Patriotic Plays and Pageants for Young PeopleMackay, Constance D'Arcy
History
Patriotic Plays and Pageants for Young People
Mackay, Constance D'Arcy
Pageants; Patriotic plays, American
SQUAWS. The squaws wear the same cotton khaki costumes as the Indian
maidens, save that their blanket are of more somber colors, and their
headgear is either omitted altogether, or consists of black, bronze, or
dull green.
THE LITTLE INDIAN BOYS. They should drew in exact imitation of the
older braves, save that they wear no war-paint.
PROPERTIES. For either an indoor or outdoor representation of this
scene where it is impossible to have a real fire, have a pile of fagots
and unionist them place large bunches of joss-sticks bound together
with thread. These will burn easily and safely, and the blue smoke from
them will simulate a waft from woodland embers.
The log can be made of two small vinegar barrels fastened together,
covered with brown burlap, and then flecked with green and brown paint.
The teepees should be of canvas, unbleached cotton, or burlap fastened
over three slender, strong poles, stuck into the ground. They should be
equal to bearing the weight of the canvas or burlap, and yet light
enough to be removed and carried off the scene by the young Indian
braves as they leave in the direction of the river when the scene ends.
DANCES. At the place indicated in the scene, the Indian maidens give
one or more characteristic Indian dances. "The Blanket Dance," one of
the most widely known and picturesque of the Indian dances, follows
somewhat the lines of a Virginia Reel. The Indian maidens stand in a
line facing each other, their blankets wrapped about them. The head
couple, facing each other, spread wide their blankets behind them like
great butterfly wings. Then they dance forward and back, forward and
back, beckoning, retreating, gesturing, and finally dance off, with one
blanket wrapped about two pairs of shoulders. Then the next couple, and
so on. All sorts of fantastic steps, gestures, bendings, and swayings
can be introduced. A wide space should be left between the dancers, so
that all they do can be clearly seen. Dancing in great circles, like a
mild war-dance, yet without the whoops and wild gestures of the latter,
is another form that lends itself to the out-of-doors. Another dance is
the Eagle Dance; with arms spread wide, holding their blankets at
wing-like angles, the dancers circle about each other, the dance
growing wilder and wilder. Still another dance is the symbolical one of
the Four Winds--North, South, East, West--done by four Indian maidens.
The South Wind gentle and swaying; the West Wind fantastic, with arms
upraised; the East Wind with streaming hair and rain-drops shining on
finger tips; the North Wind wilder than them all, and finally driving
them all before her.
MUSIC. Piano: MacDowell's "An Indian Idyl," "From an Indian Lodge."
These can be had orchestrated. For a band: "Tomahawk Dance," by Andrew
Herman. "Indian War Dance," by Bellstedt. "The Sun Dance," by Leo
Friedman.
PILGRIM INTERLUDE
PILGRIM CHANT
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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