Evening star., 1938-07-17
.Pantomimes
Are Popular
AS Stunts
Unlimited Number
Of Subjects for
Campers Seen.

| the campnre IN the evening ana
telling stories or staging various kinds
Of entertainment. These gatherings
are often the most enjoyable part of
an organized camp, but even when you
are just on an overnight hike you'll
find the campfire an excellent place to
stage informal stunts"
Just what is stunt? Every one who
has ever seen one knows! 1t is any
kind of informal Fanatics, usually
humorous. If you love fun, start in
right now to perfect stunt or two to
use on your next camping trip.
And remember that the best stunt Is
one which you work out yourself Use
the ideas we are giving you merely as
suggestions. And be sure to make the
point of your stunt clear. Avoid too
much exaggeration. and be careful not
to hurt some ones feelings.
The simplest and perhaps the most
popular kind of informal dramatics is
pantomime, in which all the meaning
is conveyed by gesture and expression
alone. They can be used for either
individual or group acting You can
announce the subjects beforehand If
you like, or pantomime competition
can suddenly be announced around the
fire and the acting can be purely spon-
taneouS.
Here are some suggestions for these
individual pantomimes. Remember to
make them true to life and not to have
100 many motions, or YOU will blur
the picture you are attempting to
create.
You first must announce a theme
for example, Little Red Riding Hood
meets the wolf" or a man who has
just learned to drive becomes stalled
In the midst of traffic. AS many people
as you like may try to convey the emo
tions involved in these themes Then
you can vote on the one who is the
best.
There Is an unlimited number of
subjects for you to choose from for
these pantomimes. You can take them
from Mother Goose rhymes, fairy tales,
incidents in the daily lives of your own
group at home or in camp. Here are
some suggestions: Robinson Crusoe
comes upon footprints in the sand: get
ting ready for her first party; Noah
watching the animals enter the Ark:
Tom, Tom the Piper's son; small
child at his first circus. ....
Maybe you'd like to try some take
of1s' which can be done individually
or by group. You'll find that camp
lie offers any number of ideas for
these. For example, you might have
some one portray a green camper; a
lazy or homesick camper; a group of
parents watching their sons or daugh-
tiers taking the life-saving test.
Or you might have your take-offs Of
persons locally well known, or perhaps
well-known type" outside the camp,
such as country visitor in a large
city. Possibly there is some column in
your home newspaper which presents
household hints. You might present a
humorous variation Of this column as
written by a. man. who reads aloud
many questions sent in by his readers
about caring for the baby. washing
the rayon dress, cleaning the carpet,
etc. Then you might have him pre-
pairing replies.
To give dash and contrast to your
evening program, you should vary your
stunts. For example, after presenting
something In which the performer
speaks lines, as in the scene just men,
toned, you might give a tableau called
"Lifelike Likeness" and announce
Satisfaction Guaranteed" as q sub
title. The scene can be q photogra-
piers studio and you can have the
photographer taking pictures" of va
rious customers: A bride and groom,
an actress, a family group, twins,
young lady who is going to give her
picture to her best boy friend, etc.
And you might have the Photographer
believe in elaborate poses!
After this you might select your
most clever actor and have him or her
present a dashing play all alone-as-
suming the roles by himself, taking
first one part and then another, shift.
ing merely by simple costume change
and different voice-tone. For example,
have the actor enter carrying a white
scarf, black scarf, a white felt hat
and tall silk hat. Then he will ex-
plain that he alone will enact drama
Of true love, bitter jealousy and
heroism.
When the white scarf Is about his
shoulders he is enacting the role of
the heroine; when the black scarf is
used he is the jealous sister. The
white felt hat makes him the hero,
and the tall silk hat, the villain. Then
You can use any simple and obvious
plot of elopement, revenge, or some
thing similar. The action, costume
changes" and dialogue in this stunt
must be carefully planned and re-
hearsed, for the more smooth and
rapid the various changes are, the
more amusing the number becomes.
You might have this as the climax
Of your entertainment. Remember
not to make your program too long.
One or two stunts may thoroughly de-
light your group. Also remember that
they are to be informal The success
of your evening will depend on your
group-their enthusiasm and original
ity. Here's wishing you good luck and
lots of fun.