_Curtain rises disclosing the same scene. Three long sheets hang on
the line, reaching down to the floor and extending clear across the
stage. The children are behind the sheets. The line is about three and
one-half feet high. The table sets obliquely in front of the door at
R. It is covered with a sheet or long cloth reaching to the ground._
PATSY _and_ TEDDY _form the dwarf._ PATSY, _coatless, has a long pair
of striped stockings on over his arms, and a pair of shoes on his
hands, ornamented on insteps with large rosettes._ TEDDY _stands
behind him and thrusts his arms as far as they will go under_ PATSY'S
_armpits. A kind of a tunic covers both. Wear a large crimped frill or
an enormous turned-down collar._
PATSY _stands behind table and places his shoe-clad hands upon it,
which represent the feet of the dwarf. The door curtains are fastened
together a few inches above his head, concealing_ TEDDY.
PATSY _must lean slightly over the table or the legs will not appear
to support the body._
_When the curtain is up, enter_ MATSY _from L. dressed as a Showman._
MATSY (_bows to audience, speaks in a loud voice, using megaphone_).
Come and see Jumbo, Samson symbolical!
Come and see Slivers, Clown really comical!
Come and see Zip, the foremost of freaks!
Come and see Palestine's Sinister Sheiks!
Eager Equestriennes, each unexcelled,
Most mammoth menagerie ever beheld,
The Giant, the Fat Girl, the Lion-faced Man,
Aerial Artists from far-off Japan,
Audacious Acrobats shot from a gun,
Don't miss the greatest show under the sun!
Now, if you will kindly lend me your ears for a moment, I will fill
them free of charge with a few words concerning the world's greatest
assortment of marvelous monstrosities. In the first cell we have Senor
Macaroni Spaghetti from the land of the banana. The senor is
thirty-nine inches high, and, strangely enough, thirty-nine years old,
to say nothing of the fact that he weighs thirty-nine pounds. (PATSY
_scratches his nose with his foot._) He arrived last week by parcel
post to join our circus. The senor is looking for a wife. Oh, you
needn't laugh! It's true. Some of you near-sighted ladies should have
brought magnifying glasses, for Senor Macaroni Spaghetti is the
smallest speck of humanity that ever lived in captivity. He stands on
a silver dollar and puts his hand in a thimble. (TEDDY _makes funny
gestures during this entire speech._) The senor will now entertain you
in his entertaining way.
PATSY (_sings_).
SPAGHETTI FROM OLD ITALY.
(Music on page 107)
Me name is Spaghetti, I came o'er the sea,
To visit this land from old Italy,
I have a small monkey, he jumps with a string,
And if he was here to you he would sing:
(_Dances._)
Tee-oodle, dum-doodle, dum-doodle, dum day!
(_Repeat until end._)
I once fell in love with the sweet Antoinette,
She say she will marry the little Spaghett,
But she said she no like-a a hand-organ man,
So I stand on the corner and sell-a banan.
(_Dances._)
Tee-oodle, dum-doodle, dum-doodle, dum day!
(_Repeat until end._)
I wed Antoinetta and live in a flat,
I buy-a fine clothes and a big silk-a hat,
I make-a much money and this little gent,
He maybe some day will be big President.
(_Dances._)
Tee-oodle, dum-doodle, dum-doodle, dum day!
(_Repeat until end._)
MATSY. And now, ladies and gentlemen, I'll call your attention to the
seven little Sunbonnet babies. Behold them, them famous Mulligan
twins. (_Exits L._)
_The heads of_ NORA, MICKY, BRIDGET, MARY ANN, MELISSA, CLARISSA _and_
PETER _appear above the sheets at rear. Each wears a large sunbonnet.
They sing to the tune "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp!"_
Little Mulligans are we, and our hearts are light and free,
For it's Christmas Eve and soon we'll be in bed,
We're peculiar little folks, full of jollity and jokes,
And you ought to see us stand upon our head!
Tramp, tramp, tramp, we'll soon be marching,
We are going off to bed,
But before we leave you now,
Each of us will show you how
Little Mulligan can stand upon her head.
(_All disappear under sheet. They repeat chorus and hold up their arms
above the sheet. The arms are covered with stockings and shoes are on
their hands. They slap hands together, making feet dance, etc._)
Tramp, tramp, tramp, we'll soon be marching,
We are going off to bed,
But before we leave you now,
Each of us will show you how
Little Mulligan can stand upon her head.
(_Repeat._)
MRS. MULLIGAN (_from audience_). Nora! Bridget! Mary Ann! What do ye
mane! You'll kill yourselves entirely. (_Rushes to the stage, followed
by_ MRS. O'TOOLE.) If you stand on your head like that, all your
brains will rush down into your fate.
NORA (_head above curtain_). That's the way they did in the show.
(_All come out on stage._)
MRS. O'TOOLE. Well, well, well, wonders will never cease. Sure, I
niver spint such a fine Christmas Eve in all me life before.
MRS. MULLIGAN (_stands C. facing audience, surrounded by the ten
children._) Sure, I think we've had a fine Christmas celebration,
don't you? And before ye go let this sink down deep in your hearts and
minds--it doesn't take money and fine clothes and costly gifts to make
a fine Christmas at all, at all. All it takes is loving hearts and
loving hands, and merry faces of happy boys and girls. We didn't have
any money--but you see what a lovely time we've had--and it's all
because the spirit of Christmas was in our hearts--and the spirit of
Christmas means love, and love is the greatest thing in all the world.
Merry Christmas to all of yeez, and may ye never regret the time you
spent Christmas Eve with the ten little Mulligans.
CURTAIN.
NOTES TO THE MANAGER.
WHERE THE MULLIGANS LIVED.
The scenery is very simple or may be dispensed with entirely.
Entrances R. and L. and a window at the rear are necessary. An old
table stands in front of the window, and a larger table, also old,
stands down R. Several soap boxes are down L. and these with an
upturned bucket serve as seats for the Mulligans.
An old rag carpet covers the floor. A wash-tub, with wash-board,
clothes, etc., stand at C. Two rickety chairs are on the stage, one
R.C. and one L.C., the latter a rocking-chair. The larger table is
covered with a well worn red cloth and supports an old-fashioned
lighted lamp.
Several tin cans, filled with bright flowers, stand on the table in
front of the window. Curtains or bed comforts are draped over the door
at R. An old sofa stands up L. Colored prints adorn the walls.
A clothes line runs across the stage at rear. On this line several
garments are drying, bright stockings, a union suit, red flannels,
etc. Remember the scene is laid in Mulligan Alley and the stage must
be arranged according to Mulligan taste.
WHAT THE MULLIGANS WORE.
MRS. MULLIGAN--Powdered hair, parted in middle and combed over ears,
somewhat unkempt. Well worn, old-fashioned cloth waist, with sleeves
rolled up and open in the neck. Skirt of contrasting color. The skirt
is turned up, showing flannel petticoat. Unstarched and rather soiled
dark gingham apron, of ample proportions, but without bib. Hair
twisted in knob at the back of head. Large, old shoes.
MATSY and PATSY--Long, tattered trousers, old suspenders, large, well
worn shoes, calico shirts, torn and patched. Bright calico neckties.
Caps. In Act III Matsy wears a large black mustache, a long black
coat, much too large, and a stiff hat three sizes too big, while Patsy
wears the dwarf's tunic and has his face made up yellow, with rouge on
cheeks.
TEDDY and MICKY--Short trousers, well worn and patched. Striped
stockings. Old shirts.
NORA and BRIDGET--Ankle skirts, waists of a different color. Bright
calico bows. Large hair ribbons.
MARY ANN, MELISSA and CLARISSA--Short skirts. Striped stockings. Old
shoes. Funny hats and waists.
PETER PAN--Calico slip. Baby's hat.
MRS. O'TOOLE--Old-fashioned walking dress of bright colors. Shawl and
little bonnet. Red wig, if desired.
THE WISHING MAN
[Illustration:
Type of Type of
WISHING MAN FRENCH DOLLS TIN SOLDIERS KA-ZIN-SKI
GRANDPA GRANDMA FATHER MOTHER NURSEMAID
DUMPLING TOOTSY SNOOKUMS ATTENUATED ROLY POLY
TOOTSY DUMPLING
ENLARGED Type of
SNOOKUMS BEARS JIM DANDY BABY JUMBO]
THE WISHING MAN
A CHRISTMAS WHIMSY FOR SWEETE CHARITIE.
IN THREE SHORT ACTS.
_As presented by Class No. 10, Wesley Chapel, Columbus, Ohio.
Re-written from memory._
CHARACTERS.
THE WISHING MAN _Young Man_
THE ROLY-POLY DUMPLING _Stout Young Man_
THE ATTENUATED TOOTSY _Tall, Thin Young Man_
THE ENLARGED SNOOKUMS _Young Man_
GRANDPA GREEN _Boy of Fourteen or Fifteen_
GRANDMA GREEN _Plump Girl of same age_
FATHER FRITZ _Boy of about Fourteen_
MOTHER FRITZ _Girl of about Fifteen_
NURSE MAID _Girl of about Thirteen_
DUMPLING _Boy of Eight_
TOOTSY _Girl of Seven or Eight_
SNOOKUMS _Boy of Six or under_
KA-ZIN-SKI _Tall Boy_
TEDDY BEAR _Small Boy_
JIMMIE BEAR _Small Boy_
BABY JUMBO _Made of Two Larger Boys_
ANNETTE _Little Girl_
BABETTE _Little Girl_
OLIVETTE _Little Girl_
PRIVATE BLACK _Little Boy_
PRIVATE JACK _Little Boy_
PRIVATE MACK _Little Boy_
JIM DANDY, _a Stick of Candy_ _Little Boy_
* * * * *
TIME OF PLAYING--_About Forty-five Minutes._
* * * * *
_For description of costumes, scenery, etc., see "Remarks on
Production" at the end of the play._
ACT I.
SCENE: _A room in_ FATHER FRITZ'S _house. Doors at R. and L. Small
table down L. with three chairs around it. Sofa down R. Easy chair
down C. Lighted lamp on table. Window at rear._ DUMPLING _is seated on
a rocking-horse at rear C._ GRANDPA _stands by him helping him rock
it._ TOOTSY _is on a rocking-horse at L. front, with_ FATHER _and_
MOTHER _helping her rock it._ SNOOKUMS _is on a baby rocking-horse at
R. front, with_ GRANDMA _and_ NURSE MAID _in attendance. Very little
furniture on stage. If the rocking-horses are not easy to get,_
DUMPLING _and_ TOOTSY _may be astride of sticks with horses' heads._
_Curtain rises to bright music._
ALL (_sing_).
HOP, HOP, HOP!
[Music illustration:
1. Hop, hop, hop! Nim-ble as a top,
Where 'tis smooth and where 'tis sto-ny,
Trudge a-long, my lit-tle po-ny,
Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop! Nim-ble as a top.
2. Whoa, whoa, whoa! How like fun you go!
Ver-y well, my lit-tle po-ny,
Safe's our jaunt tho' rough and sto-ny,
Spare, spare, spare, spare, spare! Sure e-nough we're there.
3. Here, here, here! Yes, my po-ny dear;
Now with oats and hay I'll treat you,
And with smiles will ev-er greet you,
Po-ny, po-ny dear! Yes, my po-ny dear.]
DUMPLING (_dismounting_). Whoa, there, Jimmie! Oh, Grandpa, I do love
my pony. It's the best of all my presents.
GRANDPA. Well, it's time you put him in his stall.
TOOTSY (_dismounting_). I'm going to call my pony after Mr. ----.
(_Insert the name of some well known man._) 'Cause he looks just like
him.
GRANDMA (_helping_ SNOOKUMS _from pony_). And what are you going to
call your pony, Snookums?
SNOOKUMS. Going to call him Elizabeth, after you, Grandma.
GRANDMA (_kisses her_). That's my baby!
MOTHER. Grandma, we'd better get our hats and coats. It's nearly time
for the car to be after us.
FATHER. Come, Grandpa. It's nearly eight o'clock.
GRANDPA. But I don't like to leave the children.
DUMPLING. And we don't like to have you leave us, either. My, this has
been the grandest Christmas day I've ever seen.
MOTHER. Come, Grandma. (_Exits L. with_ GRANDMA.)
GRANDPA. Come, children. (_They gather around him._) I'm glad you've
had such a happy Christmas. You got everything you wanted, didn't you?
TOOTSY. Yes, everything. My, I wish Christmas would come every day.
DUMPLING. Tell us the story about old Saint Nick, Grandpa.
GRANDPA. Do you want to hear that old chestnut again?
CHILDREN. Oh, yes, yes!
GRANDPA (_takes_ SNOOKUMS _on his lap, the other children stand by his
knee._)
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced through their heads;
Grandma in her kerchief and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,--
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
When what to my wondering eyes would appear
But a wee little sleigh and eight little reindeer,
With a wee little driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.
More rapid than eagles his reindeers they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!
Now, dash away, dash away, dash away, all."
So up to the housetop the reindeer they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys, and Saint Nicholas, too.
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in red from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle;
But I heard him exclaim e'er he drove out of sight:
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
--_Clement C. Moore._
CHILDREN. Oh, that was just lovely.
TOOTSY. I just wish I could see him. Just once!
DUMPLING. And so do I. I'm going to catch him some Christmas Eve.
SNOOKUMS. Me, too!
_Enter from L._, MOTHER _and_ GRANDMA, _wearing winter coats and hats.
They carry coats and hats for_ FATHER _and_ GRANDPA.
MOTHER. Here, Grandpa, put on your coat and hat, or we'll be late for
the dinner. (_Helps him._)
GRANDPA. I'd rather stay here and talk to the children.
FATHER (_putting on his coat_). But Aunt Clara is expecting us.
GRANDMA. And the auto is at the door.
GRANDPA. Dumpling, are you sure you got everything you wanted for
Christmas?
DUMPLING. I can't think of anything else.
GRANDPA. If you didn't, and if all three of you children can agree on
anything else, it shall be yours if money can buy it.
TOOTSY. Money can buy everything, can't it, Grandpa?
GRANDPA. No, my dear, not quite everything.
DUMPLING. But suppose we wish for something that money can't buy?
GRANDPA. I'd try to get it for you some other way.
TOOTSY. How, Grandpa; how?
GRANDPA. Why, I'd tell the Wishing Man. He'd get it for you.
GRANDMA. Come along, John; don't put such nonsense in the children's
heads.
FATHER. We must hurry along to Aunt Clara's, children. But this is
Christmas night. You may all stay up tonight just as long as you wish.
DUMPLING. Oh, can we? Can we?
MOTHER. Yes. Cecelia will look after you. Cecelia?
NURSE MAID. Of course I will, mum.
MOTHER. Come along, now. We must hurry. (_Kisses the children and goes
out R. with_ GRANDMA, GRANDPA _and_ FATHER.)
TOOTSY (_dancing around_). Oh, we can stay up just as long as we wish!
Goody, goody! Why that is the very best gift of all.
NURSE MAID. Now you children be good, and if you want me, call out.
I'll be down in the kitchen with the cook. (_Goes out at L._)
DUMPLING. Now we're left all alone.
TOOTSY. I don't see why Aunt Clara couldn't have invited us to her
dinner party, too.
SNOOKUMS (_playing with doll_). Snookums likes dinner party.
DUMPLING. It's 'cause we ain't big enough.
TOOTSY. My, I wisht I was a great, great, great big girl.
DUMPLING. There, that's a wish that money can't buy.
TOOTSY. Grandpa said he'd get us anything we wished for.
DUMPLING. What do you wish, Snookums?
SNOOKUMS. Wish Grandpaw would come home.
TOOTSY. I know a real good wish. I wish it were Christmas every day.
Don't you, Dumpling?
DUMPLING. No, I don't. We'd have to have a present and a tree and a
turkey and plum pudding every day of our lives. We'd get awfully tired
of it after a while. Just think, we'd have to give away about a
million presents every year.
TOOTSY. I'll tell you what I really do wish.
DUMPLING. What?
TOOTSY. I wish we could do just like grown up folks do. I wish I was
the biggest little girl in all the world.
DUMPLING. And I wish so, too. I wish we were just awfully, awfully,
awfully big--and then we could go to Aunt Clara's dinner party, and
everywhere.
SNOOKUMS. Me wish me was great big Snookums.
TOOTSY. But money couldn't buy that wish, Dumpling.
DUMPLING. No, that's right. But Grandpa said if he couldn't buy our
wish he'd get it some other way.
TOOTSY. How could he get it?
DUMPLING. He said he'd tell the Wishing Man.
TOOTSY. My, I wonder if there really is such a person!
DUMPLING. I don't know. But I'd like to see him if there is.
TOOTSY. I'll make a rhyme.
Good Mr. Wishing Man, how do you do?
If there is such a person, we'd like to see you!
DUMPLING.
If you come from afar, if you come from near,
Good Mr. Wishing Man, appear, appear!
_The_ WISHING MAN _rolls out from under the table, rises, faces the
three children, arms akimbo._
WISHING MAN (_after a pause, drawls_). Well?
DUMPLING _and_ TOOTSY (_frightened, down R._). Well? (_They look at
each other, pause, then repeat._) Well!
SNOOKUMS (_comes in front of them, stands facing the_ WISHING MAN,
_arms akimbo_). Well?
WISHING MAN. Well, I'm here.
DUMPLING. Who's here?
WISHING MAN. Why, _I_ am here. You said you would like to see me and
so I have come. _I'm_ here.
TOOTSY. Are you the Wishing Man?
WISHING MAN. That's my name. (_Sings to the tune of "Wearing of the
Green." He sings briskly, shaking head in time and dancing a step or
two._)
I'm the friend of all the children,
And I'll help you if I can,
Just tell me what your wishes are,
For I'm the Wishing Man.
I have wishbones on my fingers,
I have myst'ry in my eyes,
My clothes are trimmed with horseshoes,
And they're stained with magic dyes.
My pocket's full of rabbits' feet,
And clover leaves and charms,
For luck I've got a big black cat
All tattooed on my arms,
I'm a friend of all the children,
And I'll help you if I can,
So tell me what your wishes are--
For I'm the Wishing Man.
I come from a distant country
Away up near the pole,
But the things that I am telling you,
You mustn't tell a soul.
I know every witch and goblin,
And if you would believe!
I have fortunes in my pocket-book,
And wonders up my sleeve.
When any little boy or girl
Says, "Wishing Man, appear!"
I jump right up from underneath,
And here I am, my dear!
I'm a friend of all the children,
And I'll help you if I can,
So tell me what your wishes are--
For I'm the Wishing Man.
DUMPLING. And can you really grant us anything we wish for?
WISHING MAN. I can, if it's a good wish--and if you all agree on the
same thing.
TOOTSY. Anything in the wide, wide world?
WISHING MAN. Well, pretty nearly anything. Would you like some new
toys?
TOOTSY. Oh, no, thank you. This is Christmas, you know, and we got
ever so many toys.
SNOOKUMS. Ever so many toys.
WISHING MAN. I don't see what you called me for. You seem to have
everything you want.
DUMPLING. Oh, no, we haven't. We've made a wish, and we're all agreed
on it.
WISHING MAN. Are you sure it's a good wish?
DUMPLING. Oh, yes, it's an awful good wish. You see, we want to be
great big children so we can stay up late at night and go to Aunt
Clara's dinner parties. That's our wish. We want to be the biggest
children there are anywhere.
WISHING MAN (_laughs heartily_). Oh, ho, ho, ho! That's the funniest
wish I ever heard since I've been in the wishing business. So you want
to be the very biggest children there are anywhere, do you?
TOOTSY. Yes, sir; that's just what we want. I want to be a great, big,
tall little girl.
WISHING MAN (_laughing_). A great, big tall little girl, hey?
DUMPLING. And I want to be a great, big, big, _big_ little boy.
WISHING MAN. Oh, a big, _big_, BIG little boy, hey?
SNOOKUMS. And so do I.
WISHING MAN. And so do you, hey?
CHILDREN. Yes, sir; that is our wish.
WISHING MAN. Well, I'll have to see if I can accommodate you. It's a
pretty big job, you know.
TOOTSY. You said you could give us anything we wished for.
WISHING MAN. But I didn't think you'd wish for anything like that.
DUMPLING. That's the only thing we want, Mr Wishing Man.
WISHING MAN (_rubbing his chin and speaking thoughtfully_). Well,
now--let me see. I'm afraid it's too big a job for me. In the first
place I haven't any marble.
CHILDREN. Marble?
WISHING MAN. Yes. In order to make you grow and grow and grow, you'll
have to stand on marble.
TOOTSY. We have a marble-top table in the front hall.
DUMPLING. Oh, yes. And we can all stand on top of the table.
WISHING MAN. But I have to stand here by the open window.
TOOTSY. Well, we can go in there and leave the door open. You can stay
here and make our wish come true. Come on, Dumpling.
WISHING MAN. Wait a minute, wait a minute. Are you all of you sure you
want to be made into great big, big little children?
CHILDREN. Yes, all of us.
WISHING MAN. All right. If that's your wish, it's no business of mine.
Go out in the front hall and climb on the marble-top table and I'll
see what I can do for you.
TOOTSY. Oh, come on, quick, Dumpling, before he changes his mind.
(_Runs out R. with_ DUMPLING _and_ SNOOKUMS, _the latter taking very
long strides._)
WISHING MAN. It's a very foolish wish, but maybe they'll be satisfied
if I make them the biggest children on earth. (_Throws back curtains
at the window._) I'll see what I can do.
DUMPLING (_outside_). I'm standing up on the table now.
WISHING MAN.
Hickety, kickety, setting sun,
(_Making mysterious passes._)
Thunder, lightning, flash of a gun!
Let him grow bigger, it won't be much fun;
Hickety, kickety, number one!
(_Lights flash out, then on again, then out. Low rumbles of thunder
heard. Lights on again, then off. Loud crash outside._)
TOOTSY. Now it's my turn. I'm on the table.
WISHING MAN.
Witchery, twitchery, kangaroo,
Thunder and lightning, Kalamazoo!
Lengthen her, strengthen her, rip, bazoo,
Make her a giantess, number two!
(_Lightning and thunder as before._)
SNOOKUMS (_outside_). Now, Mr. Wishing Man, I'm on the table.
WISHING MAN. That's the Baby Snookums. Very well, little Snookie
Ookums! I'll change you into the biggest baby on earth.
Rumpety, thumpety, Kankakee,
Lengthen him out to six foot three!
The biggest baby we ever did see,
Rumpety, thumpety, number three!
(_Same noises as before, only louder._)
_Enter_ NURSE MAID _from L._
NURSE MAID. Goodness, gracious! Is it a tornado or an earthquake?
(_Sees_ WISHING MAN.) Oh! (_Screams loudly._) And who are you? Murder!
Thieves! Robbers! Where's me children? Where's little Dumpling and
Tootsy and Baby Snookums? (_Fast, loud music._)
WISHING MAN (_yells_). Where are your children?
_Enter_ BIG DUMPLING, BIG TOOTSY _and_ BIG SNOOKUMS. _They join hands
and dance around at R._
WISHING MAN. There they are. There are little Dumpling and Tootsy and
Baby Snookums.
(NURSE MAID _looks at children, screams loudly, throws up her arms and
faints in a chair at L. of stage._ WISHING MAN _stands at C. with arms
akimbo, laughing at her. The three big children dance in a circle at
R._)
CURTAIN.
ACT II.
SCENE: _No scene at all. The action takes place in front of the closed
curtains. Note: During this act the managers should be arranging the
stage for the next act._
_The children who are present in the audience should be given seats
down in front. At this point they rise and go upon the stage in front
of the curtain and sing, accompanied by a chorus of older children
behind the scenes. An adult leader may appear with the children. All
sing, marching around platform and acting out the song:_
FOLLOW ME, FULL OF GLEE.
Movement Song.
[Music illustration:
1. Chil-dren go, to and fro,
In a mer-ry, pret-ty row:
Foot-steps light, fa-ces bright,
'Tis a hap-py, hap-py sight;
Swift-ly turn-ing round and round.[A]
Do not look up-on the ground,
2. Birds are free, so are we,
And we live as hap-pi-ly;
Work we do, stud-y, too,
Learn-ing dai-ly some-thing new;
Then we laugh, and dance, and sing,
Gay as birds or an-y-thing:
3. Work is done, play's be-gun,
Now we have our laugh and fun:
Hap-py days, pret-ty plays,
And no naught-y, naught-y ways.
Hold-ing fast each oth-er's hand,
We're a hap-py, cheer-ful band;
CHORUS.
Fol-low me, full of glee,
Sing-ing mer-ri-ly.
Sing-ing mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly,
Sing-ing mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly,
Fol-low me, full of glee,
Sing-ing mer-ri-ly.]
[Footnote A: They all twirl around.]
(_The music continues softly as they resume their seats in the
audience. After a pause the_ WISHING MAN _sticks his head out from the
curtains. He takes one step in front, bows, then skips down to front
and bows again._)
WISHING MAN. Hello, little boys and girls, how do you do this fine
winter night? I know what each of you has been thinking. You've been
wishing that _you_ could meet the Wishing Man and that he would make
_your_ wishes come true. Now, haven't you? Well, I've made that wish
come true. You wished to meet me, and here I am. I've been watching
you all the year in Sunday School. I know how you have worked over
your lessons, how you have helped your teachers and how punctual you
have been. To be sure, I know some of you haven't helped your teachers
as much as you could have done, but I'll forget all that at Christmas
time. Now tell me what you wish for most.
CHILDREN (_in audience who have previously rehearsed this scene_). A
Christmas tree. A look at old Santa Claus. Some nice Christmas
presents, etc.
WISHING MAN. Stop, stop. I can't attend to so many wishes at once.
LITTLE GIRL (_rising_). Please, Mr. Wishing Man, couldn't you tell us
what we'd better wish for?
WISHING MAN. Have you ever had a great, big Christmas tree?
CHILDREN. Oh, yes, lots of times.
WISHING MAN. Have you ever seen my old friend, Mr. Santa Claus?
CHILDREN. Oh, yes.
LITTLE BOY. We see him every year at Christmas.
WISHING MAN. How would like to go with me to Wishing Land.
CHILDREN. Oh, goody! (_Clapping hands._) That would be fine. Can you
take us there?
WISHING MAN. Of course I can. And that's just what we'll do. We'll all
of us go to the Wishing Land. First, I'll call little Dumpling.
Dumpling, little Dumpling, where are you?
BIG DUMPLING _comes in from behind the curtains._
BIG D. Here I am, Mr. Wishing Man. I was playing with my little horse
and wagon. (_He plays with tiny horse and wagon._)
WISHING MAN. And how do you like being a great, big Dumpling?
BIG D. Well, not very well. I'm always bumping my head on the doors
and things. And all my toys are so very little I'm always breaking
them.
WISHING MAN. Where is your sister? Where is little Tootsy?
BIG TOOTSY _enters._
BIG T. Here, Mr. Wishing Man. I'm here. Me and my little dolly.
WISHING MAN. Well, little Tootsy, how do you like being a great, big
Tootsy?
BIG T. I don't like it very well. My clothes don't seem to fit, and I
know I look awfully funny. (_To audience._) Don't I? Everybody laughs
at me and it always makes me cry. (_Cries._)
WISHING MAN. And where is little Snookie Ookums?
BIG SNOOKUMS _enters._
BIG S. Here I am, Mr. Wishing Man. Here's 'ittie Snookie Ookums.
WISHING MAN. You look like a 'ittie baby elephant, Snookie Ookums.
Well, are you children satisfied with your wish?
THE THREE. Not very much. We wish we were little again.
BIG S. (_crying_). I tried to ride my little horsie and I bweaked him
all to pieces.
BIG D. And I can't get enough to eat. My little knife and fork and
spoon are too little, and when I eat I swallow dishes and all.
(_Cries._)
BIG T. And all my clothes are too little for me, and I look so funny
that everybody laughs at me. And I don't like it at all. (_Cries._)
WISHING MAN. I'm just going to start on a journey to the Wishing Land.
The toys there are awfully big. They'd be just the right size for
you. Would you like to go with me?
BIG S. Is it very far?
BIG D. Could we get back by bedtime?
BIG T. Wouldn't it be awfully cold flying through the air?
WISHING MAN. Oh, no. We'd fly so fast you'd only have time to shiver
once and then we'd be right there.
THE THREE. Oh, yes; let's go.
WISHING MAN. All right. Now all of you part your hair right in the
middle, so you won't be heavier on one side than on the other. (_They
do so._) That's good. Now give me your hands and hold on tight and
we're off to the Wishing Land. Follow me, full of glee.
(_All sing the first verse and chorus of "Follow Me, Full of Glee,"
accompanied by the children in the audience. At the end all dance off
the stage at R._)
ACT III.
SCENE: _The Wishing Land. Green or dark colored curtains at rear and
at sides. Use all the large palms and potted trees available. A
trumpet vine is attached to curtains at the rear. This is made of
branches pinned on curtain to simulate a vine. Several tin trumpets
are tied to the branches and many trumpets of various sizes made of
paper. These stick out of the vines like blossoms._
[Illustration: Fig. 1]
_At rear right is a large tree with buds made of tissue paper and toy
drums showing in the buds. See diagram. The leaves forming these buds
should be pointed oval in shape and vary in size as they represent
buds or open flowers. The drums hang down from the branches and the
petals, when open, hang open and partly cover them. Another tree
stands at rear L. This is hung with candy or bits of colored paper
simulating candy. Candy canes are on this tree and_ JIM DANDY _is
sleeping at bottom of tree._
_At R. about half-way back are branches arranged to look as if
growing, and about three feet high, hung with balls of various sizes
and colors._
_At L. about half-way back are three little girls dressed as French
dolls. They stand in a row facing the audience. At either end of the
row is a frame to support the cheesecloth curtain that hides them from
the audience. They must stand stiffly with arms held out straight in
front of them._
_At L. front are several rows of flower pots or boxes containing
growing plants with dolls fastened among the leaves. These are
branches about eighteen inches high, with green paper buds partly
enveloping the dolls._
_At R. front is a large square box (a pasteboard cracker box or
breakfast food box covered with red tissue paper will answer) in which
is_ KA-ZIN-SKI _concealed by the lid._
_At R. half-way back just in front of the ball-trees stand three
little boys dressed as toy soldiers. They stand erect and do not
move._
_Curtain rises to mysterious music played by piano. This continues
some little time until the audience "takes in" the scene._
_After a pause, enter the_ WISHING MAN, _followed by the three_ BIG
CHILDREN.
WISHING MAN. Well, here we are in the Wishing Land. My kingdom and not
a soul to welcome me!
BIG D. Oh, what a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful place.
BIG S. See 'ittie bitsy teeny weeny trumpets gwowing in twees.
BIG T. And the dolls. The lovely, lovely dolls.
WISHING MAN (_clapping his hands_). What, ho! Is there none to welcome
me?
_Enter_ TEDDY BEAR _from L._
TEDDY BEAR (_comes to_ WISHING MAN _and bows low_).
BIG D. Oh, see the Teddy Bear.
BIG T. And he's the biggest one I ever saw.
BIG S. Nice pussy, nice, nice pussy! (_Strokes_ TEDDY BEAR.)
TEDDY BEAR (_growls_).
BIG S. (_much frightened_). Oh, naughty, naughty, naughty!
WISHING MAN. Hello, Teddy Bear. Where's your brother?
TEDDY BEAR (_shakes head as if he does not know_).
WISHING MAN. Go out and find him for me. Have you been a very, very
good Teddy Bear while I was away?
TEDDY BEAR (_nods his head_).
WISHING MAN. That's good. Now go out and find Jimmy Bear.
TEDDY BEAR (_nods head and ambles out at R._).
WISHING MAN (_looking around_). Everything is growing fine. I think
the bicycle trees need a little more water. Well, children, what do
you think of the Wishing Land?
BIG D. It's awfully pretty.
BIG T. It's perfectly gorgeous.
BIG S. Wunnerful, simply wunnerful.
WISHING MAN. Here's where I grow my toys. See, there is the trumpet
vine, and the candy tree and the dolly flowers. Whenever a little
child makes a wish for anything like that, all I have to do is to come
in here and pick a toy. See?
BIG D. Oh, lookee at the tin soldiers. They're awful big. Can I have
one, Mr. Wishing Man?
WISHING MAN. I don't think they're quite ripe yet.
BIG S. Me want a twumpet. Want a nice, big twumpet to blow.
WISHING MAN (_picks a trumpet_). There you are, my little man.
BIG T. I want one, too. A nice loud one.
WISHING MAN (_picks one_). And there's one for you, Tootsy.
BIG D. Believe I'll take a drum.
WISHING MAN (_picks a drum_). There you are. Right off the tree.
BIG D. Now we'll have a parade. (_They march around stage playing
trumpets and drums._)
WISHING MAN. Here, here, wait a minute. You're making enough noise to
wake the dead. Hold on, there. Quiet, quiet!
BIG T. Oh, dear! Just as we were having such a lovely time.
BIG S. Oh, whee! See the funny box. (_Goes to_ KA-ZIN-SKI'S _box._)
What is in it, Mr. Wishing Man?
WISHING MAN. You'd better let it alone. That's Ka-zin-ski, and
Ka-zin-ski doesn't like babies.
BIG S. But I wish to see him.
WISHING MAN. Is it a wish?
BIG S. Yes, sir; it's a wish.
WISHING MAN. Then pull the string.
(BIG S. _leans over the box, pulls a spring, the lid flies up and_
KA-ZIN-SKI _pops out almost in the baby's face._ BIG S. _screams and
falls flat down on the stage._)
BIG S. Oh, whee! Take him away! I'm fwightened, I am. Vill he come
after me?
WISHING MAN. No, no. Get up, 'ittie Snookie Ookums, he won't hurt you.
BIG D. Say, Mr. Wishing Man?
WISHING MAN. What is it, my little boy?
BIG D. Can we have anything we wish for here in the Wishing Land?
WISHING MAN. Of course you can. That's what the Wishing Land is for.
BIG D. Then I wish I was a little boy again. I'm too big to enjoy
myself.
BIG T. And I wish I was a little girl again. Everybody laughs at me,
'cause I'm so big.
BIG S. And I wish I was a 'ittie, teeny, weeny baby again. Being so
big fwightens me so.
WISHING MAN. Oh, ho! So you all want to be little again?
THE THREE. Yes, sir, if you please.
BIG T. Why, I'm so big that I can't get all of me into bed. I'll have
to let my feet hang outside.
BIG S. And if I get in my baby buggy, I'll bweak it all down.
BIG D. And my mamma won't recognize me at all, 'cause I'm grown so
big.
WISHING MAN. That's all very well, but it will be quite a job to make
you all little again. It will take three magic fern seeds, and I
don't think I have any ripe yet.
(_Music, a march._ TEDDY BEAR _dances in in time to the music. He goes
up to the_ WISHING MAN, _pulls his head down and whispers something in
his ear. Then hands him a little box._)
BIG D. Oh, what is it, Mr. Wishing Man? Is it the fern seed?
WISHING MAN (_looks in the little pill box_). Yes, but it's only one
fern seed. Only one of you can be made little again.
BIG D. Give it to my sister, Tootsy. She's a girl.
BIG T. No, give it to Dumpling. He's the oldest.
WISHING MAN. I think I'll give it to 'ittie Snookie Ookums. Here,
Snookums, take that little seed and go down by the pump and get a
drink of water. Put the seed in the water and swallow it and you'll be
the original 'ittie Snookums again.
BIG S. Oh, goody, goody, goody! (_Takes box and skips out at R._)
(_Music again, a march._ JIMMY BEAR _dances in, whispers to the_
WISHING MAN _and gives him a pill box._)
WISHING MAN. Here's another fern seed. Ladies first, Dumpling. I'll
give it to Tootsy.
BIG T. Oh, you dear, good Wishing Man. I'll give you a nice hug and
kiss for that. (_Does so, takes box, skips out at R._)
(_Music again. Enter_ BABY JUMBO, _dancing in time to the music._
WISHING MAN _bends down and whispers to the elephant._ JUMBO _raises
one foot, a front one, and gives him a pill box._)
WISHING MAN. And here's the third magical fern seed. Here you are,
Master Dumpling. Hurry along and grow little again.
BIG D. Oh, thank you, sir. (_Takes box and skips out at R._)
JUMBO _and the_ TWO BEARS _dance out at L. in time to the music._
WISHING MAN (_goes to the doll bushes_). The dolly plants don't seem
to be doing very well. (_Picks a doll._) Here's a ripe one. I'm going
to give that to (_insert some little girl's name_) for a Christmas
present. And here's another for ----. I wonder how my big French dolls
are doing. They're dreadfully hard to raise. They require so much
attention. I have to keep them under cover to protect them from the
sun. The wax melts so easily and the pretty red cheeks are apt to run
down over their pretty French dresses. (_Removes cover._) How nice
they look. There's Annette, Olivette and Babette. Three as pretty
little French ladies as ever came out of Paris. I think they're just
about ready to pick. They're such pretty dollies that I think I'll
give them to little boys instead of little girls. I'll give Annette to
(_insert little boy's name_) and I'll give Olivette to ----, and
little Babette I'll give to ----. My, my, I was forgetting all about
the children and the mysterious fern seed. I wonder if it has changed
them back into real little children again. (_Looks out at R._) Yes,
here they come.
_Enter from R._ DUMPLING, TOOTSY _and_ SNOOKUMS.
DUMPLING. Oh, thank you, Mr. Wishing Man. I feel ever so much better
now.
TOOTSY. Yes, indeed. My clothes are a perfect fit and nobody will
laugh at me now.
SNOOKUMS. I feel perfectly fan-tas-a-ma-gor-ious.
TOOTSY. Oh, see the pretty French dollies. I wish they would talk to
me.
WISHING MAN. If that's your wish, they can.
TOOTSY (_presses_ ANNETTE). Can you talk?
ANNETTE (_imitates talking doll_). Pa-pa, pa-pa, pa-pa!
TOOTSY (_presses_ OLIVETTE). And what can you say?
OLIVETTE. Ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma!
SNOOKUMS (_presses_ BABETTE). Go on and talk to me.
BABETTE. Mer-ry Christ-mas! Mer-ry Christ-mas!
TOOTSY. I wish you could wind them up so they could walk around and
play with us.
WISHING MAN. Is that your wish?
TOOTSY. Oh, yes. Do you think you can do it?
WISHING MAN. I can try. (_Takes large clock key and winds each doll.
The sound of winding should be imitated by a rattle behind the
scenes._)
ANNETTE. Pa-pa, pa-pa, pa-pa! (_Walks forward without bending knees._)
DUMPLING. Here, stop her. She'll fall down. (_Grabs her._) Here, turn
around. Walk this way. (_Walks with her._)
OLIVETTE. Ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma; (_Starts to walk._)
TOOTSY (_catches her_). Oh, I think you are a darling. (_Walks with
her._)
BABETTE. Mer-ry Christ-mas! Mer-ry Christmas. (_Starts to walk._)
WISHING MAN. Here, wait for me. (_Takes her arm and they walk
together._)
DUMPLING. Wind up the soldiers. Then each dolly can have a partner.
WISHING MAN. Just a minute. (_Winds up the soldiers._)
(_The dolls continue walking around with jerky steps._)
PRIVATE BLACK (_as_ BABETTE _passes him_). Allow me. (_Offers her his
arm._)
PRIVATE JACK (_as_ ANNETTE _passes him_). Allow me. (_They
promenade._)
PRIVATE MACK (_as_ OLIVETTE _passes him_). Allow me. (_They
promenade._)
TOOTSY (_very much excited, runs to_ WISHING MAN.) Oh, I wish they
were all alive.
WISHING MAN. You do? Is that your wish? (_She nods._) Then I'll make
them all alive.
Hickety, kickety, bees in a hive,
Witchery, twichery, you're alive.
(_The dolls and soldiers twirl around and chatter merrily in
pantomime. Their actions from now on are as natural as possible._)
SNOOKUMS (_suddenly sees the candy tree_). Oh, lookee! Candy!
WISHING MAN. That's alive, too. (JIM DANDY _marches down._) Mr.
Snookie Ookums, let me introduce you to Mr. Jim Dandy, a stick of
candy.
SNOOKUMS. Would he mind if I'd take a bite out of his leg?
JIM DANDY. You bet he would. I'm alive now.
WISHING MAN (_looks off at L._). And here comes Teddy Bear and Jimmy
Bear. They're alive, too. And look at the Baby Elephant.
_Enter_ TEDDY BEAR, JIMMY BEAR and BABY JUMBO. _The piano plays a
march. All march around the stage, first the_ WISHING MAN, _then_
BLACK _and_ BABETTE, JACK _and_ ANNETTE, MACK _and_ OLIVETTE, JIM
DANDY _and_ TOOTSIE, TEDDY BEAR _and_ DUMPLING, _then_ BABY JUMBO
_with_ SNOOKUMS _riding on his back, then_ JIMMY BEAR _capering in the
rear. March around several times. A simple folk dance may be
introduced at this point. All sing two verses of "Follow Me, Full of
Glee."_
CURTAIN.
REMARKS ON THE PRODUCTION.
The room was all in shimmering white with a background of small pine
trees in large wooden pots. The floor was covered with white muslin
and scattered with leaves, pine needles and cones.
In one corner was a giant snow pile, made of a frame covered with
cotton. This was presided over by the Snow Queen and her Maids and
white-wrapped bundles were on sale for five cents.
Jack Frost and his boys presided over a large tree in another corner.
Small toys wrapped in white tissue paper were attached to this tree
and sold for five cents. Or Santa Claus may preside at the sale.
Snowballs of white popcorn and snowballs filled with candy were on
sale at another booth, presided over by red and white Striped Candy
Girls. Candy canes were also sold here.
In the fourth corner a snow scene in the woods was depicted. A local
acrobat, dressed as a Snow-man, did stunts, assisted by several boys
dressed as clowns. They pelted the Snow-man with snowballs and then
sold bags of white confetti. The Snow-man also ran a game where
snowballs were thrown at a target. The target was a circle of black
cambric, the snowballs were rubber balls covered with raw cotton and
rolled in flour. Balls sold three for five cents.
A postoffice in charge of Mrs. Santa Claus is recommended, where each
pays five cents postage due for packages and postcards.
If snowballing the target is too "mussy," a large holly wreath with a
cluster of sleighbells in the center may be suspended from the ceiling
with red and green streamers. Three balls of soft rubber are provided
and the contestants try to throw the balls through the wreath and ring
the bells.
Stuffed stockings on a clothesline may be offered for sale. This
should be presided over by Moll Pitcher and her colonial wash-maids.
A rummage sale of toys added quite a large sum to the general fund.
There was a 5-cent table, a 10-cent table and a 25-cent table.
THE SCENERY FOR THE PLAY.
The rear of the stage should be hung with dark curtains. Arrange the
trumpet vine and the trees in place before the play begins. Then hide
them with screens, these screens serving as the "scenery" for Act I.
During the progress of Act II, in front of the front curtain, remove
the screens and furniture of Act I and arrange the stage for Act III
as described in the text.
For the thunder effect in Act I rattle a large sheet of sheet-iron and
explode several large fire-crackers.
The arrangement of the stage in Acts I and III is fully described in
the text.
PROPERTIES.
Table with long cover completely hiding the Wishing Man.
Lighted lamp on table. Chairs and sofa.
Window at rear. Two curtains can simulate a window.
Trumpet vine with tin and paper trumpets.
Drum tree with tissue paper buds and toy drums.
Candy tree.
Ball plants.
Frame to hide the French dolls.
Doll plants.
Pasteboard box with cover for Ka-zin-ski.
Three small pill boxes.
COSTUMES.
THE WISHING MAN--Dressed as a clown, white suit with red horseshoes on
it. Red ruffles around arms, ankles and neck. Long, pointed, white
clown cap. Face and neck should be covered with white grease paint and
when it is dry apply white powder. Then blacken the nose and lips with
hot black grease paint. Make tiny high eyebrows of this black paint
and paint round black circles on cheek bones.
GRANDPA, GRANDMA, FATHER and MOTHER should be dressed in modern
costume, but they must be made up and costumed to look the part.
NURSE MAID--Black dress, long. White apron, collar, cap and cuffs.
DUMPLING, TOOTSY and SNOOKUMS--Pretty dresses suitable for Christmas.
THE BIG DUMPLING, TOOTSY and SNOOKUMS--Dressed exactly like their
little counterparts. Wigs, etc.
KA-ZIN-SKI--Tall boy dressed as a clown. False face. Bushy whiskers
and wig. A regular jack-in-the-box make-up.
THE TIN SOLDIERS--Long trousers of shiny blue cambric with red stripes
at the sides. Shiny red jackets with yellow bands and buttons across
front and on sleeves. Toy guns. The cheeks and lips should be very red
to imitate toy soldiers.
THE FRENCH DOLLS--Fancy dresses and bonnets. Hair in curls. Faces
painted to represent wax dollies, red cheeks, eyebrows black,
eyelashes beaded with black hot grease paint.
JIM DANDY--Red and white striped stockings. From the knee to under the
arms the suit is a cylindrical roll of white pasteboard striped with
red. Sleeves and collar white striped with red. Pointed white cap
striped with red.
THE BEARS--Costumes of brown canton flannel, fuzzy side out. Get a
pattern for a child's nightdress with feet. Allow it rather loose in
front, so that a folded knit shawl can be securely fastened (with
safety pins) to the shoulders in front, beneath it, thus making the
round body of the bear. For the back of the suit do not cut the waist
part separate from the legs, as is usual in the pattern, but allow the
waist to be as wide as the seat of the drawers.
Then lay a pleat from A to B on either side, tapering to form a loose
fit below the waist. Sew thumbless mittens to the ends of the sleeves,
padding them a little on the back and sewing on palms of a light tan,
to represent paws.
[Illustration: Fig. 2]
Fit the seat of the drawers at the back loose enough to give freedom
of motion, but no more.
For the heads, cut hoods like Fig. 3, taking a straight piece of cloth
and fitting it with pleats around the face, etc. Make ears of two
thicknesses of the cloth, stitched and turned like Fig. 4. Lay a
box-pleat at A-B and sew them to the hood at C-D, so that they will
stand out and forward. See Fig. 5. Sew this hood to the neck of the
suit, so that all goes on together. Bear false faces.
[Illustration: Fig. 3]
[Illustration: Fig. 4]
[Illustration: Fig. 5]
BABY JUMBO--Two medium sized boys form the elephant. Two four-foot
sticks are fastened together with twenty-inch crosspieces, thus:
[Illustration] Forming a rack which two boys carry on their
shoulders. Cut two pieces from gray cambric like Fig. 6 to form the
head, having the trunk about a yard long; sew them together and stuff
with rags; sew on white pasteboard tusks, large buttons for eyes and
big ears cut out of cambric and lined with one thickness of paper.
Attach strings at A and tie to the first crosspiece of the rack. Pad
the rack with an old comfort sewed fast with cord to hold it in place.
[Illustration: Fig. 6]
Set the rack on the boy's shoulders, then standing with heads bent
forward, the foremost boy supporting the elephant's head with his head
and slipping his right hand into the upper part of the trunk so as to
swing it. Throw over them a large, dark-colored shawl, reaching to
their knees, fasten it together in the back and pin on a tail made of
cambric and stuffed. Legs covered with brown burlap.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL OR THE MISER'S YULETIDE DREAM
[Illustration:
SCROOGE BOB CRATCHIT MARLEY'S GHOST SECOND SPIRIT
THIRD SPIRIT WAIT MISSION LASS FRED FIRST SPIRIT
COSTUME OF
MRS. FEZZIWIG FEZZIWIG BELLA EBENEZER & DICK FIDDLER
PETER, BETTY,
BELINDA and MRS. CRATCHIT MARTHA BOB TINY TIM
THE CRATCHIT FAMILY]
A CHRISTMAS CAROL OR THE MISER'S YULETIDE DREAM
ADAPTED FROM CHARLES DICKENS' IMMORTAL STORY.
CHARACTERS.
EBENEZER SCROOGE _A Middle-aged Merchant_
"Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck
out generous fire."
BOB CRATCHIT _Scrooge's Clerk_
"With the Christmas spirit in his heart."
FRED _Scrooge's Nephew_
"A whole-souled, merry-hearted young married man."
TWO MISSION LASSIES
THE GHOST OF JACOB MARLEY _Scrooge's Partner_
"Dead these seven years."
FIRST SPIRIT (Little Girl) _The Ghost of Christmas Past_
SECOND SPIRIT _The Ghost of Christmas Present_
THIRD SPIRIT _The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be_
A CHORUS OF YOUNG BOYS _Carol Singers_
FIRST WAIT _The Leader of the Singers_
MR. FEZZIWIG _A Jolly Old Merchant_
MRS. FEZZIWIG _One Vast Substantial Smile_
EBENEZER _Scrooge as a Young Man_
DICK _His Fellow Clerk_
THE OLD FIDDLER
BELLA _Scrooge's First and Only Love_
MRS. CRATCHIT _Bob's Wife_
BELINDA, _Aged Eighteen_ }
MARTHA, _Aged Seventeen_ }
PETER, _Aged Fourteen_ }
BOB, _Aged Eleven_ } _Bob Cratchit's Family_
BETTY, _Aged Nine_ }
TINY TIM, _Aged Four_ }
_Five Ladies, Five Gentlemen and a Little Boy for the Fezziwig Tableau_
STAVE I.
SCENE: _The counting house of_ SCROOGE _and_ MARLEY. _A dark, dreary
office, indicated by brown curtains at sides, with entrances R. and L.
and brown curtains at rear. Note: These rear curtains must be arranged
to be parted, showing the tableau stage back of the real stage. The
tableau stage is elevated a few feet above the real stage (this makes
a better picture but is not absolutely necessary). High desk at R.
facing the R. wall. Tall stool at this desk; ledger, quill pen, ink,
candle on this desk. Small, old desk down L., facing audience. Desk
chair back of this desk. Two common wooden chairs at R.C. and L.C.
Ledger, quill pen, books, candle stuck in an old dark bottle, on desk
down L._
_Full description of costumes, a detailed illustration of the stage
setting, etc., will be found at the end of the play._
_Before the curtain rises_ WAITS _are heard singing off L. Curtain
rises disclosing_ BOB CRATCHIT _seated on stool, bent over ledger at
desk R., working by the light of the candle._
WAITS (_outside, sing "Christmas Carol"_).
(CRATCHIT _turns and listens._)
_Enter_ SCROOGE _from R. in a towering passion. Slams door R._
CRATCHIT _hurriedly returns to his work._ SCROOGE _crosses to door L.
and flings it open angrily._
CHRISTMAS CAROL.
J.M. NEALE.
THOMAS HELMORE.
[Music illustration:
1. Christ was born on Christ-mas day,
Wreathe the hol-ly, twine the bay,
Light and life and joy is He,
The Babe, the Son, the Ho-ly One of Ma-ry.
2. He is born to set us free;
He is born our Lord to be;
Car-ol, Chris-tians, joy-ful-ly;
The God, the Lord, by all a-dored for-ev-er.
3. Let the bright red ber-ries glow
Ev-'ry-where in good-ly show,
Light and life and joy is He,
The Babe, the Son, the Ho-ly One of Ma-ry.
Christian men, re-joice and sing;
'Tis the birth-day of our King.
Car-ol, Christians, joy-ful-ly;
The God, the Lord,
By all a-dored
For-ev-er.
Night of sadness,
Morn of glad-ness
Ev-er-more:
Ev-er, Ev-er,
Aft-er man-y troub-les sore,
Morn of glad-ness ev-er-more, and ev-er-more.
Mid-night scarce-ly passed and o-ver,
Draw-ing to the ho-ly morn;
Ver-y ear-ly, Ver-y ear-ly, Christ was born.
Sing out with bliss,
His name is this:
Em-man-u-el!
As 'twas fore-told,
In days of old,
By Ga-bri-el.]
SCROOGE (_flinging open door L. at this point_). Get away from my
door. Begone, ye beggars! I've nothing for you.
FIRST WAIT (_sticking his head in door at L._). Only a shillin', sir,
for a merry Christmas, yer honor.
SCROOGE. Get away from there or I'll call the police.
FIRST WAIT. Only a shillin', sir.
SCROOGE. Not a penny. I have other places to put my money. Go on, now.
You don't get a cent. Not a penny!
FIRST WAIT. All right, sir. Merry Christmas, just the same, sir.
(_Exits L._)
SCROOGE (_comes down to his desk at L., muttering_). Howling idiots!
Give 'em a shilling, hey? I'd like to give 'em six months in the
work'us, that I would. Paupers! I'd show 'em what a merry Christmas
is. (CRATCHIT _gets down from stool and starts to slink out L._) Hey!
CRATCHIT (_pauses, turns to_ SCROOGE). Yes, sir.
SCROOGE. Where you goin'?
CRATCHIT. I was just goin' to get a few coals, sir. Just to warm us up
a bit, sir.
SCROOGE. You let my coals alone. Get back to work. I'm not complaining
about the cold, am I? And I'm an older man than you are. Back to work!
CRATCHIT (_sighs, pauses, then says meekly_). Yes, sir. (_Resumes
work._)
SCROOGE. You want to let my coals alone if you expect to keep your
job. I'm not a millionaire. Understand? (_Loudly._) Understand?
CRATCHIT. Yes, sir, I understand. (_Shivers, wraps long white woolen
muffler closer about throat and warms hands at candle._)
SCROOGE. Here it is three o'clock, the middle of the afternoon, and
two candles burning. What more do you want? Want me to end up in the
poorhouse?
FRED (_heard outside at L._). Uncle! Uncle! Where are you? Merry
Christmas, uncle.
FRED _enters from L. He is happy and bright and has a cheerful, loud
laugh. He enters laughing and comes down C._
SCROOGE (_looking up from his work_). Oh, it's you, is it?
FRED. Of course it is, uncle. Merry Christmas! God save you!
SCROOGE (_with disgust_). Merry Christmas! Bah! Humbug!
FRED. Christmas a humbug, uncle? You don't mean that, I'm sure.
SCROOGE. I don't, hey? Merry Christmas! What cause have you got to be
merry? You're poor enough.
FRED (_laughing good-naturedly_). Come, then, what right have you got
to be dismal? You're rich enough. So, merry Christmas, uncle.
SCROOGE. Out upon your merry Christmas! What's Christmas time to you
but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself
a year older, but not an hour richer? You keep Christmas in your own
way and let me keep it in mine.
FRED. Keep it? But you don't keep it!
SCROOGE. Let me leave it alone, then. Much good may it do you! Much
good has it ever done you!
FRED. Christmas is a good time, uncle; a kind, forgiving, charitable,
pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the
year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up
hearts freely, and to think of people below them in the social scale.
And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or
silver in my pocket, I believe that it _has_ done me good, and _will_
do me good; and I say, God bless it, God bless Christmas!
CRATCHIT (_who had been listening eagerly, claps his hands_). Good!
SCROOGE. Let me hear another sound from _you_ and you'll keep your
Christmas by losing your job. Get to work!
CRATCHIT. Yes, sir. (_Resumes his work on the ledger._)
SCROOGE (_to_ FRED). You're quite a powerful speaker, sir. I wonder
you don't go into Parliament.
FRED. Don't be angry, uncle. Come, dine with us tomorrow.
SCROOGE. Dine with you? Me? I'll see you hanged first. Dine with you?
I'll see you in--
CRATCHIT (_sneezes violently_).
SCROOGE. What's the matter with _you_? (_Turns to_ FRED.) I'm a busy
man. Good afternoon.
FRED. Come, uncle; say "Yes."
SCROOGE. No.
FRED. But why? Why?
SCROOGE (_savagely_). Why did you get married?
FRED. Because I fell in love.
SCROOGE. Bah! (_Resumes his work._) Good afternoon.
FRED. I want nothing from you. I ask nothing from you. But why can't
we be friends?
SCROOGE. Good afternoon.
FRED. Uncle I won't part in anger. My dear mother was your only
sister--your only relation. For her sake let us be friends.
SCROOGE (_savagely_). Good afternoon.
FRED. I'll still keep the Christmas spirit, uncle. A merry Christmas
to you.
SCROOGE (_busy at ledger_). Bah!
FRED. And a happy New Year.
SCROOGE. Good afternoon!
FRED (_goes to_ CRATCHIT). And a merry Christmas to you, Bob Cratchit.
CRATCHIT (_getting down from stool, shaking hands with_ FRED
_warmly_). Merry Christmas, sir. God bless it!
FRED. Ay, God bless it! And a happy New Year.
CRATCHIT. And a happy New Year, too! God bless that, too!
FRED. Ay, Bob, God bless that, too. (_Exit L._)
SCROOGE. Cratchit, get to work!
CRATCHIT. Yes, sir. (_Resumes work._)
SCROOGE (_looks at him_). Humph! Fifteen shillings a week and a wife
and six children, and he talks about a merry Christmas. Humph! (_Works
on ledger._)
_Enter from L._ TWO MISSION LASSIES. _They come down C._
FIRST LASS. Scrooge and Marley's, I believe? Have I the pleasure of
addressing Mr. Scrooge or Mr. Marley?
SCROOGE. Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years. He died seven
years ago this very night.
FIRST LASS. We have no doubt his liberality is represented by his
surviving partner. (_Shows subscription paper._)
SCROOGE. Liberality? Humph! (_Returns paper to her._)
SECOND LASS. At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge, we are
trying to make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who
are suffering greatly. Hundreds of thousands are in want of common
comforts, sir.
SCROOGE. Are there no prisons?
SECOND LASS (_sighs_). Plenty of prisons, sir.
SCROOGE. And the workhouses--are they still in operation?
FIRST LASS. They are, sir; but they scarcely furnish Christmas cheer
for mind and body. We are trying to raise a fund to buy the poor some
meat and drink and means of warmth.
SECOND LASS. We chose this time because it is a time when want is
keenly felt and abundance rejoices. What shall we put you down for?
SCROOGE. Nothing.
FIRST LASS. You wish to be anonymous?
SCROOGE. I wish to be left alone. I don't make merry myself at
Christmas, I don't believe in it. And I can't afford to make idle
people merry. They should go to the poorhouse.
SECOND LASS. Many of them would rather die, sir, than do that.
SCROOGE (_savagely_). If they would rather die, they'd better do it
and decrease the population. And besides, I am a very busy man.
FIRST LASS. But, sir--
SCROOGE. Good afternoon.
FIRST LASS. I'm sorry, sir. Sorry--
SCROOGE. Sorry for them?
FIRST LASS. No, sir, I'm sorry for you, sir. Good afternoon. (_Exits
L. followed by_ SECOND LASS.)
SCROOGE. Sorry for me, hey? (_Pause. He works. The clock strikes
five._) Sorry for me!
CRATCHIT (_closes his book, blows out candle_). Is there anything
more, sir? (_Comes to C._)
SCROOGE. You'll want all day off tomorrow, I suppose?
CRATCHIT. If it's quite convenient, sir.
SCROOGE. Well, it isn't--and it's not fair. If I'd dock you a half a
crown for it you'd think I was ill using you, wouldn't you?
CRATCHIT (_nervously_). I don't know, sir.
SCROOGE. And yet you expect me to pay a full day's wages for no work.
CRATCHIT. It only comes once a year, sir. Only once a year.
SCROOGE. A poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth
of December! But I suppose you've got to have the whole day. But you
be here all the earlier next morning.
CRATCHIT. Oh, yes, indeed, sir. (_Goes out R._)
SCROOGE. I'll stay here a bit and finish up the work.
_Enter_ CRATCHIT _from R. with hat. He turns up his coat collar, wraps
the long white woolen muffler around chin and pulls hat down over his
face._
CRATCHIT (_crosses to door L._). I'm going, sir.
SCROOGE. All right.
CRATCHIT (_shields face with arm as though he were afraid Scrooge
might throw something at him_). Merry Christmas, sir! (_Runs out L._)
SCROOGE. Bah! Humbug! (_He works at ledger. Finally drops his head on
his arms and sleeps. The light of his candle goes out. Note: Scrooge
might blow it out unseen by audience._)
_The stage is now in darkness. A musical bell tolls off L. After a
pause another bell tolls off R. The clinking of chains is heard. When
the stage is completely darkened the_ GHOST OF MARLEY _slips in and
sits at R. He is entirely covered with black, face and all, as he
slips in, so as to be quite invisible._
_Mysterious music. Sudden clap of thunder heard. An auto light from
the wings at R. is thrown on the_ GHOST'S _face. This light should be
green. The thunder dies away. Clanking of chains heard._
GHOST (_groans_).
SCROOGE (_starts up, looks at Ghost, pauses_). How now! What do you
want with me?
GHOST. Much.
SCROOGE. Who are you?
GHOST. Ask me who I was.
SCROOGE. Well, who were you, then?
GHOST. In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley. It is required of
every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his
fellow-men, and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned
to do so after death.
SCROOGE. You are fettered. Tell me why.
GHOST. I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, yard
by yard, the heavy chain of avarice. Now I must make amends for the
opportunities I neglected in life.
SCROOGE. But you were always a good man of business, Jacob.
GHOST. Business? Mankind should have been my business. Kind actions,
charity, mercy, benevolence, love--all should have been my business. I
am here tonight to warn you, to warn you, Ebenezer Scrooge, that you
have yet a chance of escaping my fate.
SCROOGE. You were always a good friend to me.
GHOST. You will be haunted by Three Spirits.
SCROOGE. If it's all the same to you, I think I'd rather not.
GHOST. Without their visits, you cannot hope to escape my fate. Expect
the first when the bell tolls one.
SCROOGE. Couldn't I take it all at once and have it over, Jacob?
GHOST. Remember my warning, heed the message and you may yet be saved.
My time is over. (_Chains rattle._) Farewell, farewell, farewell!
(_Loud crash of thunder. Light is quenched and_ GHOST _exits unseen by
audience._)
_Pause. The bell tolls one. Enter_ SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PAST _from R.
She comes down R. Strong white light on her from R._
SCROOGE (_trembling_). Are you the Spirit whose coming was foretold to
me?
FIRST SPIRIT. I am.
SCROOGE. Who and what are you?
FIRST SPIRIT. I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.
SCROOGE. Long past?
FIRST SPIRIT. No, your past.
SCROOGE. Why have you come here to me?
FIRST SPIRIT. For your own welfare. I must teach you the first lesson
of consideration.
SCROOGE. But I _am_ considerate.
FIRST SPIRIT. Are you a kind master to your clerk?
SCROOGE. Well, I'm not unkind.
FIRST SPIRIT. Do you remember your own first master? One Fezziwig by
name?
SCROOGE. Indeed, I do. Bless his dear, old heart. He was the kindest
master that ever lived.
FIRST SPIRIT. Then why haven't you followed his good example? Would
any of your clerks say that you were the kindest master that ever
lived?
SCROOGE. Well, times have changed, that's it--it's all the fault of
the times.
FIRST SPIRIT. It's all the fault of a squeezing, wrenching, grasping,
scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint,
from which no steel has ever struck out a generous fire. No wind that
blows is more bitter than he, no falling snow is more intent upon its
purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. And his name is
Ebenezer Scrooge.
SCROOGE. All I ask is to edge my way along the crowded path of life. I
want to be left alone. That's all--left alone.
FIRST SPIRIT. I have come to save you, Ebenezer Scrooge. I have come
to kindle into life the stone that once was your heart. First I will
show you the kind heart and generosity of your old time master. Behold
the warehouse of Fezziwig and Company.
(_Rear curtains are drawn apart, revealing a workshop, with desk down
R. facing front. Barrel up L. Sign on rear wall reads, "Fezziwig and
Company." Two young men_, EBENEZER _and_ DICK, _discovered happily
working at desk. Fezziwig stands up L. looking off L._ WAITS _are
heard singing off L. at rear._)
WAITS (_sing, music page 169_).
Christ was born on Christmas Day,
Wreathe the holly, twine the bay,
Light and Life and Joy is He,
The Babe, the Son,
The Holy One
Of Mary.
FEZZIWIG (_flinging them a handful of coins_). That's right, my lads.
Sing away. Merry Christmas to you.
WAITS (_outside_). Thank ye, sir. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thank ye, sir. (_They sing and the song dies away in the distance._)
SCROOGE (_down R. with_ FIRST SPIRIT). Why, it's old Fezziwig. Bless
his dear, old heart. It's Fezziwig alive again.
FEZZIWIG (_comes merrily down C._). Yo ho, my boys! No more work for
tonight. Christmas Eve, Dick! (_Throws his arms over the shoulders of
the two boys._) Christmas Eve, Ebenezer! God bless Christmas.
DICK. Ay, ay, sir.
EBENEZER. Ay, ay; God bless Christmas.
FIRST SPIRIT. Did you hear that, Scrooge? That is yourself--and you
said God bless Christmas.
SCROOGE. That's true. That was thirty years ago.
FEZZIWIG (_bustling about_). The missis and the girls are down stairs,
so let's clear away before you can say Jack Robinson. (_They push desk
back, and decorate rear stage with strings of Christmas greens_,
FEZZIWIG _talking all the time._) Yo ho! That's right, Dick. String
the Christmas greens. Here you are, Ebenezer. We're going to have the
merriest time in all the kingdom. (_Dancing a step or two._) I'll
show ye how to enjoy life. That's it. Now we're all ready. (_Sings._)
"Wreathe the holly, twine the bay!" Let's have lots of room. Clear
away, Dick. Here comes the fiddler now.
_Enter_ OLD FIDDLER. _He sits on barrel at rear and starts to "tune
up."_
OLD FIDDLER. Merry Christmas, sir.
FEZZIWIG. The same to you, granfer, and many of 'em.
_Enter_ MRS. FEZZIWIG _from L._
MRS. FEZZIWIG. Lawsy, lawsy, I thought we'd be late. (_Goes to the two
boys and puts her arms over their shoulders._) And how's my merry boys
tonight?
DICK. Finer'n a fiddle.
EBENEZER. Merry Christmas, Mrs. Fezziwig.
MRS. FEZZIWIG. The same to you, dear lads.
FEZZIWIG. Where's the girls, mother?
MRS. FEZZIWIG. Here they come, Flora, Felicity and little Fanny May.
_Enter the_ THREE FEZZIWIG _girls with their escorts. Everybody
bustles around shaking hands, wishing each other "Merry Christmas."_
FEZZIWIG. And here's the housemaid and her cousin the baker. (_They
enter and are greeted by all._) The cook and the milkman, and the
lonesome little boy from over the way! And Ebenezer's young lady, Miss
Bella. (_They enter and are merrily greeted._) And now, mother, what
do you say to a rollicking game of Puss in the Corner.
(_They play Puss in the Corner with much loud laughter, clapping
hands, running about, etc. The_ FIDDLER _plays._)
MRS. FEZZIWIG. Oh, I never was so happy in all my life. This is the
real spirit of Christmas.
FEZZIWIG (_hangs up a bit of mistletoe_). And here's the mistletoe.