Poems (Grossman)/The Little Pumpkin
THE LITTLE PUMPKIN
A Play
in
Three Acts
| Cast of Characters | ||
The Little Pumpkin (Boy) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Wm. H. B. Grossman | |
Ghost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Anita Rice | |
Witch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Ethel B. Grossman | |
Scenes | ||
Scene 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
In the Witch's House | |
Scene 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
In a Pumpkin Field | |
| Time:—12 P. M. Hallowe'en Eve | ||
Scene 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
All's Well That Ends Well | |
| Time:—Hallowe'en Morn | ||
Produced at
- "Stratford-Avon" Theatre",
- October 31st, 1914.
- "Stratford-Avon" Theatre",
PROLOGUE
'Twas on the eve of Hallowe'en,When this quaint little play was seen.'Tis not as big as plays should be,The actors being only three.The actors are the authors, too;Don't criticise aught that they do,But please sit quiet and you shall seeHow brief a Hallowe'en play can be.
Scene I.
In the Witch's House
Witch:Hokus pokus pro melokus!Hokus pokus dro kilokus!
(To Pumpkin)Thou wert once a little boy,—Had a book, a game, a toy.Had a mother, sweet and kind,Whom you sometimes didn't mind.But your greatest fear of allWas of something white and tall,Such as ghosts, so gaunt and thin,—So you're changed to a pumpkin.
Pumpkin:Something big and white and tallMade me lose my parents and all.
Ghost:Aye, that person was myself,With the help of little elf.
(Pointing to Pumpkin)You were taken from your toysFrom your parents and your joys,And you shall remain as now,—This I solemnly avow.
Witch: (To Pumpkin)As I said to you before,You are changed to a pumpkin.If now you will learn witch-lore,You'll get back to all your kin.This is what you'll have to learn,Or your freedom you'll not earn:You must never get a frightFrom a big, long thing in white.
(To Herself)For I know that mean old ghostWould, of all things, like the most
(Pointing to Pumpkin)To keep him captive all his daysAnd miss the joy of parents' praise.
GhostMy thoughts she knows; my plans are new,And this is what I mean to do:In nature's fields, at dead of night,When pumpkins are all sleeping tight,
(Pointing to Pumpkin)I'll come and give him a big fright,For he does not know me by sight.I'll come and tap him on the head;I'll weave a spell; and from his bed,He'll wake up with a stare and start,—Then woe to the old witch's art!
Scene II.
In a Pumpkin Field
Pumpkin:See, now I've grown so big and tall,I'm not a bit afraid at all.
GhostIs that true? Ho! Wait and see,You're not a bit too smart for me.Maybe you think that you'll not scream;That might be true, but this I deemStill truer: The witch's spell I'll break,E'en if it one whole year should take!
PumpkinO, I'm so scared; 'tis the form in white.It's awful; 'specially at night!
Ghost approaches and weaves charm over Pumpkin's head.
Ghost:Grilly, pilly, milly, lab!Dilly, filly, silly, sab!You shall always, ever, beA pumpkin and belong to me!
(Witch coming into field, looking at Pumpkin.)
Witch:Poor little thing, forgot my warning,But look, the day is not yet dawning.The clock has not yet struck the fatal hour;To change the ghost's charm still is in my power.
(Chanting in low tone over Pumpkin.)Ish, kish, mish, sish!Tish, rish, mish, grish!You shall again be a little boy,You shall be honest, bright and true,You shall stand by the red, white and blue,What your parents say you shall always do.
Scene III.
(All join in ring and sing.)
Ghost:We hope you liked our little play,'Twas written in a half-a-day.
Pumpkin:We've tried our best to give you fun,Especially your little son.
Witch:So now to all of you good-night,We'll all sit down and have a bite.
Finis