A Shadow Play for Hallowe’en
A person standing out of view, recites the following verses as pictures appear. The pictures may be cut from dark tag board and lowered from above or shifted in from the side, or real people may pose back of the sheet if desired. To make a screen, have a sheet stretched between a doorway, back of which a bright light is placed. Have the other room dark, in which the audience is assembled. The performers in posing between the light and the sheet make the shadows.
1.
Suppose at night, on Hallowe’en,
The Witch appears upon the screen—
Tell me, would anybody scream?
[Witch appears.]
2.
Suppose the Owl, who’s very wise,
Should wink and blink his great round eyes,
Would he take you by surprise?
[Owl cut from cardboard with eyes cut out so that light shines through.]
3.
Suppose the Cat grew larger by half;
I wonder would it make you laugh,
So you would lean upon a staff?
[Cat cut from cardboard. Move same nearer light to produce enlarging effect.]
4.
Suppose Jack-o’-Lantern spoke to you,
And in accents crisp and new,
Said, “Ho, ho, ho, I’ve come for you!”
[Jack-o’-Lantern cut from cardboard with eyes, nose and mouth cut out so that light shines through.]
5.
Suppose the Brownie’s beckoning hand,
Lured you out to Fairyland,
His language would you understand?
[Have a hand extended back of screen in the act of beckoning.]
6.
A Ghost you see, scary as can be,
He eats superstitions regularly,
He’s looking for you, looking for me.
[Ghost appears.]
7.
Throw the apple paring round,
Gently three times, on the ground,
My lover’s initials I have found.
[A girl throws paring.]
8.
Mirror, mirror, tell me true,
On Hallowe’en what can I do,
If you reflect a face that’s new?
[A girl with mirror, someone looking over her shoulder.]
9.
Oh, fortune cake, make no mistake,
Before the party is over;
Of your sweetness, I’ll partake,
My true love to discover.
[A boy with an enormous cake.]
10.
On this palm-leaf fan, I see
A maiden smiling merrily,
On Hallowe’en she smiles at me.
[A boy looking at large palm-leaf fan.]
11.
Druid of the long ago,
Leaning on your staff you go.
Will your fire burn a year or so?
[A boy in bent position, leaning on a cane.]
12.
Ho, ho, little boy, run, oh, run!
Ho, ho, on Hallowe’en have your fun.
Ho, ho, ho, ho, our play is done.
[Little boys with real Jack-o’-Lanterns, run back of sheet, then come out in front and bow.]