To act “Bridewell:” Arrange a prison cell; take screens or clothes-frames, and hang them with gray or black shawls, and cover the carpet. Put in a common wood table and a kitchen chair, and let a dim-lighted lantern be the only light. Some gentleman, meanly clad, with hair all on end; and clenched hands resting on his knees, must be seated in the chair, with eyes bent sullenly on the ground, and with a scowling brow. Let chains hang from his wrists and ankles, and as he moves clank together. Acted in this way, the word would be easily guessed.
Farewell.—“Fare:” A gentleman dressed as a hackman can come in, whip in hand. Then a gentleman and lady and a child should appear, dressed for a journey. The hackman must address them in the usual manner, offering to take them to any place, &c. The gentleman must then ask, “What is the fare?” and bargains for it, refusing to pay fare for the child, &c. “Well:” Two ladies enter with shawls and bonnets on, and appear to meet accidentally; each asks anxiously if the other is well, and if all the family are well, &c.
“Farewell” can be acted in various ways. A party with bandboxes and baskets, on their way west, may be bidding farewell to friends; or a lover, going to California, may be taking leave of his lady-love, &c.
Railway.—“Rail:” Take two chairs, and place a strong cane, stick or broom, with one end resting on each chair. Then some boy or girl may come in and jump on the stick, swing over it, and talk about “riding on a rail.” An elderly lady or gentleman should come in and talk to him about breaking his neck on the rail, &c., &c. “Way:” a gentleman with a carpet bag in his hand may inquire the way to the depot, or an old lady may ask which is the way to the menagerie, &c. “Railway:” Let a party of people come rushing in, some limping and groaning, others wondering where their bandboxes have gone to! all talking of the “smash up” on the railway, bringing in the word in all possible ways.
Carpet.—“Car:” several persons may pass in and out dressed in character, as a Yankee peddler, a country girl never before from home, a man of business, a fine lady with servants, &c., all appearing to be waiting for the cars, and talking about them. Suddenly let a bell ring, and the conductor call out, “Cars start for,” etc. All then rush forward in character. “Pet:” Let a lady come in with a cat, dog or any pet animal, fondling it as absurdly as possible, pretending it is sick, calling for some one to go for the doctor, &c. “Carpet:” Arrange a table as a counter. Some one must act as shopman. Let a lady enter with a simpering air, her intended husband following, and ask to look at carpets. Have in readiness under the counter several pieces of carpets or rugs, which the shopman should display, while the lady consults the taste of her future lord, &c.
Lunatic.—“Luna:” A gentleman, dressed as a young collegian, enters with a young lady on his arm; they pretend to be walking by moon-light. He speaks of the moon by its latin name, Luna, and talks in a high-flown style. The lady may ask in a flat and awkward style, “Who is Luna?” saying she never heard of her, &c., &c. The young man explains, in a bombastic style, who Luna is. “Tic:” A lady represents an old woman, and goes about offering to make over old tics, as good as new, and also says she has some geese feathers to sell, carrying on of course other conversation, so that the word to be guessed may not be too apparent. “Lunatic:” The best actor of the company feigns the part of a lunatic, in any way he sees fit.
Lamentable.—(French charade.) “L’amont” can be acted well in pantomime, by representing an old deaf man, and his young wife; the old man with spectacles on nose, sitting in a large chair, reading the newspaper, his young wife standing behind the chair. A low tap is heard at the door. She starts and listens; the door opens slily and discovers a young man. She starts with delight, but points to the old man, motioning the young man to go. He makes gestures of despair; then appears to have a sudden thought, bows and retires. Soon a loud knock is heard, she goes to the door, and returns with a letter, giving it to the old man; he reads, shakes his head, and hands it to her; she looks at it, runs for his hat and coat and motions him to go. He leaves at one door, while L’Aman enters at another. Then they act a lover like scene and the curtain drops. “Table:” She again appears with sleeves rolled up, apron on, rolling-pin in hand, making cakes; the young lover standing by, and now and then eating one of the cakes. They hear a heavy step and the lover runs for a hiding-place. At last he springs under the table, and she pulls a table-cloth down around it, and goes on rolling cakes. In comes the old man, hobbling along. He looks around and suspects something, and begins a strict search. Thus ends that scene. “Lamentable:” The same actors appear, but the table is turned over, and behold! the old man has seized the young lover, and is brandishing aloft a heavy cane, while the young wife appears, weeping bitterly.
Warlock.—(A male wizard.) “War:” A wounded soldier is seen prostrate and dying. “Lock:” An old woman with a long tow wig, sits mumbling to herself, and knitting. A young man appears and pretends entire devotion to her, and begs for a lock of her hair. She refuses at first, but he coaxes it from her. She then takes out a large pair of shears and cuts off a long lock, rolls it up and gives it to him. He pretends ecstasy, but laughs behind her back. “Warlock:” A gentleman dressed as an old wizard, appears and offers to tell fortunes, &c.; this can be performed as the actor thinks best.
The following words are easy to be acted:—
| Back-bite. Com-fort. In-fan-tile. | Bond-age. Ann-ounce. Sin-cere. | Brace-let. In-firm. Spec-tacles. |