The same scene continues throughout the play, with slight changes in
the furnishings.
The fire-place must be an imitation one as the transformation in the
last scene requires this means of exit and entrance, from under the
table. A very effective fire for the first scene can be produced by
means of an electric fan pointed upward and strips of bright red and
yellow paper fastened to the back of a log set on the andirons: and it
can, of course, be made to die down at will. In the second scene an
electric light behind red paper will give the glow of a dying fire.
There should be two doors, one on each side of the stage.
The wood box and the clothes basket stand close against the wall, one
on each side of the stage near the front. The back of each is open,
and the sections of scenery back of them have corresponding holes, so
that the brownies and fairies freely make their entrance and exits
from behind. In the basket should be a stool to aid the fairies in
getting in and out.
For safety, the lamp should be lighted by electricity, and the candle
likewise would better be an electric one, run by a dry battery.
In the last scene the table should be set well back near the
fire-place, and when the people rise from the table one of them,
without attracting attention, should fasten a piece of dark cloth
(already fast at one end) between the table and the top of the
entrance to the fire-place. There will then be no danger that in
passing in and out by that route any of the actors will show their
heads above the table and betray the secret of the change. When the
old folks go under the table they turn and pass out through the
fire-place, their young substitutes entering there and appearing at
the other end of the table. With a little practice, it can be made to
seem as though the progress had been directly from one end of the
table to the other.
If gifts or candies are to be distributed Mother Goose may make a
final appearance immediately after the final Curtain, and speak
substantially as follows:
Well, children, did you like it? Do you know, I rather wished I could
try one of those magic nuts myself. I think I'd made a real cunning
little girl, don't you? But there is no use wishing for what you can't
have, and besides, there's something more important to be attended to.
I notice that Santa Claus is a great one to give everybody presents,
and sure enough he's done it again this time just as usual. He's
brought boxes of candy for all you boys and girls. He left them
outside on the door step, and I was almost afraid the snow might have
spoiled them. But it was such dry snow, it didn't do them any harm at
all, and in a minute, when the curtains open, they'll be brought
indoors and handed out to you. Well, I guess that's all for this year,
except for old Mother Goose to wish you (or, to hope that you've all
had) a very Merry Christmas, and (to wish you all) a Happy New Year.