Good Times with the Juniors

by Lilian M. Heath

Teddy. Red Ridinghood and Jack the Giant-Killer and—and all the rest!

Fun. Ha! ha! (Laughing heartily.) You don’t understand them. Now you see them and now you don’t.

Teddy. Wish I could see them again, but I don’t want them to see me.

Fun. Well, the pictures are all ready now, and they are fine ones, too. One hundred times larger than your camera. Think of it! Would you like to see them now?

Teddy. Well, I should say so!

Fun. All right; here goes. First we will have Little Red Ridinghood. (During the performance in the woods the cot, chair, etc., should be removed and the large frame with platform back of it put directly behind the foliage curtain. Back of the frame opening and platform should be a woods background if possible. When Fun announces the subject of each picture, some one behind the scenes, near the front, should read slowly and clearly the story or verse describing that picture. Meanwhile, those characters are taking their positions in the frame, and when ready must not move. As each story or verse is finished, the curtains are drawn aside for a minute, showing the picture, and then drawn together again. Then the next story and its picture, and so on until all are shown. As each one is presented, Teddy and Fun dance around and clap their hands, making such exclamations as “O my!” “Isn’t that great?” etc. Curtain falls on the last picture. Fun and Teddy are again alone in the woods.) Here they all come back again, I declare! Too bad they could not have seen their own pictures. O, well; it doesn’t matter. Why! where are you going, Teddy?

Teddy. I’m going home! (Runs off the stage.)

Fun. Wait a minute. (Talking to himself.) No use. Guess I had better see if he gets home all right. (Follows Teddy. Enter all the children singing Mother Goose rhymes. While they are dancing and singing, the large frame is removed, and the cot, etc., are replaced the same as in the first scene. As the music is finished, they dance off stage. Curtain opens on bedroom scene. Teddy asleep with camera, and the goblin perched on bed again.) Well, the little fellow has had quite a treat, and it is nearly time for him to wake up; so I must leave him for this time. (Jumps down, and as he steals lightly out, kisses his hand to Teddy.) Good-by, little chap. I hope you will have a fine Christmas day. Good-by.

(A bright light is now thrown on the cot, and Teddy wakes up.)