YOUR MARIONETTES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22467, 30 July 1938, Page 6 (Supplement)

YOUR MARIONETTES

And now we come to the end of our marionette making. Lady Gay will be pleased to hear just how you have protressed with your little figures, and Mother Bunch will be glad to give any hints necessary. A secret —there is to be a marionette theatre on board "The Press Ship ” and later Shipmates and Sunbeams will be tble to give their own marionette performances there.

7* Arranging a Programme

Keep your programme simple. You might give little plays like or “Punch and Judy” would be simple. - Here is an idea for a Christmas play. Several girls and boys might fpm in this, which would be very pretty, tuneful, and easily arranged:

Have an outdoor setting, using Black velvet draperies. There ahould be a door or an imaginary door at the right side. Characters; A group of minstrels or waifs (children), five or more, of different ages, and one very small boy. A rich old gentleman or a poor old man, just as - you like. They need not be the same people who operate the marionettes. One male voice will be needed for the old man. Let the children have an argument about whether or not to sing Christmas carols at the old man’s house. It is getting late and it is

very cold. The old gentleman has a reputation for being mean and crotchety. He particularly dislikes children. Finally the youngest child cries because his legs are tired. He finds a seat on a step or log and the children say they might as well sing one more song while the little one rests. So they decide to sing a well-known carol, such as, “Asleep in the Manger.” Nothing happens, just as they thought. The little child urges them to wait a little longer, so - 'the children sing once more, "Good King Wenceslas,”

The door opens and the old man enters from the right. The children go to him in surprise as he thanks them for the carols. He tells them that nothing as lovely has happened to him for 20 years. He invites them to eat Christmas cakes before his fire. Before they go in the old man asks if they know “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen.’’ He said he used to sing this when he was a boy. They know the song and sing together (the children’s voices being lighter than the old man’s). After the first verse they enter the old man’s house and the voices grow fainter but can still be heard. After the old man comes out, snow starts to fall, just a few scattered flakes (finely cut tissue paper) and when they have gone inside it falls thick and fast. Let the curtain descend or the lights of the stage go out before the singing ceases.

Have You These ? Black Penny urgently requires one or two of the following values in N.Z. stamps to send to overseas friends who are helping us with stamps: 2id and Bd. Please do your best. Thanking you all. —BLACK PENNY.