may give a dumb-bell or Indian-club drill, one skates, one comes forward on a Kiddy-cart to represent the wild rider. Bring in all talent possible to make this part of the program funny. A Clown Dance would be appropriate. The children of various nations recite.

Chinaman:

I am Ching-Lo, Chinaman,

Also known as funny man.

Eskimo:

I am Eskimo, and if you please,

I enter doors on hands and knees.

Japanese:

Across the sea to fair Japan,

I carry parasol and fan.

Holland:

Clump, clump, go my wooden shoes,

As I travel to carry news.

Indian:

Indian in Indian summer weather,

Carries war-paint, carries feathers.

Negro:

Plunkety-plunk goes the old banjo,

Down in the cotton field you know.

[All taking attitude of playing banjo, say]:

Plunkety-plunk is a merry tune,

Plunkety-plunk, ’neath the harvest moon;

Plunkety-plunk with songs between,

We’ll entertain on Hallowe’en.

[Girls enter with mirrors, turn heads to look in mirror held over shoulder and Folly peeps in each, so he is seen.]

All:

Minor, mirror, what do you see?

On Hallowe’en reveal to me.

First:

Mirror, mirror, that I hold,

Many a fortune by you is told.

Folly, Folly, Folly.

Second:

Mirror, mirror, what do you mean,

The hour strikes, ’tis Hallowe’en.

Folly, Folly, Folly.

Third:

Mirror, mirror, tell me true,

If I meet my love, what shall I do?

Folly, Folly, Folly.

Fourth:

Mirror, mirror, in my hand,

Your charm I can not understand.

Folly, Folly, Folly.

Folly:

Merry lads and lassies too,

Folly makes much fun for you;

Can wax-work figures sing I wonder?

Will they whisper? will they blunder?

Can they keep a tune? I’ll see,

I’ll wind them with my little key.

[He winds them up one at a time, they rise, to his apparent surprise, dance around, come forward, line up and sing.]

Tune: “Yankee Doodle.”

WAX-WORK SONG

We’re Wax-Work Figures in the show,

We’re very fond of singing;

We’re talented as you must know,

You’ll hear our voices ringing.

Chorus.

Ha, ha, ha, we’re wound up well,

You will soon discover;

Why we’re singing, we can’t tell,

In the late October

[Hum the chorus.]

We’re Wax-Work Figures it is true,

Let’s keep on humming, humming;

We’ll do our very best for you,

As Hallowe’en is coming.

[Whistle chorus. Repeat words of chorus and go off right and left as stiff figures would.]