Ten recreational parties

The invitations may be written on pieces of colored paper cut in the shape of tiny dolls. Have the guests come to the party dressed as dolls or children and the hostesses as nursemaids.

1. DOLL DRESSING CONTEST

Place the guests at small tables on which there are bits of colored crêpe paper, scissors, string, pins, needles and thread. Give everyone a tiny penny doll to dress. It is a good plan to have on exhibition one or two dolls already dressed in crêpe paper, to furnish ideas to the guests. Very cleverly dressed dolls can always be bought from the Dennison Company, 26th Street and Fifth Avenue, New York. One of these makes an excellent prize for the person who makes the best doll costume. Usually people, whether old or young, if given a few suggestions will enter into the spirit of the game and the most ingenious and attractive creations will be made.

2. CHILDREN’S GAMES

Play the simple, familiar games such as “London Bridge” or “Drop the Handkerchief,” “Going to Jerusalem” and so on.

3. MIDNIGHT IN THE DOLL SHOP

Entertain the guests by dramatizing some children’s story, or staging a pantomime such as the following.

Midnight in the Doll Shop
A pantomime by Barbara Wellington.

Scene: A doll shop with counters running along left wall, back-stage and right.

Characters, from stage right to left:

• Right—Brownie, French Doll, Tin Soldier.
• Back—Chinese, Indian, Jack-in-the-Box, Dinah, Golliwog, Dutch Girl.
• Left—Two Rag Dolls.

The clock strikes twelve. Curtain opens on dolls lifeless on counters, in characteristic attitudes. Brownie is sitting cross-legged; the French doll is holding her skirt and peeking up at the soldier; the soldier holds his gun, stiffly; the Chinese has his arms folded, hands in sleeves; the Indian stands with tomahawk raised; Jack is in his box with cover shut; Dinah’s hands are on her hips; Golliwog’s arm is around her; the Dutch doll has a pail on her arm; the rag dolls lean limply against each other.

All slowly come to life. Jack pops out of his box and goes through jerky exercise. A dumb-bell drill may be used (music 4-4 time). At the finish, Indian raises tomahawk over Jack with threatening attitude. Jack pops back into box; cover shuts. Indian does war-dance of seeing enemy, giving war cry (silently), fighting battle, and smoking peace-pipe.

He ends by chasing the rag dolls down-stage and around to the right and center, taking his place where they were. The rag dolls do a limp dance exactly alike, leaning against each other and flopping heavily at each step. They finish by dropping down up-stage right, with feet straight out before them.

Jack-in-the-Box pantomimes clapping and the tin soldier sends him into his box again by aiming his rifle. Then, wound up by French doll, he marches forward stiffly to center-stage. She works his arms and head and makes him embrace her, then winds him up for dance step of progressing across stage, toeing out with both feet, and then in. She does a ballet dance kick-step as she watches him. Finish off-stage.

Golliwog and Dinah try to imitate them in the same positions on stage, and burlesque the steps. They turn it into an old-fashioned cake-walk and as they finish up-stage right, Dinah waves her bandana and drops it.

The Chinese doll shuffles forward and picks bandana up, goes back to get his tub, scrubbing board and iron, and proceeds to launder handkerchief, center-stage, facing audience. He turns scrubbing board over for an ironing board. Finishes, folds handkerchief and hands it to Dinah with bow. Goes left.

The Dutch doll comes forward, sees imaginary water splashed onto the floor and holds up her hands in horror. She gets pail, and kneeling, scrubs vigorously, facing left center and then right, on knees in each new position. Then, trying the floor with her sabot, she puts away her pail and does a Dutch wooden shoe dance. Finishes right.

The Brownie, who has been mimicking everybody as he sat on the counter, right, hops down and does a clown dance, ending with a cartwheel, left.

As each doll finishes his stunt he takes his place in a semicircle at back-stage.

All swing into dance. As orchestra sounds cock-crow, all break line and scramble back to original places.

Tableau, as in the beginning.

Doll Dance

1. 8 measures.

Introduction—4 measures—dolls take places in line.

(Omit 28 measures of music.)

2. 8 measures.

(Omit 4 measures of music.)

3. 16 measures

(Omit 24 measures of music.)

4. 8 measures.

Repeat 1.

5. 8 measures.

Repeat 2.

Interlude. 4 measures.

6. 8 measures.

7. 6 measures.

8. 8 measures.