The White Christmas and other Merry Christmas Plays

_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_

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TIME OF PLAYING--_About Forty-five Minutes._

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_For description of costumes, scenery, etc., see "Remarks on Production" at the end of the play._