THE WISHING MAN
A CHRISTMAS WHIMSY FOR SWEETE CHARITIE.
IN THREE SHORT ACTS.
As presented by Class No. 10, Wesley Chapel, Columbus, Ohio. Re-written from memory.
CHARACTERS.
| The Wishing Man | Young Man |
| The Roly-Poly Dumpling | Stout Young Man |
| The Attenuated Tootsy | Tall, Thin Young Man |
| The Enlarged Snookums | Young Man |
| Grandpa Green | Boy of Fourteen or Fifteen |
| Grandma Green | Plump Girl of same age |
| Father Fritz | Boy of about Fourteen |
| Mother Fritz | Girl of about Fifteen |
| Nurse Maid | Girl of about Thirteen |
| Dumpling | Boy of Eight |
| Tootsy | Girl of Seven or Eight |
| Snookums | Boy of Six or under |
| Ka-zin-ski | Tall Boy |
| Teddy Bear | Small Boy |
| Jimmie Bear | Small Boy |
| Baby Jumbo | Made of Two Larger Boys |
| Annette | Little Girl |
| Babette | Little Girl |
| Olivette | Little Girl |
| Private Black | Little Boy |
| Private Jack | Little Boy |
| Private Mack | Little Boy |
| Jim Dandy, a Stick of Candy | Little Boy |
Time of Playing—About Forty-five Minutes.
For description of costumes, scenery, etc., see "Remarks on Production" at the end of the play.
Act I.
Scene: A room in Father Fritz's house. Doors at R. and L. Small table down L. with three chairs around it. Sofa down R. Easy chair down C. Lighted lamp on table. Window at rear. Dumpling is seated on a rocking-horse at rear C. Grandpa stands by him helping him rock it. Tootsy is on a rocking-horse at L. front, with Father and Mother helping her rock it. Snookums is on a baby rocking-horse at R. front, with Grandma and Nurse Maid in attendance. Very little furniture on stage. If the rocking-horses are not easy to get, Dumpling and Tootsy may be astride of sticks with horses' heads.
Curtain rises to bright music.
All (sing).
Dumpling (dismounting). Whoa, there, Jimmie! Oh, Grandpa, I do love my pony. It's the best of all my presents.
Grandpa. Well, it's time you put him in his stall.
Tootsy (dismounting). I'm going to call my pony after Mr. ——. (Insert the name of some well known man.) 'Cause he looks just like him.
Grandma (helping Snookums from pony). And what are you going to call your pony, Snookums?
Snookums. Going to call him Elizabeth, after you, Grandma.
Grandma (kisses her). That's my baby!
Mother. Grandma, we'd better get our hats and coats. It's nearly time for the car to be after us.
Father. Come, Grandpa. It's nearly eight o'clock.
Grandpa. But I don't like to leave the children.
Dumpling. And we don't like to have you leave us, either. My, this has been the grandest Christmas day I've ever seen.
Mother. Come, Grandma. (Exits L. with Grandma.)
Grandpa. Come, children. (They gather around him.) I'm glad you've had such a happy Christmas. You got everything you wanted, didn't you?
Tootsy. Yes, everything. My, I wish Christmas would come every day.
Dumpling. Tell us the story about old Saint Nick, Grandpa.
Grandpa. Do you want to hear that old chestnut again?
Children. Oh, yes, yes!
Grandpa (takes Snookums on his lap, the other children stand by his knee.)
Children. Oh, that was just lovely.
Tootsy. I just wish I could see him. Just once!
Dumpling. And so do I. I'm going to catch him some Christmas Eve.
Snookums. Me, too!
Enter from L., Mother and Grandma, wearing winter coats and hats. They carry coats and hats for Father and Grandpa.
Mother. Here, Grandpa, put on your coat and hat, or we'll be late for the dinner. (Helps him.)
Grandpa. I'd rather stay here and talk to the children.
Father (putting on his coat). But Aunt Clara is expecting us.
Grandma. And the auto is at the door.
Grandpa. Dumpling, are you sure you got everything you wanted for Christmas?
Dumpling. I can't think of anything else.
Grandpa. If you didn't, and if all three of you children can agree on anything else, it shall be yours if money can buy it.
Tootsy. Money can buy everything, can't it, Grandpa?
Grandpa. No, my dear, not quite everything.
Dumpling. But suppose we wish for something that money can't buy?
Grandpa. I'd try to get it for you some other way.
Grandpa. Why, I'd tell the Wishing Man. He'd get it for you.
Grandma. Come along, John; don't put such nonsense in the children's heads.
Father. We must hurry along to Aunt Clara's, children. But this is Christmas night. You may all stay up tonight just as long as you wish.
Dumpling. Oh, can we? Can we?
Mother. Yes. Cecelia will look after you. Cecelia?
Nurse Maid. Of course I will, mum.
Mother. Come along, now. We must hurry. (Kisses the children and goes out R. with Grandma, Grandpa and Father.)
Tootsy (dancing around). Oh, we can stay up just as long as we wish! Goody, goody! Why that is the very best gift of all.
Nurse Maid. Now you children be good, and if you want me, call out. I'll be down in the kitchen with the cook. (Goes out at L.)
Dumpling. Now we're left all alone.
Tootsy. I don't see why Aunt Clara couldn't have invited us to her dinner party, too.
Snookums (playing with doll). Snookums likes dinner party.
Dumpling. It's 'cause we ain't big enough.
Tootsy. My, I wisht I was a great, great, great big girl.
Dumpling. There, that's a wish that money can't buy.
Tootsy. Grandpa said he'd get us anything we wished for.
Dumpling. What do you wish, Snookums?
Snookums. Wish Grandpaw would come home.
Tootsy. I know a real good wish. I wish it were Christmas every day. Don't you, Dumpling?
Dumpling. No, I don't. We'd have to have a present and a tree and a turkey and plum pudding every day of our lives. We'd get awfully tired of it after a while. Just think, we'd have to give away about a million presents every year.
Tootsy. I'll tell you what I really do wish.
Dumpling. What?
Tootsy. I wish we could do just like grown up folks do. I wish I was the biggest little girl in all the world.
Dumpling. And I wish so, too. I wish we were just awfully, awfully, awfully big—and then we could go to Aunt Clara's dinner party, and everywhere.
Snookums. Me wish me was great big Snookums.
Tootsy. But money couldn't buy that wish, Dumpling.
Dumpling. No, that's right. But Grandpa said if he couldn't buy our wish he'd get it some other way.
Tootsy. How could he get it?
Dumpling. He said he'd tell the Wishing Man.
Tootsy. My, I wonder if there really is such a person!
Dumpling. I don't know. But I'd like to see him if there is.
Tootsy. I'll make a rhyme.
|
Good Mr. Wishing Man, how do you do? If there is such a person, we'd like to see you! |
Dumpling.
|
If you come from afar, if you come from near, Good Mr. Wishing Man, appear, appear! |
The Wishing Man rolls out from under the table, rises, faces the three children, arms akimbo.
Wishing Man (after a pause, drawls). Well?
Dumpling and Tootsy (frightened, down R.). Well? (They look at each other, pause, then repeat.) Well!
Snookums (comes in front of them, stands facing the Wishing Man, arms akimbo). Well?
Wishing Man. Well, I'm here.
Dumpling. Who's here?
Wishing Man. Why, I am here. You said you would like to see me and so I have come. I'm here.
Tootsy. Are you the Wishing Man?
Wishing Man. That's my name. (Sings to the tune of "Wearing of the Green." He sings briskly, shaking head in time and dancing a step or two.)
Dumpling. And can you really grant us anything we wish for?
Wishing Man. I can, if it's a good wish—and if you all agree on the same thing.
Tootsy. Anything in the wide, wide world?
Wishing Man. Well, pretty nearly anything. Would you like some new toys?
Tootsy. Oh, no, thank you. This is Christmas, you know, and we got ever so many toys.
Snookums. Ever so many toys.
Wishing Man. I don't see what you called me for. You seem to have everything you want.
Dumpling. Oh, no, we haven't. We've made a wish, and we're all agreed on it.
Wishing Man. Are you sure it's a good wish?
Dumpling. Oh, yes, it's an awful good wish. You see, we want to be great big children so we can stay up late at night and go to Aunt Clara's dinner parties. That's our wish. We want to be the biggest children there are anywhere.
Wishing Man (laughs heartily). Oh, ho, ho, ho! That's the funniest wish I ever heard since I've been in the wishing business. So you want to be the very biggest children there are anywhere, do you?
Tootsy. Yes, sir; that's just what we want. I want to be a great, big, tall little girl.
Wishing Man (laughing). A great, big tall little girl, hey?
Dumpling. And I want to be a great, big, big, big little boy.
Wishing Man. Oh, a big, big, big little boy, hey?
Snookums. And so do I.
Wishing Man. And so do you, hey?
Children. Yes, sir; that is our wish.
Wishing Man. Well, I'll have to see if I can accommodate you. It's a pretty big job, you know.
Tootsy. You said you could give us anything we wished for.
Wishing Man. But I didn't think you'd wish for anything like that.
Dumpling. That's the only thing we want, Mr Wishing Man.
Wishing Man (rubbing his chin and speaking thoughtfully). Well, now—let me see. I'm afraid it's too big a job for me. In the first place I haven't any marble.
Children. Marble?
Wishing Man. Yes. In order to make you grow and grow and grow, you'll have to stand on marble.
Tootsy. We have a marble-top table in the front hall.
Dumpling. Oh, yes. And we can all stand on top of the table.
Wishing Man. But I have to stand here by the open window.
Tootsy. Well, we can go in there and leave the door open. You can stay here and make our wish come true. Come on, Dumpling.
Wishing Man. Wait a minute, wait a minute. Are you all of you sure you want to be made into great big, big little children?
Children. Yes, all of us.
Wishing Man. All right. If that's your wish, it's no business of mine. Go out in the front hall and climb on the marble-top table and I'll see what I can do for you.
Tootsy. Oh, come on, quick, Dumpling, before he changes his mind. (Runs out R. with Dumpling and Snookums, the latter taking very long strides.)
Wishing Man. It's a very foolish wish, but maybe they'll be satisfied if I make them the biggest children on earth. (Throws back curtains at the window.) I'll see what I can do.
Dumpling (outside). I'm standing up on the table now.
Wishing Man.
|
Hickety, kickety, setting sun, (Making mysterious passes.) Thunder, lightning, flash of a gun! Let him grow bigger, it won't be much fun; Hickety, kickety, number one! |
(Lights flash out, then on again, then out. Low rumbles of thunder heard. Lights on again, then off. Loud crash outside.)
Tootsy. Now it's my turn. I'm on the table.
Wishing Man.
|
Witchery, twitchery, kangaroo, Thunder and lightning, Kalamazoo! Lengthen her, strengthen her, rip, bazoo, Make her a giantess, number two! |
(Lightning and thunder as before.)
Snookums (outside). Now, Mr. Wishing Man, I'm on the table.
Wishing Man. That's the Baby Snookums. Very well, little Snookie Ookums! I'll change you into the biggest baby on earth.
|
Rumpety, thumpety, Kankakee, Lengthen him out to six foot three! The biggest baby we ever did see, Rumpety, thumpety, number three! |
(Same noises as before, only louder.)
Enter Nurse Maid from L.
Nurse Maid. Goodness, gracious! Is it a tornado or an earthquake? (Sees Wishing Man.) Oh! (Screams loudly.) And who are you? Murder! Thieves! Robbers! Where's me children? Where's little Dumpling and Tootsy and Baby Snookums? (Fast, loud music.)
Wishing Man (yells). Where are your children?
Enter Big Dumpling, Big Tootsy and Big Snookums. They join hands and dance around at R.
Wishing Man. There they are. There are little Dumpling and Tootsy and Baby Snookums.
(Nurse Maid looks at children, screams loudly, throws up her arms and faints in a chair at L. of stage. Wishing Man stands at C. with arms akimbo, laughing at her. The three big children dance in a circle at R.)
Curtain.
Act II.
Scene: No scene at all. The action takes place in front of the closed curtains. Note: During this act the managers should be arranging the stage for the next act.
The children who are present in the audience should be given seats down in front. At this point they rise and go upon the stage in front of the curtain and sing, accompanied by a chorus of older children behind the scenes. An adult leader may appear with the children. All sing, marching around platform and acting out the song:
(The music continues softly as they resume their seats in the audience. After a pause the Wishing Man sticks his head out from the curtains. He takes one step in front, bows, then skips down to front and bows again.)
Wishing Man. Hello, little boys and girls, how do you do this fine winter night? I know what each of you has been thinking. You've been wishing that you could meet the Wishing Man and that he would make your wishes come true. Now, haven't you? Well, I've made that wish come true. You wished to meet me, and here I am. I've been watching you all the year in Sunday School. I know how you have worked over your lessons, how you have helped your teachers and how punctual you have been. To be sure, I know some of you haven't helped your teachers as much as you could have done, but I'll forget all that at Christmas time. Now tell me what you wish for most.
Children (in audience who have previously rehearsed this scene). A Christmas tree. A look at old Santa Claus. Some nice Christmas presents, etc.
Wishing Man. Stop, stop. I can't attend to so many wishes at once.
Little Girl (rising). Please, Mr. Wishing Man, couldn't you tell us what we'd better wish for?
Wishing Man. Have you ever had a great, big Christmas tree?
Children. Oh, yes, lots of times.
Wishing Man. Have you ever seen my old friend, Mr. Santa Claus?
Children. Oh, yes.
Little Boy. We see him every year at Christmas.
Wishing Man. How would like to go with me to Wishing Land.
Children. Oh, goody! (Clapping hands.) That would be fine. Can you take us there?
Wishing Man. Of course I can. And that's just what we'll do. We'll all of us go to the Wishing Land. First, I'll call little Dumpling. Dumpling, little Dumpling, where are you?
Big Dumpling comes in from behind the curtains.
Big D. Here I am, Mr. Wishing Man. I was playing with my little horse and wagon. (He plays with tiny horse and wagon.)
Wishing Man. And how do you like being a great, big Dumpling?
Big D. Well, not very well. I'm always bumping my head on the doors and things. And all my toys are so very little I'm always breaking them.
Wishing Man. Where is your sister? Where is little Tootsy?
Big Tootsy enters.
Big T. Here, Mr. Wishing Man. I'm here. Me and my little dolly.
Wishing Man. Well, little Tootsy, how do you like being a great, big Tootsy?
Big T. I don't like it very well. My clothes don't seem to fit, and I know I look awfully funny. (To audience.) Don't I? Everybody laughs at me and it always makes me cry. (Cries.)
Wishing Man. And where is little Snookie Ookums?
Big Snookums enters.
Big S. Here I am, Mr. Wishing Man. Here's 'ittie Snookie Ookums.
Wishing Man. You look like a 'ittie baby elephant, Snookie Ookums. Well, are you children satisfied with your wish?
The Three. Not very much. We wish we were little again.
Big S. (crying). I tried to ride my little horsie and I bweaked him all to pieces.
Big D. And I can't get enough to eat. My little knife and fork and spoon are too little, and when I eat I swallow dishes and all. (Cries.)
Big T. And all my clothes are too little for me, and I look so funny that everybody laughs at me. And I don't like it at all. (Cries.)
Wishing Man. I'm just going to start on a journey to the Wishing Land. The toys there are awfully big. They'd be just the right size for you. Would you like to go with me?
Big S. Is it very far?
Big D. Could we get back by bedtime?
Big T. Wouldn't it be awfully cold flying through the air?
Wishing Man. Oh, no. We'd fly so fast you'd only have time to shiver once and then we'd be right there.
The Three. Oh, yes; let's go.
Wishing Man. All right. Now all of you part your hair right in the middle, so you won't be heavier on one side than on the other. (They do so.) That's good. Now give me your hands and hold on tight and we're off to the Wishing Land. Follow me, full of glee.
(All sing the first verse and chorus of "Follow Me, Full of Glee," accompanied by the children in the audience. At the end all dance off the stage at R.)
Act III.
Scene: The Wishing Land. Green or dark colored curtains at rear and at sides. Use all the large palms and potted trees available. A trumpet vine is attached to curtains at the rear. This is made of branches pinned on curtain to simulate a vine. Several tin trumpets are tied to the branches and many trumpets of various sizes made of paper. These stick out of the vines like blossoms.
At rear right is a large tree with buds made of tissue paper and toy drums showing in the buds. See diagram. The leaves forming these buds should be pointed oval in shape and vary in size as they represent buds or open flowers. The drums hang down from the branches and the petals, when open, hang open and partly cover them. Another tree stands at rear L. This is hung with candy or bits of colored paper simulating candy. Candy canes are on this tree and Jim Dandy is sleeping at bottom of tree.
At R. about half-way back are branches arranged to look as if growing, and about three feet high, hung with balls of various sizes and colors.
At L. about half-way back are three little girls dressed as French dolls. They stand in a row facing the audience. At either end of the row is a frame to support the cheesecloth curtain that hides them from the audience. They must stand stiffly with arms held out straight in front of them.
At L. front are several rows of flower pots or boxes containing growing plants with dolls fastened among the leaves. These are branches about eighteen inches high, with green paper buds partly enveloping the dolls.
At R. front is a large square box (a pasteboard cracker box or breakfast food box covered with red tissue paper will answer) in which is Ka-zin-ski concealed by the lid.
At R. half-way back just in front of the ball-trees stand three little boys dressed as toy soldiers. They stand erect and do not move.
Curtain rises to mysterious music played by piano. This continues some little time until the audience "takes in" the scene.
After a pause, enter the Wishing Man, followed by the three Big Children.
Wishing Man. Well, here we are in the Wishing Land. My kingdom and not a soul to welcome me!
Big D. Oh, what a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful place.
Big S. See 'ittie bitsy teeny weeny trumpets gwowing in twees.
Big T. And the dolls. The lovely, lovely dolls.
Wishing Man (clapping his hands). What, ho! Is there none to welcome me?
Enter Teddy Bear from L.
Teddy Bear (comes to Wishing Man and bows low).
Big D. Oh, see the Teddy Bear.
Big T. And he's the biggest one I ever saw.
Big S. Nice pussy, nice, nice pussy! (Strokes Teddy Bear.)
Teddy Bear (growls).
Big S. (much frightened). Oh, naughty, naughty, naughty!
Wishing Man. Hello, Teddy Bear. Where's your brother?
Teddy Bear (shakes head as if he does not know).
Wishing Man. Go out and find him for me. Have you been a very, very good Teddy Bear while I was away?
Teddy Bear (nods his head).
Wishing Man. That's good. Now go out and find Jimmy Bear.
Teddy Bear (nods head and ambles out at R.).
Wishing Man (looking around). Everything is growing fine. I think the bicycle trees need a little more water. Well, children, what do you think of the Wishing Land?
Big T. It's perfectly gorgeous.
Big S. Wunnerful, simply wunnerful.
Wishing Man. Here's where I grow my toys. See, there is the trumpet vine, and the candy tree and the dolly flowers. Whenever a little child makes a wish for anything like that, all I have to do is to come in here and pick a toy. See?
Big D. Oh, lookee at the tin soldiers. They're awful big. Can I have one, Mr. Wishing Man?
Wishing Man. I don't think they're quite ripe yet.
Big S. Me want a twumpet. Want a nice, big twumpet to blow.
Wishing Man (picks a trumpet). There you are, my little man.
Big T. I want one, too. A nice loud one.
Wishing Man (picks one). And there's one for you, Tootsy.
Big D. Believe I'll take a drum.
Wishing Man (picks a drum). There you are. Right off the tree.
Big D. Now we'll have a parade. (They march around stage playing trumpets and drums.)
Wishing Man. Here, here, wait a minute. You're making enough noise to wake the dead. Hold on, there. Quiet, quiet!
Big T. Oh, dear! Just as we were having such a lovely time.
Big S. Oh, whee! See the funny box. (Goes to Ka-zin-ski's box.) What is in it, Mr. Wishing Man?
Wishing Man. You'd better let it alone. That's Ka-zin-ski, and Ka-zin-ski doesn't like babies.
Big S. But I wish to see him.
Big S. Yes, sir; it's a wish.
Wishing Man. Then pull the string.
(Big S. leans over the box, pulls a spring, the lid flies up and Ka-zin-ski pops out almost in the baby's face. Big S. screams and falls flat down on the stage.)
Big S. Oh, whee! Take him away! I'm fwightened, I am. Vill he come after me?
Wishing Man. No, no. Get up, 'ittie Snookie Ookums, he won't hurt you.
Big D. Say, Mr. Wishing Man?
Wishing Man. What is it, my little boy?
Big D. Can we have anything we wish for here in the Wishing Land?
Wishing Man. Of course you can. That's what the Wishing Land is for.
Big D. Then I wish I was a little boy again. I'm too big to enjoy myself.
Big T. And I wish I was a little girl again. Everybody laughs at me, 'cause I'm so big.
Big S. And I wish I was a 'ittie, teeny, weeny baby again. Being so big fwightens me so.
Wishing Man. Oh, ho! So you all want to be little again?
The Three. Yes, sir, if you please.
Big T. Why, I'm so big that I can't get all of me into bed. I'll have to let my feet hang outside.
Big S. And if I get in my baby buggy, I'll bweak it all down.
Big D. And my mamma won't recognize me at all, 'cause I'm grown so big.
Wishing Man. That's all very well, but it will be quite a job to make you all little again. It will take three magic fern seeds, and I don't think I have any ripe yet.
(Music, a march. Teddy Bear dances in in time to the music. He goes up to the Wishing Man, pulls his head down and whispers something in his ear. Then hands him a little box.)
Big D. Oh, what is it, Mr. Wishing Man? Is it the fern seed?
Wishing Man (looks in the little pill box). Yes, but it's only one fern seed. Only one of you can be made little again.
Big D. Give it to my sister, Tootsy. She's a girl.
Big T. No, give it to Dumpling. He's the oldest.
Wishing Man. I think I'll give it to 'ittie Snookie Ookums. Here, Snookums, take that little seed and go down by the pump and get a drink of water. Put the seed in the water and swallow it and you'll be the original 'ittie Snookums again.
Big S. Oh, goody, goody, goody! (Takes box and skips out at R.)
(Music again, a march. Jimmy Bear dances in, whispers to the Wishing Man and gives him a pill box.)
Wishing Man. Here's another fern seed. Ladies first, Dumpling. I'll give it to Tootsy.
Big T. Oh, you dear, good Wishing Man. I'll give you a nice hug and kiss for that. (Does so, takes box, skips out at R.)
(Music again. Enter Baby Jumbo, dancing in time to the music. Wishing Man bends down and whispers to the elephant. Jumbo raises one foot, a front one, and gives him a pill box.)
Wishing Man. And here's the third magical fern seed. Here you are, Master Dumpling. Hurry along and grow little again.
Big D. Oh, thank you, sir. (Takes box and skips out at R.)
Jumbo and the Two Bears dance out at L. in time to the music.
Wishing Man (goes to the doll bushes). The dolly plants don't seem to be doing very well. (Picks a doll.) Here's a ripe one. I'm going to give that to (insert some little girl's name) for a Christmas present. And here's another for ——. I wonder how my big French dolls are doing. They're dreadfully hard to raise. They require so much attention. I have to keep them under cover to protect them from the sun. The wax melts so easily and the pretty red cheeks are apt to run down over their pretty French dresses. (Removes cover.) How nice they look. There's Annette, Olivette and Babette. Three as pretty little French ladies as ever came out of Paris. I think they're just about ready to pick. They're such pretty dollies that I think I'll give them to little boys instead of little girls. I'll give Annette to (insert little boy's name) and I'll give Olivette to ——, and little Babette I'll give to ——. My, my, I was forgetting all about the children and the mysterious fern seed. I wonder if it has changed them back into real little children again. (Looks out at R.) Yes, here they come.
Enter from R. Dumpling, Tootsy and Snookums.
Dumpling. Oh, thank you, Mr. Wishing Man. I feel ever so much better now.
Tootsy. Yes, indeed. My clothes are a perfect fit and nobody will laugh at me now.
Snookums. I feel perfectly fan-tas-a-ma-gor-ious.
Tootsy. Oh, see the pretty French dollies. I wish they would talk to me.
Wishing Man. If that's your wish, they can.
Tootsy (presses Annette). Can you talk?
Annette (imitates talking doll). Pa-pa, pa-pa, pa-pa!
Tootsy (presses Olivette). And what can you say?
Olivette. Ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma!
Snookums (presses Babette). Go on and talk to me.
Babette. Mer-ry Christ-mas! Mer-ry Christ-mas!
Tootsy. I wish you could wind them up so they could walk around and play with us.
Wishing Man. Is that your wish?
Tootsy. Oh, yes. Do you think you can do it?
Wishing Man. I can try. (Takes large clock key and winds each doll. The sound of winding should be imitated by a rattle behind the scenes.)
Annette. Pa-pa, pa-pa, pa-pa! (Walks forward without bending knees.)
Dumpling. Here, stop her. She'll fall down. (Grabs her.) Here, turn around. Walk this way. (Walks with her.)
Olivette. Ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma; (Starts to walk.)
Tootsy (catches her). Oh, I think you are a darling. (Walks with her.)
Babette. Mer-ry Christ-mas! Mer-ry Christmas. (Starts to walk.)
Wishing Man. Here, wait for me. (Takes her arm and they walk together.)
Dumpling. Wind up the soldiers. Then each dolly can have a partner.
Wishing Man. Just a minute. (Winds up the soldiers.)
(The dolls continue walking around with jerky steps.)
Private Black (as Babette passes him). Allow me. (Offers her his arm.)
Private Jack (as Annette passes him). Allow me. (They promenade.)
Private Mack (as Olivette passes him). Allow me. (They promenade.)
Tootsy (very much excited, runs to Wishing Man.) Oh, I wish they were all alive.
Wishing Man. You do? Is that your wish? (She nods.) Then I'll make them all alive.
|
Hickety, kickety, bees in a hive, Witchery, twichery, you're alive. |
(The dolls and soldiers twirl around and chatter merrily in pantomime. Their actions from now on are as natural as possible.)
Snookums (suddenly sees the candy tree). Oh, lookee! Candy!
Wishing Man. That's alive, too. (Jim Dandy marches down.) Mr. Snookie Ookums, let me introduce you to Mr. Jim Dandy, a stick of candy.
Snookums. Would he mind if I'd take a bite out of his leg?
Jim Dandy. You bet he would. I'm alive now.
Wishing Man (looks off at L.). And here comes Teddy Bear and Jimmy Bear. They're alive, too. And look at the Baby Elephant.
Enter Teddy Bear, Jimmy Bear and Baby Jumbo. The piano plays a march. All march around the stage, first the Wishing Man, then Black and Babette, Jack and Annette, Mack and Olivette, Jim Dandy and Tootsie, Teddy Bear and Dumpling, then Baby Jumbo with Snookums riding on his back, then Jimmy Bear capering in the rear. March around several times. A simple folk dance may be introduced at this point. All sing two verses of "Follow Me, Full of Glee."
Curtain.
REMARKS ON THE PRODUCTION.
The room was all in shimmering white with a background of small pine trees in large wooden pots. The floor was covered with white muslin and scattered with leaves, pine needles and cones.
In one corner was a giant snow pile, made of a frame covered with cotton. This was presided over by the Snow Queen and her Maids and white-wrapped bundles were on sale for five cents.
Jack Frost and his boys presided over a large tree in another corner. Small toys wrapped in white tissue paper were attached to this tree and sold for five cents. Or Santa Claus may preside at the sale.
Snowballs of white popcorn and snowballs filled with candy were on sale at another booth, presided over by red and white Striped Candy Girls. Candy canes were also sold here.
In the fourth corner a snow scene in the woods was depicted. A local acrobat, dressed as a Snow-man, did stunts, assisted by several boys dressed as clowns. They pelted the Snow-man with snowballs and then sold bags of white confetti. The Snow-man also ran a game where snowballs were thrown at a target. The target was a circle of black cambric, the snowballs were rubber balls covered with raw cotton and rolled in flour. Balls sold three for five cents.
A postoffice in charge of Mrs. Santa Claus is recommended, where each pays five cents postage due for packages and postcards.
If snowballing the target is too "mussy," a large holly wreath with a cluster of sleighbells in the center may be suspended from the ceiling with red and green streamers. Three balls of soft rubber are provided and the contestants try to throw the balls through the wreath and ring the bells.
Stuffed stockings on a clothesline may be offered for sale. This should be presided over by Moll Pitcher and her colonial wash-maids.
A rummage sale of toys added quite a large sum to the general fund. There was a 5-cent table, a 10-cent table and a 25-cent table.
THE SCENERY FOR THE PLAY.
The rear of the stage should be hung with dark curtains. Arrange the trumpet vine and the trees in place before the play begins. Then hide them with screens, these screens serving as the "scenery" for Act I.
During the progress of Act II, in front of the front curtain, remove the screens and furniture of Act I and arrange the stage for Act III as described in the text.
For the thunder effect in Act I rattle a large sheet of sheet-iron and explode several large fire-crackers.
The arrangement of the stage in Acts I and III is fully described in the text.
PROPERTIES.
Table with long cover completely hiding the Wishing Man.
Lighted lamp on table. Chairs and sofa.
Window at rear. Two curtains can simulate a window.
Trumpet vine with tin and paper trumpets.
Drum tree with tissue paper buds and toy drums.
Candy tree.
Ball plants.
Frame to hide the French dolls.
Doll plants.
Pasteboard box with cover for Ka-zin-ski.
Three small pill boxes.
COSTUMES.
The Wishing Man—Dressed as a clown, white suit with red horseshoes on it. Red ruffles around arms, ankles and neck. Long, pointed, white clown cap. Face and neck should be covered with white grease paint and when it is dry apply white powder. Then blacken the nose and lips with hot black grease paint. Make tiny high eyebrows of this black paint and paint round black circles on cheek bones.
Grandpa, Grandma, Father and Mother should be dressed in modern costume, but they must be made up and costumed to look the part.
Nurse Maid—Black dress, long. White apron, collar, cap and cuffs.
Dumpling, Tootsy and Snookums—Pretty dresses suitable for Christmas.
The Big Dumpling, Tootsy and Snookums—Dressed exactly like their little counterparts. Wigs, etc.
Ka-zin-ski—Tall boy dressed as a clown. False face. Bushy whiskers and wig. A regular jack-in-the-box make-up.
The Tin Soldiers—Long trousers of shiny blue cambric with red stripes at the sides. Shiny red jackets with yellow bands and buttons across front and on sleeves. Toy guns. The cheeks and lips should be very red to imitate toy soldiers.
The French Dolls—Fancy dresses and bonnets. Hair in curls. Faces painted to represent wax dollies, red cheeks, eyebrows black, eyelashes beaded with black hot grease paint.
Jim Dandy—Red and white striped stockings. From the knee to under the arms the suit is a cylindrical roll of white pasteboard striped with red. Sleeves and collar white striped with red. Pointed white cap striped with red.
The Bears—Costumes of brown canton flannel, fuzzy side out. Get a pattern for a child's nightdress with feet. Allow it rather loose in front, so that a folded knit shawl can be securely fastened (with safety pins) to the shoulders in front, beneath it, thus making the round body of the bear. For the back of the suit do not cut the waist part separate from the legs, as is usual in the pattern, but allow the waist to be as wide as the seat of the drawers.
Then lay a pleat from A to B on either side, tapering to form a loose fit below the waist. Sew thumbless mittens to the ends of the sleeves, padding them a little on the back and sewing on palms of a light tan, to represent paws.
Fit the seat of the drawers at the back loose enough to give freedom of motion, but no more.
For the heads, cut hoods like Fig. 3, taking a straight piece of cloth and fitting it with pleats around the face, etc. Make ears of two thicknesses of the cloth, stitched and turned like Fig. 4. Lay a box-pleat at A-B and sew them to the hood at C-D, so that they will stand out and forward. See Fig. 5. Sew this hood to the neck of the suit, so that all goes on together. Bear false faces.
Baby Jumbo—Two medium sized boys form the elephant. Two four-foot sticks are fastened together with twenty-inch crosspieces, thus:
Forming a rack which two boys carry on their shoulders. Cut two pieces from gray cambric like Fig. 6 to form the head, having the trunk about a yard long; sew them together and stuff with rags; sew on white pasteboard tusks, large buttons for eyes and big ears cut out of cambric and lined with one thickness of paper. Attach strings at A and tie to the first crosspiece of the rack. Pad the rack with an old comfort sewed fast with cord to hold it in place.
Set the rack on the boy's shoulders, then standing with heads bent forward, the foremost boy supporting the elephant's head with his head and slipping his right hand into the upper part of the trunk so as to swing it. Throw over them a large, dark-colored shawl, reaching to their knees, fasten it together in the back and pin on a tail made of cambric and stuffed. Legs covered with brown burlap.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL OR THE MISER'S YULETIDE DREAM
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