The Witch’s Dream
Characters and Costumes
- Fear—Wearing black cloak, carries banner with the word “Fear” printed on it.
- Witch—Regular witch costume, carries megaphone.
- Owl—Owl mask and gray cape.
- Cat—Cat mask and black cape.
- Rain—Raincoat and cap, may carry umbrella.
- Moon—Yellow suit, moon face.
- Jack-o’-Lantern—Carries large Jack-o’-Lantern.
- Courage—Gay dress, carries banner with the word “Courage” printed on it.
- Four Boys—With brooms.
[The lights are dim on the stage, the Witch sits at right of stage and raps with her cane. Enter Fear.]
Fear:
Ha, ha, ha, it’s very queer,
That you don’t recognize me here;
I travel with you every year
Old Witch, I introduce myself,
I, am FEAR!
Witch:
Hallowe’en is drawing near,
I never felt one-half so queer;
Strange shapes and phantoms now appear,
Hark! what noises do I hear?
[Enter Wind.]
Wind:
OOO—OOO—OOO, I blow and blow,
I am the boisterous Wind you know,
Ha, ha, I’ll scare you without doubt,
Where is the Witch? come out, come out.
Ha, ha, I never make a mistake,
We’re due to burn you at the stake!
Witch:
Come Cat, come Owl, protect me do,
If what the old Wind says is true;
I’ll stay inside where I can’t be seen,
On this night of Hallowe’en.
[Enter Owl.]
Owl:
Tu-whit, tu-whoo, we’ll stay by you,
Faithful mascots tried and true.
[Enter Cat.]
Cat:
A Witch once on a broomstick sat,
Says the merry old Cat, what think you of that?
With her Cat she went riding up on high,
She said, “I’ll be back again by and by.”
Where went the Cat? I lost track,
But she never came back, never came back!
Owl:
She never came back, never came back!
[The Witch shrieks. Enter Rain.]
Rain:
There’s a goblin in the Rain,
Hear him tapping on the pane;
Rapping, tapping, don’t go napping,
While he’s tapping on the pane.
Rapping, tapping, rapping, tapping,
Hear the goblin’s odd refrain;
Rapping, tapping, rapping, tapping,
On the window pane!
Owl:
We’ll not go napping, while he’s tapping,
Rapping, tapping, on the window pane!
[Witch shrieks. Enter Moon.]
Moon:
The Man in the Moon through the clouds will peep,
Late in the night, when good people sleep;
I can’t tell you all the sights I’ve seen,
Is the Witch within? Is the Witch within?
Witch:
There must be enchantment in the Moon,
First it rains, then it clears too soon;
Pull in the shutter, and pull down the shade,
On Hallowe’en night I’m surely afraid.
[Fear skips round waving her wand. Enter boys with brooms.]
Boys:
Where’s the Witch? We’re not mistaken,
’Tis the hour to waken, waken;
Perhaps already she’s o’ertaken
By sprites on Hallowe’en!
First Boy:
Sweep the cobwebs from the sky,
I’ll bring the Witch back by and by!
Second Boy:
Ride her on a creaking broom,
I’ll bring her swiftly to her doom!
Third Boy:
In her own kettle let her bubble,
Cook her, it will save much trouble!
Fourth Boy:
Strike her with a broom three times three!
She’s a wicked Witch we all agree!
All:
One, two, sweep the floor [with motions],
Clean it neatly as before;
Two, three, shoulder arms [on shoulders],
When we hark for war’s alarms.
Three, four, with arms extended [extend brooms],
What is broken can be mended;
So we could drill the live-long night,
But vanish along with elf and sprite.
[They sweep floor, look around fearfully; one at a time leave, the last shrieks and runs off.]
Witch:
Shadows creeping, softly peeping,
Who comes stealing while we’re sleeping?
I’m tired now, my watch I’m keeping,
Late on Hallowe’en!
Jack-o’-Lantern [peeping in].
Witch:
What great big eyes he has!
[Enter Jack-o’-Lantern.]
Jack-o’-Lantern:
I shine by candle-light.
Owl:
What a great big nose he has!
Jack-o’-Lantern:
Make remarks more polite.
Cat:
What a great big mouth he has!
Jack-o’-Lantern:
Yes, that’s to scare you, quite. [Runs in.]
[As Fear goes out, Courage enters.]
Courage:
Harken to Courage, blithely she dances,
Now she retreats, now she advances;
Your fears seem so funny,
For Courage is sunny,
Her laughter is worth a whole pile of money!
[The lights come on full, exit all but Witch, Cat and Owl.]
Witch:
Oh! Oh! I had a fearful dream!
Owl:
Tu-whit, tu-whoo,
Is that really true?
Cat:
Teach me to dream, I don’t know how,
I’m only a stupid cat—meow!
Witch:
I’ve made resolutions four and twenty.
Owl:
Half that number would be a-plenty.
Witch:
I’ll not scare good folks any more.
Cat:
We once heard you say that before.
Witch:
Ha, ha, I’ll never again act mean.
Owl:
You’d laugh if you saw this on the screen!
Cat:
Oh give me a platter, I’d lick it clean!
All:
Hurrah! hurrah! for Hallowe’en.
[All the characters who took part, and the entire school, if desired, may now line up at the back and sing.]
Tune: “Twinkle Little Star.”
1.
Late at night on Hallowe’en,
Many funny sights are seen;
Better mind your A, B, C’s,
As the Witches often tease.
2.
If they get their kettles out,
They will boil you without doubt;
Walk the chalk and be polite,
If you do not want a fright.
3.
What’s the use to go to bed,
Witches often times have said;
’Tis a habit, but we call
Good-night, good-night, to one and all.