The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-02-01
Impromptu Charades.

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An amusing home entertainment isi
the acting Of impromptu charades.
These will interest the most quiet, and
arouse the dormant either to suggest a
word to be acted or to guess the word
being acted.
To be helpful and really amusing the
charades should be impromptu; hours
of time and an immense amount of
strength and nerve force are wasted in
preparation for and acting of amateur
theatricals. Hours that are needed in
the home and school are spent in learn
ing the parts; costumes take time and
money that are needed in other direct
ions, and the excitement and exhaust
ion which precede and follow the pro-
duction are harmful. and subtract much
force that should be used in the legiti-
mate business of life. The plays writ
ten for amateurs are rarely possessed Of
any merit; they usually compel those
who take part to assume positions and
relationships and allow liberties that
are repugnapt to refined people. I'M
promptu charades develop inventive
ness. spontaneity and powers of observ-
alton. In presenting charades it is nee
essary to have two rooms, one for the
audience and one for the stage, or else
to divide one room by a curtain. The
doors or curtain should be opened by the
signal-bell, as in tableaux. Take the
word 'Mending' as word for an inn
promptu charade. When the doors open
have..two or three men standing in sight
to illustrate the first syllable. They can
assume any position that occurs to them,
or that is suggested by the leader. For
the second syllable ring the bell to pro-
duce the sound ding; for the whole
word have the men who appeared in the
first syllable meBdtEg shoes or chairs,
etc.
For the word Carpet arrange
chairs in two rows facing each other;
dress one of the young men like a car
driver, and then let the passengers get
in, each one endeavoring to act out
some trait characteristic of the patrons
of their conveyance. This, in the hands
of the right person, can be made to
teach some lessons of politeness and
good breeding as well as to present
some humorous situations. For the
second syllable. a little girl with doll
in tableau. or some great big papa with
his slight young lady daughter-the
papa taking the part of whining
schoolboy, the daughter the part OF
mother-can be made very amusing; for
the whole word, let two who act the
part of husband and wife comment on
the purchase of a new carpet. To IL
lustrate .'Wind-lass," let boy strug-
gle across the stage with an umbrella,
for the first syllable; for the. second, 8
young girl with school books-a sug-
gestion of Scotch plaid will improve
the tableau; for the whole word,
two boys going through the mo-
tons of turning cranks. "Met-a-phy-
stefan" can be acted as one word. For
Caravan if a young lady is present
whose name is Carrie, arranged tableau
in which she is the only figure; for
"van," pile furniture on the table as is
would be on van; for the whole word.
a tableau of a caravan in a desert-a
number of people dressed as Arabs lying
about the stage in various picturesque
positions, with number of toy camels
arranged in the foreground.
Good proverbs for acting are "a stitch
in time saves nine," "How happy
could 1 be with either were t'other deaI
charmer away" 1.-Two is a company
three makes a crowd" alt never rains
but it pours," and many others that will
be suggested during the evening by the
company. Music is invaluable in keep
ing the audience entertained and inter-
ested while the scenes are being pre-
pared. If possible, have the person
who suggests the word or proverb act il
out or arrange how it shall be acted on
illustrated Union.