Good Times with the Juniors

Queen of the Cosey Corner, The children’s fairy friend.
Fairy Bright-Thought, Chief counsellor of the Queen.
West Wind, Friend to Dorothy.
Dorothy Dot, Grown larger, after the spell is broken.
Old Woman with Basket.

Six, eight, or more Sunshine Fairies.

Costumes, etc.

Dorothy Dot, while small. Girl of nine or ten, small for her age; dainty modern dress.

Sir Dismal Dumps. Boy of fourteen, or older; antique court costume of gray and dark green.

The Bugaboo Man. Boy of fourteen, same style of dress as Dismal Dumps, but colors red and dark blue. Wears a mask.

Queen of the Cosey Corner. Girl of fourteen; trained white spangled dress, crown, and wand.

Fairy Bright-Thought. Girl of ten; short white spangled fairy dress, with wings.

West Wind. Girl of fourteen who can sing well; flowing rose-colored robe, long gray mantle.

Old Woman with Basket. Girl of twelve or thirteen; brown or purple skirt to ankles, gingham waist, small red shoulder-shawl, sunbonnet.

Dorothy Dot, grown taller. A well-grown, bright-looking girl of thirteen, closely resembling the small Dorothy. Dress apparently the same, only longer.

Reallywish, Justnow, I Can, and I Will. Boys of ten; Brownie costumes. (“I Will” should have the strongest voice.)

Sunshine Fairies. Girls of eight or nine; flowing hair, short fairy dress of bright orange-yellow, made still brighter by a liberal use of spangles. Wings.

Cosey Corner. Prettily draped and cushioned couch in one corner of rear of stage.

Sunshine Treasure-Box. First act, a box about the size of a small but deep trunk, labelled on the front in plain lettering, “Sunshine.”

Sunshine Treasure-Box. Second act, box of same shape, but very large; if possible, nearly four feet deep; with same label in same position on front, in letters of the same shape but larger. Have blocks of wood nailed inside for steps. The lid should be on hinges, and the whole back of the box, except at the very top, is sawed out, leaving it open. The curtain hangs at the rear of the stage, with a large opening immediately behind the box, so that Sunshine Fairies and others can easily pass into the box from behind the scenes. Foliage, rocks, and stumps for seats, and other playground accessories. Have a stump and a particularly soft rock against the outside of the box, to serve as steps.

Change of Costume. In the second act, near the close, Sir Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man should change quickly while in or back of the Sunshine-Box, from their former costumes to suits of spangled orange-yellow cambric, made in similar style.

ACT I.

SCENE.—A playground, with Carol, Avis, Roy seated on rocks and stumps, talking. Music as curtain rises. Music stops.

Avis. Did you say that she never could grow any larger?

Frank (entering). What’s that? Who never could grow any larger?

Carol. Why, don’t you know? It’s Dorothy Dot. Dear little Dorothy! It’s all because she was enchanted when she was only seven years old, by that dreadful enemy of all Sunshine people—Sir Dismal Dumps!

Frank. O yes, I remember. He is a rascal—that Dismal Dumps. He put one of his magic spells on her—he and his Bugaboo Man together—so she never could grow any larger unless——

Roy. Yes, she never could grow any larger, unless——

Avis. Unless what? Do tell me all about it.

Carol. I thought you knew, Avis. Unless the key is found, the key to Dorothy’s magic treasure-box. The Sunshine Fairies are shut up in the box, and until they are let out we children will all have lots of trouble because of that horrid Dismal Dumps and his Bugaboo Man.

Frank (walking about, his hands in his pockets, looking as if thinking very hard). This is a puzzle that gets me! The box that holds the Sunshine Fairies is locked, and Dismal Dumps stole the key, and keeps it hidden away. But say, wasn’t there something about the box growing, too?

Roy. Why, yes. You see, it’s a magic box, and was meant to grow larger all the time, just as Dorothy was meant to grow larger herself. But, when the key was stolen, it—the box, I mean—stopped growing, and she stopped growing, and now ——

All (coming forward and singing; tune, “The Red, White, and Blue”).

(Enter Dorothy, running.)

Dorothy. O Carol, Avis,—all of you! I’m so afraid! When I started to come over here, I was sure I heard Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man talking, just around the corner, and I ran as fast as I could, to get away from them. I’m afraid they’ll be here, yet. (Looking around uneasily). But (brightening) I must tell you the good news. I’ve seen the Brownies!

(All crowd around her. Frank and Roy give a surprised whistle.)

Avis. Have you, Dorothy?

Carol. And will they help us plan what to do?

Dorothy. Yes, they said they would help. Here they come, now.

(Enter Brownies, running, skipping, and capering in various ways, which lively antics they must keep up at intervals all through the play. Coming forward and facing the audience, they sing, each one in turn; tune, “Yankee Doodle.”)

Reallywish.

Justnow.

I Can.

I Will.

Avis (clapping her hands). O what dear Brownies! And so you will help us to get rid of that hateful Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man we’re so afraid of! What shall we do first?

(Brownies, puzzled, look up at the ceiling, down at the floor, and in various corners, as if for an idea.)

Reallywish. I really wish, my friends, O yes, I really wish I knew——

Justnow. Just now, exactly what is best for us to plan and do.

I Can. But, if each one of us will only think and say, “I can——”

I Will (emphatically). We’ll conquer Dismal Dumps and his Bugaboo Man!

Children and Brownies (all together.) We’ll conquer Dismal Dumps and his Bugaboo Man!

Roy. Here they come, now! (Children huddle close together and look frightened, yet resolute. A few strains of very doleful music, from behind scenes. Enter Sir Dismal Dumps and Bugaboo Man, right.)

Dismal Dumps (scowling fiercely). Well, here’s a pretty howdy-do! Don’t these children know they shouldn’t loiter around like this? They’ll be too late to have any dinner when they get home! Besides, there’s all their next week’s lessons not learned.

Bugaboo Man. Well, the lessons are so hard they won’t be able to learn them anyhow; so what difference does it make?

Dismal Dumps. Then they’ll all grow up without knowing anything. In fact, no matter how hard they try, they’ll never amount to anything.

(Children whisper together during this conversation. Brownies gesticulate as if giving directions. All nod their heads in consent, and approach Dismal Dumps.)

Children and Brownies (singing; tune, “Maryland, My Maryland”).

Dismal Dumps (haughtily, folding his arms). What impertinent nonsense is this? Actually asking for the key to the Sunshine-Box! I’d laugh at the very idea, if it weren’t against my principles ever to laugh at all, or even smile. Bugaboo, what do you think of this ridiculous idea? They want us to give up the key!

Bugaboo Man (laughing loudly). Ha! ha! ha! ho! ho! ho! As if we would give it up!

Dismal Dumps. There, you young rascals, you have your answer. But you never will have the key!

(Dorothy begins to cry, and goes slowly out, left, Avis and Carol with her, trying to console her. Dismal Dumps and Bugaboo converse confidentially, right. Boys and Brownies consult, left).

Brownies (coming forward and then towards left, singing; tune, “Jingle Bells.”)

(Repeat, as they go out, left, followed by boys. Dismal Dumps and Bugaboo Man come forward at centre, Dismal Dumps looking more than usually glum.)

Bugaboo Man (persuasively). Cheer up, old fellow! You certainly got the best of it, as you generally do when you have me to help you!

Dismal Dumps (shaking his head dolefully). That’s all very well, Bugaboo, but what we should do if those children should ever get ahead of us and manage to open that box, I’m sure I don’t know. I can’t bear the sound of bells, and those Sunshine Fairies would be too much for us both.

Bugaboo Man. That’s so; we never could live in the same country with them. Of course not! But there’s no danger! Nobody can open the box but that insignificant little Dorothy Dot, and she can’t without the key. Come on, now; let’s find some one else that we can make unhappy. I heard a woman saying she was afraid it was going to rain. Let’s tell her it certainly will. There’s a big black cloud coming up, now.

Dismal Dumps (brightening a little). And I heard a man complaining of hard times. Let’s go and make them all the harder. We can do it.

Bugaboo Man. Of course we can; we always do. Come on. (Links his arm in that of Dismal Dumps, and hurries him along till in the latter’s effort to keep up he stumbles over a rock and drops the key. Neither of them sees it.) Be careful; you might break your bones sometime over these stones. Hurry, or we’ll be too late. (Exit both, right.)

(Enter Old Woman, left, with basket. Sees key. Stops, and picks it up.)

Old Woman. Well, I never! What careless person has dropped a key, I wonder? I’ll just put it in my basket for safe keeping while I look. (Exit right.)

(Enter Avis, Carol, Dorothy, Frank, Roy, and Brownies, left, on their way to the Cosey Corner. The Brownies are carrying the Sunshine Treasure-Box. They place it at the rear of the stage, with the labelled side forward; then all approach the Cosey Corner, singing; tune, “John Brown.”)

(Curtains slowly part at the corner of the stage, right, displaying a “cosey corner” where the Queen is seated in state. She rises and comes forward.)

Queen. You poor children! I know your trouble before you tell it. You wish to get rid of Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man; you want the key to this dear little girl’s treasure-box, so you can let the Sunshine Fairies out. Is that it?

Children. Yes, and so Dorothy Dot can grow.

Queen. That is right. Be seated, all. Now, for a few moments keep perfectly still. (Children seat themselves on stumps, etc.) I cannot give you the key at once, but I will call my chief counsellor, Fairy Bright-Thought, and then I shall be able to advise you. Keep very quiet, now, or she cannot come. Brownies, see if you can keep still for two whole minutes. It will be good practice for you. (The Queen resumes her seat. The Brownies give a final excited caper; then seat themselves on the treasure-box. All are silent. Soft music for three or four minutes; then Fairy Bright-Thought emerges from behind the draperies of Cosey Corner, and whispers in the ear of the Queen. The children start up, but seat themselves again. After a moment, Fairy Bright-Thought disappears again behind the draperies. Music stops.) Listen, children and Brownies! I have a secret for you. The spell is already partly broken, for—just think!—Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man have lost the key! Now Dorothy Dot can grow! (The children begin dancing and the Brownies capering with delight.) But wait! (All stop.) It is true, Dorothy Dot can grow, and so can her treasure-box; but until she has the key the Sunshine Fairies must still be prisoners, and you are not yet rid of Dismal Dumps and his Bugaboo Man. Now, this is what you must all do. Search for the key everywhere. As for Dorothy, she can go away for a while with the kind West Wind, to a beautiful home on the prairies, where she will not be troubled by Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man. Then she can grow all the faster, and meanwhile you can all be looking for the key. But, mind you, the key will be found at some moment when you are doing a kind act; and, when you want Dorothy, you must call her. Now away with you! Good-by! (Retires into Cosey Corner, with curtains drawn together.)

Children. Good-by! Thank you! Good-by!

(Enter West Wind, who approaches Dorothy slowly, singing; tune, “Wind of the Western Sea.”)

(Wraps Dorothy gently in her mantle, and leads her slowly away, Dorothy waving her hand in farewell. The children and Brownies respond by waving caps and handkerchiefs. Exit Dorothy and West Wind. Music, same tune, continued instrumentally, as curtain falls.)

ACT II.

SCENE.—Same as before, but larger box in place of the one left at the rear of the stage.

(Enter Carol, Avis, Frank, Roy, and Brownies. The children examine the box, being careful not to lift the lid; the Brownies come forward.)

Reallywish. I really wish I knew why we haven’t found the key.

Justnow. Perhaps just now we’ll find it, if we’re good as good can be.

I Can. We won’t give up and say it can’t be done; I know it can.

I Will. And we’ll conquer Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man!

All. Yes, we’ll conquer Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man!

(Enter Old Woman with basket. Stumbles and drops basket, scattering wares.)

Old Woman. Oh, dear, dear! I didn’t see that stone!

Avis (running up to her). Did you hurt yourself? You didn’t quite fall, did you?

Old Woman (beginning to pick up wares). No, but just look at my spools of thread, and buttons, and all my whole basketful of things—scattered all over the ground.

Carol. Too bad! Never mind, we’ll pick them up for you. (To Roy.) She looks tired. (To Old Woman.) Suppose you sit down on this rock and rest, and we’ll —— (Old Woman sits down.)

Roy. Yes, we’ll have them all picked up in a jiffy.

(The Brownies, Roy, and Carol pick up the various articles, while Frank and Avis put them into the basket and arrange them.)

Old Woman. Bless your kind little hearts! There, now they’re all right again, and I must be going. I’m quite a bit rested, too. Thank you, thank you. (Rises, and starts to go.)

Roy (hastening after her with the key). Wait, wait! here’s your key!

Old Woman. Key, is it? But it’s not mine. I picked it up not long ago at this very spot. No telling who dropped it; one can only guess.

Carol (eagerly). Perhaps that’s Dorothy’s key! (The children and Brownies crowd around to look.)

Old Woman (indifferently). Well, keep it and ask Dorothy, whoever she may be. I don’t know anything about it. Only persons in sight when I picked it up were an old curmudgeon dressed in gray,—the crossest-looking fellow you ever set eyes on,—and a queer-looking man with him dressed in red, for all the world like a circus clown. I couldn’t catch up with them, they were going so fast.

Avis (clapping her hands). It is, it is!

Roy. Hurrah!

Frank. Whoop! (The Brownies express their delight in the most fantastic capers yet. The Old Woman sets down the basket, looking interested.)

Carol. Hark! the Bells of Bonnydingle! (Ringing of bells, while all listen.)

(Enter Dismal Dumps and Bugaboo Man, talking excitedly. Bells stop ringing.)

Dismal Dumps (to Bugaboo Man). It was all your fault!

Bugaboo Man (fiercely). Don’t you dare to say it was my fault! I didn’t lose the key. You dropped it yourself!

Dismal Dumps. You made me drop it, anyhow. And now did you hear those bells? That means the key is found, and we’re done for if we can’t get it again. (Seeing the children.) Quick, Bugaboo, here’s the key. Make ’em give it up! (Bugaboo Man starts towards the children, who retreat slowly.)

Old Woman (to Bugaboo Man, stepping between him and the children). It’s my opinion you’re a thief, sir! you and the gentleman in gray, there; and you won’t get that key again, I can tell you!

Bugaboo Man and Dismal Dumps (together, advancing nearer). Won’t we?

Old Woman (taking off sunbonnet, and flapping it vigorously at Dismal Dumps). Shoo! Shoo! (Dismal Dumps retreats hastily. Bugaboo Man advances towards the group. Old Woman still more vigorously, flapping at Bugaboo Man.) Scat! (Bugaboo Man runs backward so fast he almost tumbles down. Dismal Dumps and Bugaboo Man consult, at a safe distance. The children come forward a little.)

Carol. O, I wish Dorothy would come!

All the rest. So do I!

Reallywish. Why, we’re forgetting what the Queen of the Cosey Corner told us. If we really wish Dorothy would come, why don’t we bring her?

Justnow. Why, of course. Let’s call her back just now!

(Bells begin ringing joyfully again. Dismal Dumps and Bugaboo Man turn first one way, then the other, confused, and place their hands over their ears as if they could not bear the sound. Bells continue ringing very softly, while the children and Brownies sing; tune, “Bring Back My Bonny.”)

(Bells still ring, as softly as possible. The children listen. Instrumental music behind scenes, very soft at first, but gradually growing louder,—“Home, Sweet Home.” Enter the taller Dorothy, and West Wind. Children rush to meet Dorothy, holding up the key. The music stops, but bells still ring, while Dorothy takes the key, goes to the box, and unlocks it, followed gleefully by Brownies. Sunshine Fairies emerge from the box, assisted, if necessary, by West Wind, the Old Woman, and Dorothy. The fairies skip about delightedly; then, seeing Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man, start to chase them both. Dismal Dumps and Bugaboo Man run around in evident terror, trying to escape. At last both jump into the box. Brownies instantly slam down the lid, and sit on it. Bells ring out more loudly for a minute or two, then subside as music begins. Chorus of Brownies, children, and Sunshine Fairies, all but Brownies dancing around Dorothy and West Wind; tune, “Marching through Georgia.”)

(Bells ring loudly again during the refrain, which is repeated. Throughout the song, Brownies wave caps, arms, and feet as enthusiastically as possible, without leaving their post on the Sunshine-Box.)

(Enter Queen from her Cosey Corner. Bells and music cease.)

Queen (kissing Dorothy). Welcome home, Dorothy dear! How you have grown! So our plan was a success. But suppose we listen to Fairy Bright-Thought again. She has still another message for us. (All are quiet. Soft music for two or three minutes. Enter Fairy Bright-Thought, who whispers in the ear of the Queen, as before. Music stops.) My chief counsellor advises a strange thing. She says, “Open the box.” Will you do it?

(The Brownies get down from their perch, looking puzzled. The children slowly approach the box.)

Roy. But won’t the Bugaboo Man——

Avis. And won’t Dismal Dumps——

Dorothy. Never fear. What harm can they do us now? Poor old Bugaboo Man and poor old Dismal Dumps! I’m sorry for them. It was when I was little that I was so afraid of them. Besides, as we all know, whatever advice comes from the Cosey Corner must be safe to follow. Come, I’m going to open the box!

(Frank and Carol help her to raise the lid. Out come Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man, but completely transformed, in new and glittering costumes, and with smiling faces. Both come forward.)

Dismal Dumps. I found, when I once got into the Sunshine Box, that I couldn’t be dismal any longer!

Bugaboo Man. And I found that it isn’t half so much fun to frighten children as it is to amuse them!

Both. So we are both going to be sunshine people ourselves, like all good Juniors.

Dorothy (shaking hands with them). I’m so glad! Now we’ll all be happy ever after.

(Bells begin ringing again. Music. March of all the characters, and final tableau.)

CURTAIN.

Variation of “The Bells of Bonnydingle” for Christmas.

To adapt the play to Christmas, where there are gifts to be distributed, omit the final march, and, instead, add the following bit of dialogue after Dorothy speaks for the last time:

Bugaboo Man. And to prove that we really wish to be Sunshine people——

Dismal Dumps. We will look into that wonderful treasure-box again just now,—for it’s Merry Christmas,—and see if we can’t find something to make these good people all the happier.

Both. We can, and we will! (Going to the box, they reach in and take out present after present, handed up to them by two persons concealed, one behind the box, and one in it. The presents are marked with the names of those for whom they are intended, and as fast as taken out by the transformed Dismal Dumps and Bugaboo Man, who read the names aloud, they are handed to Dorothy and the other children, who in turn pass them to the Brownies, Fairy Bright-Thought, and the Sunshine Fairies, to distribute among the audience.)

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