Copyright, 1910

BY

R. G. Hazard

To

The Boys and Girls of Peace Dale—

the hope of the future

This little sketch was prepared very hurriedly in order to give scope to the volunteer efforts of certain of the younger members of the community who had undertaken to provide the entertainment for the Christmas celebration of 1910 of the Peace Dale Congregational Sunday School.

After looking patiently and long for something which they could act for the entertainment of their fellows, they despaired of finding anything they would like.

In their dilemma they appealed to me, saying that their principal desire was to introduce the singing of Christmas carols in some way not too commonplace.

The characters were taken by inexperienced actors who, nevertheless, presented the masque in a very genuine and convincing manner.

The whole time of action was about thirty-five minutes, including the singing of the Christmas carols. I was urged to amplify the action, in order to somewhat prolong the part played by Robin Hood and his men, but, after some effort in this direction, I gave it up, as the principal merit of the masque seemed to me to be its brevity.

Several friends have urged its preservation in print in the hope that it may prove suggestive or useful to others in like predicament.

R. G. H.

LIST OF PERSONS

Robin Hood

Long John

Friar Tuck

Watt

Will Scarlett

One or two others

Wait (leader)

Fiddler

Cello

Clarinet

Singers—as many as may be

Widow

Eight to twelve children less than fourteen years old

Santa Claus

COSTUMES

Robin Hood—If possible, in a close-fitting green, buttoned to the throat.

Long John—In old clothes, with leggings. With a bow and arrows, one arrow stuck in belt. (None of Robin's men show shirts or collars.)

Watt—Has a bow. Should be a very short man.

Friar Tuck—In a friar's robe, with girdle, holding in his hand a big soup spoon with which he beats time while singing.

Will Scarlett—Also with a bow, but no arrows.

Waits—Waits dressed poorly, as is the custom. Rather ragged clothes.

Widow—With a cap and kerchief and apron. Woollen dress cut full.

Children—Dressed in school clothes, as old as may be.

Santa Claus—Red coat, white trimming. Red cap, white trimming. White beard.

A CHRISTMAS MASQUE

How Robin Hood once was a Wait

(Curtain rising discloses a wood scene. In center a small house. Snow falls. Robin Hood and his merry men advance from left wings, one singing the XIII Century Rondo)—

(Repeat singing.)

[pg 12],

(The Waits enter from right, tuning instruments and show fear of Robin's men, who advance threateningly towards them.)

Robin (hectoring)—And who gave ye leave to break the mighty silence of our wood?

Wait (deprecatingly)—Softly, Kind Master, we be but simple singers come to joy yon lonely widow with songs of Christmas-tide.

[pg 13]

Robin—Singers, idle and vain, we'll have ye know 'tis death to enter here without our license.

Waits—We be waits, good sir, and have ever license to sing the birth of Christ our Lord, born this day.

Robin (scornfully)—And what be waits?

Wait (with solemnity)—We wait upon the coming of our Lord, Son of Mary and Heaven's Almighty King. And while we patient wait, we sing.

Robin (appeased)—Waits, that's better, and who gave word of this widow and her dozen brats?

[pg 14]

Wait—My fiddler here is cousin to the widow's dead man.

Robin (relenting)—What says't thou, Long John and Watt and Jolly Tuck, how would ye like to join this band of Waits for once and sing like Christians to the widow's brats?

Tuck (deep bass)—Ay, 't would be well for once to use the lore I once knew well. I'll go.

Long John—I'll go.

Watt—I'll go, but I can only buzz.

(They advance together towards house grouping towards right, leaving house in full view of audience, who see many children at a lighted window, but not one looking out.)

(They sing after more tuning of instruments)—

[pg 15]

Good King Wenceslas.

1.

2.

[pg 16]

3.

4.

[pg 17]

5.

The First Noël.

1.

[pg 18]

2.

3.

[pg 19]

4.

5.

6.

God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen.

(Old English Noël.)

1.

Chorus

[pg 21]

2.

3.

[pg 22]

4.

(At second carol, the children come out with half-eaten apples and oaten cake, to stand listening to the singing. The children mingle with the waits and offer them bites of their apples, etc. The widow comes out with a big steaming pot of mead to thank the waits. Offers pot. Robin's men each try to take first drink. Robin stops quarrel and hands it to Tuck, who drinks hastily, and so burns his mouth.)

Widow—Oh! kind gentlemen, bless your hearts for this. It's many a year since I heard [pg 23] the sound of a Christmas carol. It does my old heart good. Bless ye, bless ye.

(Descries the fiddler cousin, falls on his shoulder, and makes talk of his family—sotto voce.)

(Robin's men draw off and sing again)—

King Arthur had three sons, that he had.

(A basket lowered from above with Santa Claus in it begins to appear to the audience. No one on stage sees it. Santa Claus reaches out and taps Robin on the head, smartly, with a bit of rope. Knocks off his hat.)

Robin (terrified)—Saints preserve us. Who smote me?

(Sees balloon. Points to it. All cry out in alarm.)

[pg 24]

Robin—An air-man; a Miracle! The day of miracles!

Santa Claus (intones high tenor voice)—Fear not, except for thy sins. I came to hear; what music was it ye sang?—Nay be not affrighted—I'll e'en stand among ye. So shall ye see I bode no ill.

(Alights from his car.)

Robin—Canst fly? How else cam'st hither? Truly a Miracle art thou.

Santa Claus—No Miracle am I, but the dear Christ's Almoner; who comes this night and every Christmas-tide bearing gifts for all good children and a good gift for all, even Jesus' love and Peace on Earth, good will toward [pg 25] men. But this is a miracle, in truth, for here be Waits joined hands with Robin Hood in songs of praise for Christus' birth.

Praise God for this and all good deeds, and by such shall these wild hearts (turns to Robin's men) learn gentle love for all mankind.

(Exit. Robin leads his men, exit to right. Waits follow.)

Santa Claus—And now, good people all, take note of Music; see how she sways rough men and brings the good that's in us all to turn them into better paths. King Arthur did quite right to those three sons who would not sing.

(Exit in balloon-basket upwards, leaving baskets of presents on stage.)

(Audience rises and sings)—

Adeste Fideles.

[pg 27]