EDUCATIONAL PLAYS AND DRAMAS AN "AT HOME" ON MOUNT PARNASSUS PRICE, 25 CENTS EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING CO. Boston New York Chicago San Francisco AN "AT HOME" ON MOUNT PARNASSUS A PAGEANT PLAY BY FRANCES E. CLARKE Teacher of English in the Brooklyn Training School for Teachers EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY BOSTON New York Chicago San Francisco Copyright, 191 2 BY EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY &CU326190 TMP92-008845 PREFACE The characters in this little play are taken from the literature assigned for study and reading in the Course of Study for the Elementary Schools of Greater New York. The lines spoken are intended to be indicative of the characters, and are in several instances free paraphrases of passages in the works in which the characters are found. Representation may be further secured by correct costum- ing and by music which is suggestive of the character or characters it preludes. No attempt has been made to develop a theme or to construct a plot. The aim is to represent correctly and to bring together in happy concourse characters well known and well beloved by the child. SUGGESTIONS FOR COSTUMING The Prologue White tunic reaching to knees; white toga draped from left shoulder across back, under right arm and across chest, one end extending to hem of tunic in front, the other to hem of tunic in back; buckle clasps toga where ends cross on left shoulder; white stockings and sandals with white lacings cross- gartered halfway to knee; scroll. Athene Long, flowing tunic bordered with gilt; over tunic extend- ing from shoulders to a little below the Empire waist-line; white toga draped over left shoulder and under right arm; white staff with gilt head; gilt helmet or hair dressed high and bound with gilt bands. Muses One costume may consist of tunic with Empire waist; an- other of tunic with over-tunic extending to knees; another of tunic bound about shoulders and waist with heavy cord. Pretty designs and patterns for Greek costumes may be found at all dress pattern counters. Clio wears a laurel wreath and carries a book and stylus; Euterpe carries a flute and is draped with garlands of flowers; Thalia wears a crown of wild flowers and carries a shepherd's crook and a mask; Melpomene wears a crown of gold and carries a dagger and scepter; Erato carries a lyre; Polyhymnia carries a scepter; Calliope wears a laurel wreath; Urania car- ries mathematical instruments; Terpsichore appears dancing. Hermes Same costume as that for Prologue. On his ankles and on his low crowned broad-brimmed gilt hat are small wings made of pasteboard and gilded. He carries a caduceus, or wand, twined with two snakes and surmounted by two wings (this may be made of wood, pasteboard and white crepe paper; wings and heads of snakes should be gilded). Suggestions for Costuming 5 Miles Standish Dark blue or dark gray coat, similar in length and sha^e to a frock-coat; short, full trousers gathered into a band at the knee; long black stockings; low shoes with broad buckle; black moustache and short beard; armor and helmet of the Puritan period (this may be made of pasteboard and silver paper; or it may be hired from a costumer; or it may be omitted, a sword and large felt hat being substituted). Prisctlla Gray dress with plain waist and full skirt; kerchief and deep cuffs and cap of sheer lawn. John Alden Costume similar to that of Miles Standish; no armor; broad square-cut collar extending almost to shoulder, and deep cuffs of lawn; high-crowned, broad-trimmed, dark felt hat. Alice in Wonderland White dress; plain waist, full skirt and very short puffed sleeves; short white ruffled apron with bib and with tiny pocket on right just below waist-line; white stockings; black slippers. Straight hair combed back plain from forehead falls below shoulders and is bound with black velvet snood. Queen of Hearts Long, stiff white dress of paper muslin, decorated with red paper hearts of various sizes; demi-train; crown of red card- board cut heart shape; large red heart-shaped fan. Someone short and fat should impersonate this character. Ivanhoe, Rowena, Wamba (See description in Scott's "Ivanhoe") Brer Rabbit One piece suit made of Daisy flannel similar to rompers, but with long sleeves and long drawers, ending in paw-shaped mittens and feet; cap with long rabbit ears to be attached to neck of suit (only the face is seen); crimson cambric coat, vest and trousers. 6 Suggestions for Costuming Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm Glossy buff calico dress buttoned up front; light brown straw hat with brown quills; tan stockings and slippers; small pink parasol; buff cotton gloves; bunch of lilacs. A slender, ani- mated dark-haired, dark-eyed, child of ten should impersonate this character. Ichabod Crane Short-sleeved, long-skirted, black coat; black vest; white shirt with turnover collar; no cuffs; shabby black tie; baggy, short-legged, black trousers; small, black wool hat; black stockings; long-toed black slippers. Katrina Van Tassel Full crimson skirt, ankle length; black bodice or stomacher; full white lawn waist with round neck and with full elbow sleeves; white stockings; black slippers. Hair parted in middle and braided in two braids. Paul Revere White negligee shirt thrown open at neck and sleeves rolled above elbows; short, tight-fitting black trousers; high-topped 1 lack boots with spurs; three-cornered black felt hat; rifle hanging at right side from a strap extending across the chest and over the left shoulder. Bo-Peep Light blue cotton waist with low neck and short sleeves; dark blue velvet bodice; short, light blue cotton skirt with darker blue overskirt; light blue hat, flower-trimmed and tied under chin with light blue ribbons; light blue stockings and slippers; a crook tied with light blue ribbons. Boy Blue Light blue coat, shirt, trousers, stockings, slippers and cap. HUMPTY DUMPTY Wire frame shaped like an egg and covered with white Daisy flannel or cotton, with face painted on it (extending from above the head to the hips); short trousers of material Suggestions for Costuming 7 used for covering frame; white stockings and slippers. Arms may be encased within frame, or if they protrude, should be covered with material used on frame. Robinson Crusoe Goat-skin trousers, goat-skin coat and goat-skin peaked hat; sandals with thongs crossed above ankles; legs bare or covered with coarse stockings; basket strapped to back; gun. Friday Black fleshings; tobacco-leaf belt; black wig; black grease paint for face, neck and hands. Or, black ragged coat and short trousers and shoes; black wig. King Arthur Costume consists of complete armor; a casque, gorget, cuirass, gauntlets, tasses, covering for lower legs and feet, and sword. (If there is difficulty in costuming this character, it may be easily omitted.) Grave Alice, Laughing Allegra, Edith Simple white dresses; Empire waist-line; broad sashes. Hair falls loosely about shoulders. Aladdin Costume is similar to that of the Chinese. Long-sleeved tunic or shirt extending to knees; long-legged trousers; Chinese slippers; wig with queue; a brass lamp of antique shape. Mrs. Ruggles Neat calico dress and apron. Hair drawn back tightly from forehead, and twisted into knob on the crown of her head. Sarah Maud Faded dark blue cloth dress with a row of large brass buttons sewed up the front. Larry A dress made out of an old plaid shawl. Rip Van Winkle Soiled, ragged coat, vest, trousers and shoes; a wig and beard of long white hair; an old gun. 8 Suggestions for Costuming Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum Bright green shirts and long white duck trousers; grec