Excerpt from Reminiscences of the Donation Party

A curtain may be used if convenient, but if not, the entertainment can very readily be given without one, the characters taking their places as minister's wife sees them in imagination - a moving panorama of living objects. A little thought will readily adapt matters. Take for instance Mrs. Hoxie, she could bring in her chair and pan of apples as if she were settling herself for work at home, the nurse could bring in chair, then help patient seat himself, and offer food. Any desired characters may be omitted. Care should be taken that everything is in readiness and that there are no delays in the appearance of the characters. A good reader is essential. The Minister's Wife should be seated, near front, at side of stage, and should appear to be indulging in a reverie without noticing the characters. She may have a copy of the play in her lap, not seen by the audience, if she does not have time to memorize the part. There is a curtain near back of stage and in stage directions where it states the character "appears, " the curtain is raised and it is lowered at directions of "curtain, " giving the next character time to take his place. If produced without curtain, the characters may enter from one side and exit at the other side of the stage.

Characters And Costumes.

Minister's Wife - A neatly dressed, middle-aged woman.

Mrs. Atherton - Real old lady, white hair, black dress, white fichu, lace cap. She is reading a Bible.

Crazy Jane - Very old style dress, huge skirt, enormous bustle, large bonnet and fan. She fans vigorously, nods, stops fanning, wakes, fans vigorously again, nods again, drops fan, grabs it, fans, etc.

Deacon Bridges - Old gentleman with cane, very smiling.

Mrs. Harlow - A very fashionably dressed lady using lorgnette or monocle.

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