THE QUEEN OF HEARTS

NORMAN THE JESTER (alias CHARLIE CH...)

PRINCE PERCY

PRINCESS APRICOT

PRINCESS ROSEMARY (RASPBERRY)

PLASTIC PEG

AS MANY VILLAGE MAIDENS AS POSSIBLE.

THE QUEEN and APRICOT should be dressed in a very extravagant fashion with plenty of jewellery and decoration, perhaps even tiaras.

ROSEMARY (RASPBERRY) is dressed in a more modest fashion. At the end she dresses more elaborately for the wedding.

CHARLIE should have a colourful jester type costume with a big hat with a feather, for beginning and end, navy trousers and top for beach scene.

PERCY Doublet and hose, hat with a feather for beginning and end similar sailor type outfit for seaside scene.

PLASTIC PEG in a gypsy type outfit.

VILLAGE MAIDENS in colourful skirts and tops with bright head scarves. In the beach scene they wear “bathing dresses” of old fashioned style with mob caps.

THE BEARDS can be made in a variety of simple ways, such as knitted in black wool, starting at the bottom with one stitch and increasing at both ends of alternate rows until wide enough to fit the chin. Sew a small length of elastic to go over the ears, so they are easy to put on. They do not have to be too realistic.

Make the most of the beach scene with coloured balls and buckets and spades with some of the maidens holding up sticks with various emblems cut out of paper to represent the sun, boats, ice creams etc. With appropriate music the village maidens can paddle, swim, and pose for photographs etc.

The songs are set to traditional tunes, but music either live or taped will add to the atmosphere. The acting should be lively and “over the top” and the audience encouraged to join in.