Marionettes, masks and shadows

John Stuart Mill · en
right—of behaving properly when it has its part to do, and may add the
last note of craftsmanship and perfection to your scenery.

[Illustration: [Stage]]

[Illustration: [Marionette]]




                              CHAPTER VII
                         Making Your Properties


Puppets usually require a few well-chosen properties. These should be in
scale with the puppets, and serve some practical need. Properties should
be similar to the things used in the time of your play, in the country
of your play, and by the class or classes of people represented in your
play.

It is well to be familiar with the life, customs, and manners of the
people who lived at the time of your play. The library, historical
museum, and art museum are sources of information. First, there is the
library in which there are always books and pictures and a wealth of
information for your use. Take several pieces of tracing paper with you
when you go there, also several well-sharpened pencils, and your colored
crayons. When you find a suitable illustration, make a sketch or a
tracing of it and careful color notes.

Let us suppose that you are about to make the properties for _Men of
Iron._ Take the story and from it make a list of the properties that you
will need. You will probably make a list somewhat like this:

Act I—Courtyard. Properties required:

         1. Bench for the squires to sit upon and later for Myles to
              stand upon.

         2. An upright post, or pell, to be used by Myles when he
              practises with his sword.

         3. An anvil to be placed in the armorer’s shop.

         4. A ball for Myles.

Act II—Garden. Properties required:

         1. Garden seat for Lady Anne to sit upon when she plays her
              lute.

         2. A lute for Lady Anne.

         3. A ball for Myles.

Act III—Great Hall. Properties required:

         1. Throne for the king to sit upon.

         2. A dais for the throne to rest upon.

         3. A seat for the minstrel.

         4. A carved oak chest, such as was usually seen in the great
              halls.

         5. Royal carpet.

         6. Hangings for the ladies’ gallery.

         7. A lute for the minstrel.

Act IV—The tournament. Properties required:

         1. A royal box.

         2. A fence.

The bench in Scene I was made of wood and was a copy of a picture of an
English XVth Century bench.