Children's Plays

Front matter

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Contents

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Nick Bluster's Trick. One Scene — ^Eight Characters (Two Boys and Six Girls) . . i

Cicely and the Bears. Three Scenes — Twelve Characters (Seven Boys and Five Girls and groups of Dames, Maidens, Pages, and Attendants) 17

Introduction

The growing use of dramatic material by thoughtful, progressive teachers, attests its value in the educative process. Exercises which call into play the dramatic instinct are being used in many phases of school work, especially in the elementary grades. In these lower classes reading and language lessons are richly vitalized by the kind of activities which appeal to the child's natural impulse ^o imitate, to act a part.

The little plays in this book, planned primarily for class room reading lessons, may be used ( i ) for practice in oral reading, ( 2 ) for original dramatizations in language work, (3) for school entertainments.

I. For Exercises in Reading a Story Told in Dramatic Form.

Several children, each having a part assigned, or each choosing a part, may come before the other members of the class and read a story told in dialogue. This exercise demands concentration, alert attention, and cooperation. The desire to entertain

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INTRODUCTION

the listeners furnishes an adequate motive for the readers and induces them to impersonate the characters in the story. Practice in this kind of oral reading develops power to grasp clearly the thought of the printed page, and skill to communicate the thought by means of careful phrasing, shades of emphasis, and natural expression.

II. For Exercises in Language Work.

A short story including only the main dramatic incidents precedes each little play. The thread of plot may be used as a basis for oral dramatization. The pupils must clearly understand each step in the development of the narrative, and must decide on the number of characters necessary to present the play. There should be free class discussion touching suggestions for interpretation and impersonation. When the story is clearly visualized a number of pupils may present the play. Any clas^ room affords enough stage equipment to serve the occasion. The dressing room is out-of-doors; the teacher's desk is an office; the back of the room, a barnyard; a ruler, the king's scepter; a band of white or gold paper cut with a high point serves for a jeweled crown, etc. Trust the pupil's imagination to transform the commonplace. The teacher may guide and suggest but she should give the players large measure of freedom. This delightful phase of oral language work stimulates initiative, resourcefulness, original-

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INTRODUCTION

ity, and gives excellent opportunity for practice in expressing ideas.

III. For School Entertainments.

The plays may be used for special occasions. "The New New Year/' "Nick Bluster's Trick," "Everyday Gold,", "A Royal Toy-Mender," are essentially festival plays and with the addition of simple costumes and scenery may be used for school entertainments. Exercises of this kind may contribute to the school's part in socializing the community.

"Plays in the barn were a favorite amusement," wrote Louisa M. Alcott in an account of her earlier life. "We dramatized the fairy tales in great style. Our giant came tumbling off a loft when Jack cut down the squash yine running up a ladder to represent the immortal bean. Cinderella rolled away in a vast pumpkin, and a long black pudding was lowered by invisible hands to fasten itself on the nose of the woman who wasted her three wishes.

"Pilgrims journeyed over the hill with scrip and staff and cockle-shells in their hats; fairies held their pretty revels among the whispering birches, and strawberry parties in the rustic arbor were honored by poets and philosophers who fed on their wit and wisdom while the little maids served more mortal food."

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Time: Early spring Pla c e : Sweet Briar Dell

Queen of Spring,

Nick Bluster Jack Frost

Queen of Spring's Handmaidens :

Merry Sunshine Morning Mist

Evening Dew South Breeze Silver Shower

The King of Winter sends word to the Queen of Spring that his reign is ended. The Queen and her handmaidens meet in Sweet Briar Dell to make spring blossoms for the children's May Day pageant. Nick Bluster and Jack Frost hide in the Dell, spring out, and tease the flower makers.

To punish these tricksters the Queen declares there shall be no spring. She orders her maidens to withdraw from the sunshine and stay with her in South Breeze's cave. Nick Bluster and Jack Frost play another trick in order to draw the Queen and her helpers out of the cave. Then the little clowns beg the Queen's pardon and ask her to forgive them for the sake of the little children who will grieve if they have no spring flowers. The Queen pardons Nick and Jack, who hasten away to the Northland to join King Winter.

Scene; Sweet Briar Dell. A cave is seen at one side on the bank of an imaginary brook. Jack Frost and Nick Bluster are rollicking about in the merriest kind of way.

Jack Frost. Tell me your secret, Nick Blaster.

Nick Bluster {looking round). Oh! Are you sure old King Winter's gone? He mustn't find us with our heads together.

Jack Frost (impatiently). He'll not see us in Sweet Briar Dell. Yes, his Majesty's gone.

Nick Bluster. 'Tis well! He would suspect mischief! Ha! ha! ha!

Jack Frost. Come, come, Nick. You aren't going to keep a good bit of fun from me, are you? You know I'm always ready to share with you.

Nick Bluster {somewhat secretly). Very well. Jack, I know how we can have some jolly good fun !

Jack Frost. Tell me how.

Nick Bluster. Old King Winter sent his annual message to the Queen of Spring. He told her that he needed a rest so he must go north a little earlier than usual, this year. Hal ha! ha I But I wasn't ready to go with him.

Jack Frost. I know all about that, Nick, and he is gone. I heard Bleak Blizzard and Snowdrift and Sleet and Hail say they were glad to leave. No dotibt they've done good service for three months. But, go on, Nick, tell me your secret.

Nick Bluster. The Queen of Spring was glad . to come. She and her handmaidens are planning a wonderful wild flower pageant for the first of May. They are to meet here in Sweet

Briar Dell, at noon to-day, and make millions of spring blossoms. What say you, Jack, to a a good jolly trick on my Lady Spring and her handmaidens?

Jack Frost. There's nothing Fd like better than a bit of real fun before I leave. Go on, Nick, tell me your plan.

Nick Bluster. You and I will hide in that thicket of saplings. When the Queen and her maidens are busily at work making the blossoms you and I will slip out and —

Jack Frost {nods knowingly). I see, I see — hal ha!

Nick Bluster. You will skip about with your icicle wand and touch each maiden's nose. {Imitating, ) Oh 1 Oh ! Auch ! Auch 1 Can't you hear them scream 1 Jackl

Jack Frost. And you'll rush about and blow your icy breath on them. Sol {Blows.)

Nick Bluster. I'll do more than that. Fll scatter their flowers, so — petals and blossoms, so — in all directions. Oh! what fun it will be. Come! Come! It's almost time now and I hear singing. To the thicket, Jack, quickly !

{Jack Frost and Nick Bluster run behind some bushes. Sinking is heard. Merry Sunshine enters leading the Queen of Spring and her handmaidens, except South Breeze, to Sweet Briar Dell. Each handmaiden carries a basket full of flower petals. They dance to Merry Sunshine's singing.)

Song

Come, dance with me to Wild Flower Dell,

Fair maidens blithe and gay, The graceful Queen of joyous spring

Begins her reign to-day.

To gladden little children dear

A wild flower pageant bright Shall deck the fields and banks and bowers

To give young hearts delight.

{The Queen takes a moss-covered seat and the maidens group themselves on the grass at her feet and place their baskets of petals near her.)

Queen. The message from Old King Winter came at last and he and all his attendants are already on their way to the Northland. This spring the children shall have more flowers than ever — enough, I assure you, to satisfy them.

Merry Sunshine {dancing in and out). How happy I am Old King Winter left early this year.

Queen. Yes, Merry Sunshine. Skip over to South Breeze's cave and tell her we are here a little earlier than usual. Tell her she need have no fear of blustering North Wind.

{Merry Sunshine skips over to the cave and knocks gently on the door.)

And you. Silver Shower, call the little brook. I long, to hear its gurgle once more.

{South Breeze comes out of the cave and with Merry Sunshine joins the others — while Silver Shower walks to the brook and waves her hands above it.)

South Breeze. Here I am! I feared that rude blusterer, North Wind, was still here. So long as he stays I dare not blow my warm breath.

{The Queen begins to arrange the baskets. A rustle is heard in the thicket. Queen and her maidens stop to listen. Then they go on with their nvork.)

Silver Shower {shivering). Do not speak of North Wind. The very .thought of his icy breath makes me shiver. Oh I

Evening Dew. He's not half so bad as that mischievous Jack Frost. I'm really afraid of him.

Morning Mist. And so am I. He's always up to some trick. I remember last year —

Queen. Come, come, my maidens. Here are

plenty of petals of all colors and plenty of

wort for your fingers to do. You may choose

to make the kind of flowers you love best.

{Maidens gather around the Queen, who

lets them choose.)

Merry Sunshine. Oh, daffodils for mc, dear Queen. Daffodils with trumpets of pure gold. I'll cover the banks of the brook with them* And I shall make dandelions and buttercups — the children's own flowers — for the meadows.

{Queen gives each maiden the petals as they are chosen.)

Morning Mist. My choice is crocus flowers — of many colors — white and gold, violet and rich purple.

{Takes handful of various colors.)

Silver Shower. I shall make pink and white May flowers to cover the hedgerows. {Chooses white and pink petals.)

Evening Dew. Violets for every nook in the ' .dell. What a delight they are to the children ! {Takes violet petals,)

South Breeze. Wild hyacinth bells for shady groves ; blue, white, pale pink, and violet. {Chooses petals of all colors.)

{The handmaidens sing and fashion their blossoms. Nick Bluster, with his cheeks puffed out, and Jack Frost, dancing and carrying an icicle wand, slip out unseen from the thicket. The Queen and her maidens shiver and look frightened. Jack Frost skips about and touches each in the group with his icy wand. Nick Bluster, with a hop, skip, and jump, blows boisterously and scatters the petals in all directions.)

Queen {seeing Jack Frost and Nick Bluster, rises). What does this mean?

Handmaidens. It's Jack Frost It's North Wind. OhlOhlOhl

{They run about shivering. Jack Frost and Nick Bluster run back into the thicket.)

Queen. So it is — Jack Frost and North Wind — rude fellows. Come, come, my maidens. Let's away. Old King Winter has not taken all his saucy attendants away with him. There shall be no spring this year! Away! Away!

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South Breeze. I beg your Majesty come to my cave. The rude fellows can do you no harm there.

Queen. Quite true, South Breeze. We shall go to South Breeze's cave. There shall be no spring this year.

(Queen and her attendants run into the cave of South Breeze. Jack Frost and Nick Bluster step quietly out of the thicket and look anxiously at the cave.)

Jack Frost. Nick Bluster, did you hear what the Queen said? There'll be no spring this year!

Nick Bluster. I don't think she meant it. Jack.

Jack Frost. Oh, yes, she did! No spring this year. And the brook is already beginning to gurgle over the pebbUs, and I hear that the birds are on their way. You know Old King Winter sent his message to the Queen of Spring.

Nick Bluster. What shall we do?