THE CATS’ MERRY, MERRY MEETING.
Reading edition
Action Song for Six Boys and a Chorus.
Stanley Schell.
Written expressly for this book.
Costume: Every boy wears a different colored costume made from cambric or cotton cloth. First a hood is made perfectly tight-fitting and covering all except the eyes, nose and mouth. Then ears are made and fastened to side of head. The rest of costume is made like a little boy’s night-suit, but perfectly tight-fitting and open at the back. The suit is so made that feet and hands are covered by the sleeves, and legs being of sufficient length to form a sort of glove or stocking. To the lower back of the costume is attached a tail made from the goods rolled in a long coil and sewed together, then attached to suit. Every boy wears a cat-mask fitted under hood.
Stage Setting: At stage center should be placed a table with lighted lamp above it. On table a large pan of milk.
Music: “Merry, Merry Cats.”
[Chorus begins to sing and the cats come wandering in from all parts of stage and on all fours and to act out the words sung.]
MERRY, MERRY CATS.
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Some merry cats, once on a time, Had a merry, merry meeting: They said “Good Day” and “How De Do?” Amid some very loud meowing.
Actions: Boys smile as they enter and see the other cats; then, as they slowly edge around in alert fashion and catch the others’ eyes, they bow, move along, say “Good Day” and “How De Do?” and scamper quickly about “meowing” as they go.
Chorus sings as follows:
How they do scamper round the room, How they do run and play; And such a merry time they have, These merry, merry cats to-day.
Actions: Cats scamper around, roll over each other, give each other gentle pats, etc.
There on the table ’neath the light, Is a pan of milk so clean and white; The cats now see it, and with a cry, All lap until the dish is dry.
Actions: Cats suddenly stop playing as one discovers table and gets up to see what is on table. His discovery is learned by his meow, and all rest paws on table and begin to lap milk from pan.
They now feel full and lazy, too, And walk about and gossip anew Of mice and all the latest styles Of rats and coats, hats, ties and shoes.
Actions: Cats having finished the milk lazily leave table, drop to floor and roll about; begin to wash themselves, then walk about in couples and act as if gossiping about something of greatest interest.
They feel at last ’tis growing late, And yawn and stretch and say “Good Night.” Then give each other sleepy bows, Now see them scamper out of sight!
Actions: Cats act sleepy and move about very lazily. They yawn and stretch a bit, then nod to one another sleepily. Suddenly a crash is heard and all the cats scamper out of sight.