| CHARACTERS. Princess Fadeaway. Greening, Sweeting, Ladies to the Princess. The Kitchenmaid. The Cooklet. Red Pepper, the scullion (Prince Fairasday). Head Cook. Frip, Tip, Snip, Pip, Brownies. Chorus of Cooks and Brownies, if desired. TIME. Christmas Eve. SCENE: The Kitchen in the Castle of Princess Fadeaway. Open fireplace down R. in which the fire burns, and casts a red light on the scene. Dresser against wall L. on which stands a pile of dirty plates, tin basin and soap, various culinary utensils, and a huge pepper-pot. Door up back L. Table centre, which is spread with white cloth, bordered with a quaint design. An old-fashioned wooden armchair R. of fireplace. Door up R. Stool by dresser. Chair behind table. As the curtain rises, the stage is quite dark, lit by a faint gleam from fireplace. Mysterious music, which resolves itself into the air of "Whist, whist, whist. Here Comes the Bogie Man." The Brownies heard singing behind the scenes. They dance in one by one mysteriously round stage, in follow-my-leader fashion, over chair and stool, and crawl under table, round and round room as they sing. |
OPENING CHORUS.
(Air: "Whist, whist, whist! Here Comes the Bogie Man!")
| Brownies: | |
| Whist, whist, whist! Here comes the Brownieman! The Christmas pie is madeto-night! We'll steal it if wecan. Whist, whist, whist! The scullions will befled! Oh, what a time we'll haveto-night When everyone's in bed. |
(Enter Frip dramatically L.)
Frip: Whist!
Brownies: Frip! (All prostrate themselves, touching ground with their foreheads.)
Frip: The deed is done! The scullions all are packing!
Brownies: Oh, noble Frip!
Tip: How did you manage it?