Patriotic Plays and Pageants for Young People Part 27

A physic?

BRADFORD (almost roaring).

No! A _slipper!_ See that it is administered. And light songs, such as we heard but now, are scarcely seemly on a young one's lips. She should learn graver measures.

[In groups of twos and threes the Puritans solemnly exeunt, left, Bradford marching ahead. Fawnfoot, with agile grace, disappears into background, dancing with her own shadow as she goes. Philippe and Goody Gurton are left alone. Philippe bends over the ducking-chair, and with his knife cuts the thongs which bind Goody Gurton, the while he talks, half-tenderly, half-gaily, for the first time allowing a hint of accent to creep into his speech.

PHILIPPE.

They do not even stop to unbind thee! It is a strange thing, this witchcraft, that so turns the head!

GOODY GURTON.

You do for me what others do not do--you whom I have scarcely seen before!

PHILIPPE.

A good deed sown is ofttimes a good deed reaped. So say they in la belle France, and my tongue loves the words. 'Twas long ago that you did a kindness for me when my father lay ill of a fever; but--I--I have not forgotten. (He cuts the final thong that binds her.) Whither now, Goody Gurton? Nay, it would seem that we have need of each other. For you--a shoulder to lean on: for me--often I am lonely. I think what it would mean in my hut in the forest to look up and see a grand'mere sitting there! We be two outcasts; but the woods are kind. There is a song about that oversea: it says--

(Sings)

Blue the sky above you, Dans la foret; True the hearts that love you, Courageux et gai!

Come, Grand'mere, home!

[They exeunt right, he bearing himself with a proud erectness, she leaning upon his shoulder with the peaceful dependence of a soul whose problem is solved. The scene ends.

COSTUMES

The Puritan women and girls wear black dresses with white lawn kerchiefs and cuffs, and Puritan caps. One or two of the women wear black cloaks, falling to the edge of their gowns. The material of which these dresses and cloaks may be made is black cambric with the glazed side turned in. The kerchiefs and cuff of lawn or white cheesecloth.

For the men and lads full black knee-breeches, black doublets with the sleeves a little fulled; white cuffs and Puritan collars. Long black cloaks ankle-length. Beaver hats. Any well-ill.u.s.trated edition of "Pilgrim's Progress" will give an excellent idea of these costumes.

(See notes on Hawthorne Pageant, page 220.)

PHILIPPE BEAUCOEUR. Philippe Beaucoeur wears a tan-Colored costume cut on Indian lines (supposedly dressed deerskin) with a sash of scarlet, such as the French voyageurs were in the habit of wearing. A fur slung across his shoulders and caught at his girdle. The costume is fringed, Indian-like, but is not painted Of beaded. The breeches come to the knee. Tan stockings and moccasins. The costume made of cotton khaki.

FAWNFOOT. The typical Indian maiden costume. Cotton khaki, gorgeously painted at the neck. Bead chains and bracelets. Tan stockings.

Moccasins. Hair worn in braids. Scarlet head-band across forehead.

Black quill.

This play may be given by a cast of girls. (See notes on Hawthorne Pageant.)

Music. The song which Barbara Williams sings can be found in "Songs of the West," by S. Baring Gould. ("Folk Songs of Cornwall and Devon, collected from the Mouths of the People.")

DANCE INTERLUDE

The dance interlude should be symbolic of the spirit of youth as exemplified in the Indian and the Puritan. The music is MacDowell's "From an Indian Lodge." The two players taking part in the dance are Fawn-foot and Barbara Williams. The little Indian, dancing in the woods with her own shadow, tries to entice the little Puritan into following her steps. Barbara hangs back. But the dance proves too alluring. She finally tries to imitate what the little Indian does; but at first the quick motions of the other are quite beyond her. One is of the forest, the other of the town! Yet, in the end, the little Puritan should show that she has caught a little of the grace and freedom of her wild playmate. Good pantomimic dancing, with grace and humor, should be worked into this.

MERRYMOUNT

CHARACTERS

SIMON SCARLETT SARAH SCARLETT, his sister WILL LACKLEATHER MOLL NAN JOCK TIB JOAN ROBIN WAKELESS FAUNCH CHRISTOPHER CARMEL (KIT) GOODY GLEASON BESS RESOLUTE ENDICOTT GILLIAN PRITCHARD FIGHT-FOR-RIGHT NORCROSS AMOS WARREN EBENEZER MATTHEWS FAUNCH FRUGAL HILTON

SCENE: An open glade at Merrymount on a Summer's day in 1626. Trees right, left, and background. In the center of the stage a maypole decked with streaming ribbons that are somewhat faded.

Towards the left background, at some distance from the maypole, a forest bed of pine boughs, sweet fern, and moss. Not far from this bed, towards foreground, a tiny glimmer of fire, over whose graying ashes is hung a small iron kettle. Scattered on the ground by the fire a goodly number of iron and pewter drinking-cups, and an iron skillet for brewing. The play begins by the entrance of Simon Scarlett from the left, with a troop of Merrymounters at his heels, Faunch, Nan, Moll, Tib, Joan, and Will Lackleather. All wear tattered finery. That of Simon matches his name.

SCARLETT.

Hither! Hither! Come, Faunch the fiddler, give us another tune--one that will set the echoes of Merry-mount a-ringing, and make the lean Puritans in the valley to hold their ears.

ALL.

A tune! A tune!

FAUNCH.

What tune will ye have, Simon Scarlett?

SCARLETT.

Let it be a maypole dance, Faunch the fiddler! And a merry one! (Faunch begins to play.) Let's see you foot it! (The folk of Merrymount begin to dance.) Oh, bravely, bravely! If the Puritans could see you you'd be led to the stocks and the whipping-post!

LACKLEATHER (darkly).

'Twill take less than a dance to lead us there! You know right well that the Puritans have sworn that if they catch us straying beyond the bounds of Merrymount 'twill be the stocks and the whipping-post, and that without mercy!

SCARLETT (with a laugh and a shrug).

The stocks and the whipping-post! Come, drive such thoughts from your head! Look! Yonder comes Jock with a tankard of apple juice! Cups for us all! Quick, Lackleather! (Carved wooden cups are taken from the trunk of a hollow tree.) Come, where are we all?

TIB.

All here, save Sarah Scarlett, who bides with Goody Gleason, and Bess, who hath been away since dawn. Robin and Kit have gone to search for her.

SCARLETT.

Well, Bess or no Bess, the maypole is waiting! Play us another catch, goodfellow Faunch! My heels grow rusty!

[All start to dance.

ROBIN (bursting in from right, followed by Kit Carmel). Simon! Simon! You'll not dance so gaily when you've heard the news! Put up your music, Faunch! Give over your capers, Lackleather! Bess hath been taken by the Puritans!

[General consternation.

SCARLETT (as all stop dancing).

You're jesting, lad!

ROBIN (as he catches breath).

'Tis no jest, Simon! 'Tis bitter truth. 'Tis towards the stocks they are leading her!

SCARLETT (outraged).

You let them capture her?

KIT.

What were we two against so many!