Section 8 of 12 - Table of Contents
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.
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