My Book of Indoor Games | Page 8

and be sure that the word is mentioned, though you must be careful to bring it in in such a way that the audience shall not guess it is the word you are acting.
Next comes the word "Pipe," and this must be brought in in the same manner. When you have acted the two syllables, you must act the whole: "Bagpipe."
Before beginning the charade, you should arrange who is to bring in the charade word or syllable. You must also settle what you are going to say, or at least, what the act is to be about. Let every scene be well thought out and be as short as possible. You must be as quick as ever you can between the acts, for all the fun will be spoiled if you keep your audience waiting. If you have no curtain or screen, the actors must simply walk off the stage at the end of the scenes.
To act charades well, one requires a little practice and plenty of good temper, for, of course, only one or two can take principal parts, and therefore some of the children must be content to take the smaller ones. It is a good plan to take it in turns to play the best parts, and if the elder children are kind and thoughtful, they will try to make some easy little parts, so that their younger brothers and sisters may also join in the fun. Here we give you a very simple charade, the words of which you may learn, and then act, after which you will very likely be able to make up charades for yourselves.
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THE "BAND-BOX" CHARADE
SCENE 1: A STREET
This can be made by placing a row of chairs with open backs near the wall facing the audience; a child is stationed behind each chair, and, looking through the open back, pretends to be looking out of a window.
BAND
First Child behind chair.--Oh! dear, how dull our street always is. I declare nothing nice ever comes this way.
Second Child.--No, I quite agree with you. Why, I haven't seen a "Punch and Judy" for months. I wish my mother would go and live in another street.
Third Child.--Never mind, let us go out and have a game.
(Enter five or six children--or a lesser number, if more convenient--carrying toy musical instruments.)
First Child.--Hurrah! Here comes a German band. Come along, children; let's go and listen to it.
(The band groups itself at the end of the street, and the children stand round. After tuning up, the band begins to play.)
Second Child.--Now, Mary Jane, we can dance. I'll dance with you.
Third Child.--No, I want to dance with Mary Jane.
First Child.--I don't want to dance at all.
Second Child.--You must.
Third Child.--Yes, you must.
(Band ceases playing and one of the bandsmen comes round for money.)
First Child.--I haven't any money.
Second Child.--But we haven't begun to dance yet.
Bandsman.--You shouldn't have been so long arguing then. Surely you'll give the band a nickel, after all the pretty music it has played?
First Child.--I won't.
Second Child.--I won't.
Third Child.--And I won't.
Bandsman.--Well, you are mean. Come along. (Beckoning to the rest of the band.) We'll go, and it will be a long time before we come down this street again.
(Curtain falls.)
BOX
SCENE 2: A ROOM
Tommy (hopping about the room, waving a letter in his hand.)--Hurrah! hurrah! Uncle Dick is coming. Hurrah! hurrah!
(Enter Tommy's brother and sister and papa and mamma.)
Papa.--What's the matter, Tommy?
Tommy.--Uncle Dick has written to say he is coming to spend Christmas with us, and he is bringing me a Christmas box.
Mamma.--How kind of him! But be sure you are careful not to offend him, Tommy. He is rather a touchy old gentleman.
Sister.--I wonder what it will be, Tommy.
Brother.--I hope it will be a set of cricket things, and then we can play cricket in the summer.
Tommy.--Oh! yes, I hope it will be, but whatever it is, it is sure to be something nice.
(Begins hopping about again. Enter Uncle Dick, a very old gentleman with a gouty foot. Tommy does not see him and goes banging into him, treading on his gouty foot.)
Uncle Dick.--Oh! oh! oh! oh, my toe!
Tommy.--Oh! Never mind your toe! Where's my Christmas box?
Uncle Dick.--Your Christmas box, you young scamp! Think of my toe.
Tommy.--Please, uncle, I'm very sorry, but I do so want to know what you have brought me for a Christmas box.
Uncle Dick (roaring).--Here's your Christmas box, and may it teach you to be more careful in future. (Boxes Tommy's ears.)
(Curtain falls.)
Here is a list of words which will divide easily into charade words:
Brides-maids. Sea-side. Car-pen-try. Cur-tail. Nose-gay. In-do-lent. Hand-i(I)-craft. Turn-key. Hand-some. Key-hole. Rail-way. Sweet-heart. Port-man-teau(toe). Mad-cap. A-bun-dance. In-no-cent. Fox-glove. Pat-riot.
To make your charades a real success, you will, of course, require a curtain. A very effective one can be made with a little trouble and at a small cost;