The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-26

Mother Goose pantomimes are lot
- fun for childrei,'s parties and may
be arranged without much trouble
with the assistance of a. paste pot,
pair of shears and quantity OF crepe
paper and cardboard 1t is also neces-
sary to have on hand a Mother Goose
book which is Illustrated that one
may make up the costumes properly.
The only equipment for showing the
/ pantomines In "A screen over which
n sheet may be stretched The pie
lures must be shown In dark room.
A bright Hight lis placed on either side
of the screen--that IL. on the aide where
the actors are TO be. Anything that
comes between the light and the screen
viii cast a shadow which VIII be seen
by the group on the other aide of the
screen.
In order that the shadow may be
sharp one. which will give definite
idea o. the character represented, IL
Is necessary to exaggerate the char
actertistic features of the person or
group portrayed. and also to make the
poses exaggerated. A great deal or
FUN may be had by guessing the char
meters which are being represented and
also who the girls and BOYS are who
are portraying them. Prizes may be
given to the guest who makes The most
correct Euesses. 1t In often easy to
guess what characters are represented,
but not what persons are giving them.
Animals and objects Of all sorts
, may be cut from the cardboard or the
crepe paper, and hats and costumes
of any desired kind may be easily
made OF paper. The color, Of course.
does not matter, and as the objects
are only to be seen through screen
there is no need of careful workman
ship in putting the objects together.
1t In even more simple to fuse toys
and other similar objects which may
be found in almost any home to car
fy OUT yfrs pictures m most instances.
while the paper Is used only for the
costumes and for unusual articles
which are not be had otherwise.
The actors march across the scene
from one side TO- another and then
back again SO as to give everybody
a chance to guess what the character
is Sometimes they pause in the
middle OF the screen and go through
weired antics or poses Characteristic
Of their parts. 1t is more fun to
decide upon these things after the
actors are assent ied on the evening
OF the performance than to have a
cut and dried program with every
thing arranged beforehand.
Simple Simon may be represented
with his pie or his fishing pail. Mary
and her little lamb are. of course, easy
10 arrange as are Bopeep and her
sheep. The old woman who fell
asleep In the kings highway and had
her skirts ''cut all around about"
Ia another favorite who probably win
be recognized as she capers along.
Tom, Tom. the piper's son. making
all the people dance. would not be
hard 10 guess, and the "old woman
that lived in the shoe" ought GER
sainiy to be known to ali children.
Jack ard the heanstaik could easily
be represented with the aid OF a
paper heanstalk. Mary, Mavg. quite !
contrary. ought not be be forgotten. /
and there are a host of other char /
actors OF eusai renown which II Ii /
very interesting 10 meet at chill /
dren's party.
While 1t is not necessary to have |
q rehearsal of the play it's wise to
provide all the necessary extras be-
forehand.
Sometimes tie childrsa Of family |
with their cousins or particular /
friends do all the acting. while the /
other children form the audience, but /
X II more amusing to divide the /
number OF guests into groups and have /
each group In turn act the characters.
Thare should be one permanent stage !
manaErr. who may be grown person |
or IN older boy or girl Having differ /
ant groups represent the characters [
makes the guessing a lot more inter- /
esting. especially when the audience In /
trying to guess the names OF the In /
dividuals who arr. portrayine the char
acters.
when prizes are to b. given for the /
most correct Ruesses- there must be I
some way Of keeping the list of those
taking part. The best way is to dis
tribute cards to all the guests and have
a box of adhenstve stars OF different |
coiors, which are also distributed. There
should be tv o colors of these stars, red /
and silver or blue and gold one color
standing for a correct and another for
an incorrect guess Then the audience 1