Drills
Clown Drill and Song
[The drill is given by ten boys dressed as clowns. March in, hands on the shoulders of the one in front, keep in step. Form line at front of stage, and sing.]
Tune: “Yankee Doodle.”
1.
We are the Clowns of Hallowe’en,
We’ll tell you what we’ll do, Sir;
The same old stunts you’ve always seen,
For we know nothing new, Sir!
Chorus.
Ha, ha, ha, we’ll keep in tune,
Tho’ where we are going,
We can’t tell you very soon,
We’ve no way of knowing.
2.
We are the Clowns of Hallowe’en,
And though we have no money,
We’ll caper lightly o’er the green,
To make you think we’re funny.
Chorus: [Clap hands.]
3.
[The music is played, they look wildly at each
other as though forgetting the words, but come
out strong on the chorus, waving caps.]
4.
What if our words should now give out,
Who’ll help us with our singing?
We will surprise you without doubt,
A little bell we’re ringing.
Chorus: [Ring a tea bell.]
[March right and left, meet in two lines, stand sides to audience, hold up hands, end couple passes through; the next couple, and the next pass through, until all have passed and taken place again in lines. Form a circle, any one is chosen to skip in and out between them, when he returns to place another is chosen to skip in and out, etc. All go to center and back, every other one to center and back, all again to center, wave caps and shout “hurrah.” Form in lines right and left, sides to audience, play ball, throwing it back and forth from line to line for anyone to catch. March in lines, hands on hips. Skip in couples, all go out, re-enter, line up and recite:]
First:
I am going to bed, yes, going to bed,
And pull the covers high over my head,
Late on Hallowe’en.
All:
What’s the use of going to bed—
Is there any rhyme or reason?
Second:
What’s the use of going to bed?
You’ll have to get up in season!
[First runs off.]
Third:
I’ve gotten dressed in my very best,
So witches and goblins will be impressed,
Late on Hallowe’en.
All:
What’s the use of getting dressed?
Is there any rhyme or reason?
Fourth:
What’s the use of getting dressed?
You’ll have to undress next season!
[Third runs off.]
Fifth:
I’m going to eat some pumpkin pies,
And leave one, the witches to surprise,
Late on Hallowe’en.
All:
What’s the use of eating pies?
Is there any rhyme or reason?
Sixth:
What’s the use of eating pies?
You’ll be hungry again next season.
[Fifth runs off.]
Seventh:
I’m going to wash my face so well,
And hide away—where, I shan’t tell,
Late on Hallowe’en.
All:
What’s the use to wash your face?
Is there any rhyme or reason?
Eighth:
What’s the use to wash your face?
You’ll get soiled again next season!
[Seventh runs out.]
Ninth:
I see no use in anything at all,
So for an exit I will call,
Late on Hallowe’en.
All:
What’s the use of anything?
Is there any rhyme or reason?
[All tip-toe out but the tenth.]
Tenth:
What’s the use of anything?
Will you tell me, please, next season?
[Looks about wildly for response, sees he is alone on the stage, runs off.]
Autumn Leaf Drill
To be given by any number of children of different ages and sizes; the whole school may take part if desired.
At the back of the stage stretch wire netting the entire way across, and cover completely with pretty sprays of autumn leaves, willow and oak. The children may wear white costumes with artificial leaves red, yellow, brown and green upon them.
[They enter in couples, hold hands high, bow to audience, whirl round, two and two; each takes right hand of partner, whirls round, bows to partner; girls hold out skirts in both hands, skip round partner, arms on hips; repeat, one arm on hip, one over head, join hands, skip again in couples; all pause, sing.]
Tune: “Welcome Sweet Springtime”—Rubinstein.
WELCOME TO AUTUMN
Welcome to autumn, her trumpeters call,
Crimson and yellow, autumn leaves fall;
Welcome to autumn we all gather here,
Singing a farewell song.
Winter is coming, and long will we dream,
While fairy snowflakes fall o’er the flowers;
Winter is coming, he’s frozen each stream,
Still we have happy hours.
Dancing away while the echoes are ringing,
Softly the breezes are joining our singing;
Come, dance away, for bright autumn is here,
It is, as you know, the last ball of the year.
Welcome to autumn, and heed our gay song,
Gayly come dancing out on the green;
Welcome to autumn, we all wish thee long,
Welcome to HALLOWE’EN!
[A Witch enters at the side and taps once as she recites first verse, twice for the next, and so on.]
Witch:
Down the leaves all flutter, oh!
Hallowe’en has come, you know.
[All kneel.]
Witch:
They rise again and flutter ’round,
Tripping lightly o’er the ground.
[All rise and whirl in couples.]
Witch:
Wave about, but softly creep,
Soon the autumn leaves will sleep.
[All wave hands to audience.]
Witch:
Listen, listen, don’t you hear
Jack Frost’s footsteps coming near?
[All hold right hand to ear, listening.]
Witch:
What will you do, when the witch is seen,
Late at night on Hallowe’en?
[All cover faces with hands.]
Witch:
Music’s charms, music’s charms,
Will always silence all alarms.
[The Witch disappears, they all join hands, skip forward and back, repeat song, skip off in couples.]
The drill can be lengthened by introducing any familiar folk dances and songs.
Cat-tail Drill
An even number of girls and boys enter with real or made cat-tails, tied with yellow and black streamers of tissue paper. They enter from right and left.
[The boys form a circle at the right, girls form a circle at the left, hold cat-tails high; all circle toward the right, all circle toward the left, go to center and back in each circle; each circle forms a line, stand with sides to audience, face each other, march forward and back twice; march forward, pass between and back to places, repeat and stay on opposite sides; march again, meet, hold cat-tails touching, end couples pass under the next, and next, until all have passed under and returned to place in lines. March now right and left, line tip in two lines, girls in front, boys behind, drill to four counts of music. Hold cat-tails vertically out in right hand to right, left, up, down, swing to and fro; repeat, hold in left hand, describe a circle holding in left hand, in right hand. Make the circle toward left, right, and out in front. Hold horizontally with both hands out in front, under chins, above heads, raise and lower in this position. Hold cat-tails under chins, recite]:
Hark! hark!
The night is dark,
The witches are coming to town,
On Hallowe’en,
They all are seen,
And each in a brand-new gown.
[Girls lower cat-tails, boys raise cat-tails, recite]:
Boys:
Cat-tails growing by the streams,
Elves and fairies they have seen.
Girls:
At this hour let us dream,
Late at night on Hallowe’en.
[They all sing, swaying cat-tails to and fro.]
Tune: “Lightly Row.”
1.
Lullaby, lullaby,
Swinging low and swinging high;
Lullaby, lullaby,
Late on Hallowe’en.
Nod your little drowsy head,
Play you’re fast asleep in bed;
Lullaby, lullaby,
Late on Hallowe’en.
[Mark time with feet.]
2.
Lullaby, lullaby,
On our tiptoes we will creep;
Lullaby, lullaby,
While the witches sleep.
In October it is well,
To escape the fairies’ spell;
Lullaby, lullaby,
Quiet we will keep.
[Boys march to right and in a circle, girls to left in a circle.]
3.
Lullaby, lullaby,
There is nothing to alarm;
Lullaby, lullaby,
Cat-tails bring no harm.
Jack-o’-Lantern’s ghost is seen,
Everywhere on Hallowe’en;
Lullaby, lullaby,
Wave your magic charm.
[March off stage.]
Muff Drill
Nine girls enter with muffs, made by covering a muff shape of tag board with white tissue paper; on one side of the muff is pasted an owl’s head, on the other a letter to spell the word “Hallowe’en.”
[Enter girls from left stage, in groups of three at a time. Each girl holds muff in right hand. First group marches to front, holds muffs up, down, right, left, to four counts; marches to back of stage and takes position facing audience. The second group of three now enters, goes through the same exercise and takes place in front of the first group. The last group enters, and goes through the same exercise as the others and takes place in front of others. All now march to front of stage keeping positions. Hold muffs up, down, right, left, wave to and fro, back line holds muffs up, second line holds muffs up, front line holds muffs up. Now put both hands in muffs, wave up, down, right, left, to and fro. All hold muffs over faces, lower them and recite]:
See the muffs on Hallowe’en,
Rather out of season;
Why at this hour they are seen,
We’d rather not tell the reason!
We hide our hands, ’tis very true,
And secrets we will keep from you;
Right foot, left foot, whirl ’round about,
The Hallowe’en muffs have all come out.
[Three girls on left side of group and three on right side face their respective sides and march across stage and return to their places. Center three now march around and weave in and out the left and right columns and resume position. All form circle and march around stage holding muffs high above heads, come to front of stage and holding muffs in both hands so letters are seen, recite]:
H.:
Hallowe’en, Hallowe’en,
Witches are seen.
A.:
All the fairy folks come out.
They’ll scare you without any doubt.
L.:
Look above you, look and see,
The owls are hooting merrily.
L.:
Learn to be heard, but never seen,
At this hour on Hallowe’en.
O.:
Over the hilltop, comes a shout,
Jack Frost cries, “Come out, come out!”
W.:
Witches and hobgoblins, too,
Are often on the watch-out for you!
E.:
Elves and fairies, Jack-o’-Lanterns, too,
Are waiting to scare you, it is true.
E.:
Every year strange sights are seen,
Out in the woods on Hallowe’en.
N.:
Now the last line we have spoken,
Witches’ spell is broken, broken.
[They all sing.]
Tune: “Blue Bells of Scotland.”
1.
Oh where, and oh where, is our witch on Hallowe’en?
Oh where, and oh where, is our witch on Hallowe’en?
She’s gone to scare you all,
For what reason we can’t tell;
So we sing you a song,
And we wish you very well.
[They continue singing.]
2.
Oh where, and oh where, is the black cat on Hallowe’en? etc.
3.
Oh where, and oh where, is Brownie Boy on Hallowe’en? etc.
4.
Oh where, and oh where, is the wise owl on Hallowe’en?
[At completion of the fourth verse they quickly whirl muffs around to show owl’s head, turn, and skip out right and left.]