Hallowe’en Puppet Play

[The Puppets are shown over a screen, and a Showman comes out in front to recite the prologue.]

CHARACTERS

Time: Hallowe’en.

Place: High on the hill.

Showman:

Little Puppets now are seen,

Late at night on Hallowe’en,

Sometimes thrown upon a screen.

Sometimes from wires suspended high,

You’ll see the Puppets passing by,

Perhaps you’ll hear a wooden sigh.

The Witch and Jack-o’-Lantern, too,

A wooden speech will make for you,

They’ll dance as any Puppets do.

The Cat and Brownie, too, are here,

’Tis Hallowe’en, the hour draws near,

And even Knowledge doth appear.

Now, if you like such plays as these,

Just come inside and take your ease,

For Puppets always try to please.

Witch:

Ha, ha, ha, on Hallowe’en,

Ghosts and goblins, too, are seen.

Cat:

I’m the Hallowe’en Cat, I stalk about,

I’ll scare some people, without doubt.

Witch:

What’s the meaning of Hallowe’en,

Oh, Kit-Cat, with the eyes of green?

Cat:

Meow, meow, I do not know,

Hallowe’en Witch, let me go!

[Exit the Cat.]

Jack-o’-Lantern:

I’m Jack-o’-Lantern, bright ’tis said,

Though I am only a pumpkin head.

Witch:

Oh, Jack-o’-Lantern, with eyes so bright,

What does Hallowe’en mean tonight?

Jack-o’-Lantern:

Oh, oh, oh, please let me go!

Really Witch, I do not know.

[Exit the Jack-o’-Lantern.]

Brownie:

I’m a Brownie, o’er the green,

I dance and sing on Hallowe’en.

Witch:

You’re the cutest Brownie I have seen,

What is the meaning of Hallowe’en?

Brownie:

I turn a somersault and go,

For really, witch, I do not know.

[Exit Brownie.]

Witch [stirs a kettle]:

Bubble, bubble, always bubble,

Kettle brings us toil and trouble;

None have I met, none have I seen,

Who knows the meaning of Hallowe’en.

[Exit Witch.]

Punch:

I am Punch, odd things I’ve seen,

Ha, ha, ho, ho, ’tis Hallowe’en.

Judy:

Let’s hide right here, below the screen,

And ask the Witch what she may mean.

[They hide.]

Witch:

Bubble, bubble, work and toil,

In the kettle let me boil

The Cat, Jack-o’-Lantern, and Brownie, too,

Unless the answer they bring is true,

I weave my spell where none have seen,

Who knows the meaning of Hallowe’en?

Cat:

I am the Cat of mystery,

Hallowe’en belongs to history.

Jack-o’-Lantern:

The Druids built fires all the year,

In honor of the sun-god, I hear.

Brownie:

On the 31st of October each year,

To the altars they gather near;

’Twas then they put the fires out,

And kindled fresh ones, without doubt.

Cat:

Here are the Druids, I see them come,

And they are carrying embers home.

Jack-o’-Lantern:

So goblins now skip o’er the green,

Every year on Hallowe’en.

[Witch goes out screaming as Knowledge enters.]

Knowledge:

I am Knowledge. I always frighten ghosts and goblins away, but I like you, Cat, and Jack-o’-Lantern, and Brownie. You are all jolly, and fairies, too, have their places to brighten up this old world. Let us dance on the green this October night.

Cat:

Ha, ha, ha, the summer’s over,

Hallowe’en comes in gay October.

Jack-o’-Lantern:

Ha, ha, ha, the secret’s out,

What Hallowe’en is all about.

Brownie:

Trip it lightly o’er the green,

On this night of Hallowe’en.

Knowledge:

Hallowe’en comes with pleasant weather,

We’ll have fun and frolic all together.

[Exit all, while Punch and Judy return.]

Punch:

How do little Puppets know

That Hallowe’en is here?

Judy:

The Witches come, the Witches go,

When Knowledge doth appear.

Punch:

Hist! Be still! On Hallowe’en

The Puppets are about!

Judy:

Jolly Jack-o’-Lantern, too, is seen,

He’ll scare you, without doubt.

Punch and Judy:

Punch and Judy are so merry

Any time of year,

They’re often seen on Hallowe’en.

Just call, and they’ll appear.

[Directions for making Puppets and their manipulation will be found in “Puppet Plays for Special Days,” price. 40 cents. Order from the publishers of this book.]