THE MERRY CHRISTMAS OF THE OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

BOSTON

THE

EXHIBITION DRAMA

COMPRISING

DRAMA, COMEDY AND FARCE

TOGETHER WITH

Dramatic and Musical Entertainments

FOR

PRIVATE THEATRICALS, HOME REPRESENTATIONS, HOLIDAY AND SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS

BY

GEORGE M. BAKER

CONTAINING

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by GEORGE M. BAKER in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts

Copyright, 1902, by Emily F. Baker (in renewal).

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THE MERRY CHRISTMAS OF THE OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE.

CHARACTERS.

Scene.—The exterior of "Copper Toe Shoe House," which is set at back of platform.

Chorus (invisible); air, "Revolutionary Tea" (p. 194, "Golden Wreath").

(Head of Child appears at 1.)

(Head appears at 2.)

(Child's head appears at 3.)

(Three heads appear at 4.)

Enter Old Woman, R. Her costume, bodice, quilted petticoat, sugar-loaf hat, high-heeled shoes, and cane.

O. W. Aha! (Heads disappear quick.)

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FRONT VIEW OF COPPER TOE SHOE HOUSE.

1. Split in the Heel.

2. Patch on the best Corn.

3. Copper Toe.

4. Lookout, or Observatory at top of House.

[160]

(Heads appear, one after the other, as before.)

Child at 1. Mother, I want a drum. Child at 2. I want a doll! Child at 3. Gimme a sword! Three Children at 4. Got presents for us all?

O. W. Aha! (Heads disappear quick.)

Song: Old Woman; air, "Comin' through the Rye."

(Heads appear as before.)

Aha! (Heads disappear quick.)

[161]

(Heads appear as before.)

Aha! (Heads disappear.)

(Disappears behind shoe.)

Enter cautiously, R., Santa Claus; his fabled dress is hidden by a long domino, or "waterproof;" he has, swung about his neck, a tin kitchen, on which he grinds an imaginary accompaniment to his song.

Song: Santa Claus; air, "Them blessed Roomatics."

(Heads appear as before.)

[163]

(Heads disappear.)

Song: Children, outside; air, "Oh, dear, what can the matter be?"

Enter Old Woman, with Children, L., from behind shoe. The largest hangs on to her skirts, the next in size to the largest, until they dwindle to the smallest; repeat song as they enter slowly, turn to R., march across stage; turn to L., march across again; turn to R., and form across stage.

(Children scamper behind shoe.)

Song; air, "Balm of Gilead," by the Children, who march in as before, carrying sticks, on which are stuck apples, potatoes, crusts of bread, turnip, carrot, "beat," &c. They move around the stage, singing as they pass Santa; the last time, pitch their potatoes, &c., into his tin kitchen. He stands L. of stage; Old Woman, R.

[165]

(No interlude.)

(Shoe divides, and disappears R. and L. Curtains at back open, disclosing tree.)

Song: "We'll gather round the Christmas Tree." Santa Claus and Old Woman distribute presents to the company. Curtain falls.

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[169]

Note.

Note.—This entertainment was prepared for a Sunday school's Christmas Eve, and was arranged as follows: A stage, fourteen feet square, was fitted with a "roll-up" curtain in front. Drapery was hung at the sides and back; a Christmas tree, filled with presents, was placed well back on the stage, and hidden by curtains arranged to separate in the middle. In front of these was placed "Copper Toe Shoe House." The rear view represents the frame made of wood, in two pieces, to separate in the middle, of the following dimensions: ten feet from toe to heel, five feet and one half from heel to top, four feet and one half across top, heel about twenty inches long, eight inches high. Cover front, in two separate sections, with black cambric; for toe, copper tinsel paper; for sole and patch, brown cambric; for buckle, silver tinsel paper; the patch fastened only at bottom. A curtain, of same material or color as back stage, should be hung in rear of shank, that children standing behind may not be seen. A settee is placed behind it, on which the children in

the dwelling stand. 1, 2, and 3 lie upon the stage, and stick their heads out when required. The characters can pass between the curtains at back, to their places. When the tree is disclosed, all the characters are in front, the settee is removed, the braces unfastened, and, at a signal, two boys run off the shoe, and others draw the curtains.

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