Fig. 353.—A Battleship.
Trains and Wagons can be cut out of cardboard and moved across the stage by means of laths to which they have been attached in the same manner as the paper soldiers shown in [Fig. 345]. Toy wagons, carriages, and an automobile such as described in [Chapter XXVI], may also be used in some scenes.
Rain, wind, thunder, and such stage sounds, a moon or sun-rise, and lightning, as produced on the stage, are known as
Mechanical Effects.—Most of these can easily be adapted to your theatre, though the apparatus need not be as elaborate as that used by professionals.
Thunder can be produced by means of a large piece of heavy cardboard held by one corner, as shown in the chapter heading, and vibrated back and forth. The beating of
Rain upon the outside of a house is imitated with a small quantity of dried peas or beans dropped upon the head of a drum or into a cardboard box. Every time the door is opened during such a storm, the audience should hear the whistling of the
Wind, which is imitated by a few low drawn-out whistles. The stage must, of course, be dark for producing
Lightning, in order to get the best effects. The flashes can be made by igniting a small amount of flash-light powder, placed in a tin can cover.