Marie Irish
The Star-Spangled Banner
HANG back of stage with dark cloth, cover a box with dark material and to back or center of it fasten a large flag. Let the box stand four feet from wall so as to leave room to pass behind it.
If possible have ten girls of good size, ten small girls and ten boys take part, though this number may be reduced if necessary. All the girls dress in white with trimmings of red, white and blue and each carries a flag. As the music of STAR-SPANGLED BANNER begins the large girls march on in two lines, half coming from right and half from left. After them come the small girls, half from each side, all march and take places thus:
They stand motionless, with flags at right side until music reaches words, "Oh! say, does the star-spangled banner still wave," then all raise flags and wave them. As music of second stanza begins, the girls hold flags again at sides, and the boys march in, each one carrying an air-gun or rifle. They come on stage, half from right and half from left, marching slowly and carefully. As the boys get nearly to center of stage each girl quickly raises her flag, takes aim with it as though it were a gun, pointing it at line of boys. The boys stop as if in fear, then pass quickly from stage, those from the right going off at left, and those from left going off at right. Then as the music reaches the refrain, sing the words of third stanza instead of second, the boys helping behind scenes and all singing with spirit, "And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave," the girls waving their flags. A fine effect may be obtained by burning colored light[K] during the singing.
[K] The colored light referred to is what is known as Tableaux Light. It is put up in quarter-pound cans, each of one color, in Red, Green, Blue, Gold, and White. It may be had from the publishers of this book for per can, 30 cents; two for 55 cents; or four for $1.00; pre-paid.
America
Hang back of stage with dark cloth, also cover with dark material a box that stands at center of back of stage. On this box, as curtain is drawn, stands a young lady dressed as Columbia, wearing white gown, drapery of red, white and blue bunting, and gilt crown on head. She holds in one hand a large flag and in the other six streamers made of cambric: two white, two red, and two blue, three or four inches wide and nearly two yards long. On either side of Columbia stand three girls, dressed in white and wearing sashes of red, white and blue, tied in a bow at side. Columbia holds streamers by one end and each girl holds the end of one. They stand thus: