' D E W I T T ' S " Ethiopian and Comic Dram No. 160. DE [15 Cents. W I T T ' S ETHIOPIAN A N D COMIC DRAMA. SCENES IN FRONT OF A CLOTHING STORE A Farce, IN ONE SCENE. By FRANK DUMONT, Author of " Helen's Fanny Babies,'1 " Cupids Frolics," "Absent Minded" "The Wonderful Telephone" " A Desperate Situation" " Whose Baby is it ?Z " Unlimited Cheek" "The Noble Savage" "An Awful Plot," "Election Day" "My Wife's Visitors,'1 "The Sulphur Bath," " One Night in a Medical College," "Mr. Mikado" etc., etc. TO WHICH ARK ADDED, A Description of the Costumes -Cast of the Characters—Entrances & and Exits—Relative Positions of the Performers on the %x Stage and the whole of the Stage Business. ^ New York: THE DE WITT PUBLISHING HOUSE, No, 33 Hose Street. NOW READY. A COMPLETE DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS, AND DE WITTS ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMAS, containing / Plot, Costume, Scenery, Time of Representation, and every other info SCENES' • IN FRONT OF A CLOTHING STORE. A Farce IN ONE SCENE. AS PERFORMED BY CARNCROSS' MINSTEELS AT THEIR OPERA HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA. AND BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS AT THEIR OPERA HOUSE, NEW YORK CITY. By F R A N K DUMONT, Author of u Helen's Funny Babies," •" Cupid's Frolics," "Absent Minded" " The Wonderful Telephone," "'A Desperate Situation," u Whose Baby is it?" " Unlimited Cheek," "The Noble Savage," "An Awful Plot," "Election Day," "My Wife's Yisitors," "The Sulphur Bath," "One Night in a Medical College," «' Mr. Mikado," etc., etc, . TOGETHER WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUMES—CAST OF THE CHARACTERS—ENTRANCES AND EXITS—RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE PERFORMERS ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE OF THE STAGE BUSINESS. NEW YORK: THE DE WITT PUBLISHING HOUSE, No. 33 ROSE STREET. Copyright, 1889, by R. H. RUSSELL & SON. 2 SCENES IN FRONT OF A CLOTHING STORE. CAST OF CHARACTERS. MONEYMAKER, proprietor of clothing store MONROE DICKINSON, a seedy individual JOB HOOSICK, another of the same sort MRS. VANDALIA. a housekeeper HIRAM POUNDCAKE, a baker's errand boy DAVID BEESLEY, a fish peddler ..... SELTZER, a mineral water vender SanFrancisco Minstrels, New York' .Frank Dumont. Billy Birch. Charley Backus. Charles Gibbons. Carroll Johnson. George Powers. Edwin French. POLICEMAN H. W. Frillman. TIME IN PLAYING—FIFTEEN MINUTES. SCENERY. Scene on flat representing front door and show windows of a clothing store; door open, end of counter with clothing on seen through window; windows appropriately dressed, displaying clothing, etc.; chains attached to side of door for fastening dummies. COSTUMES. MONEYMAKER—Genteel business suit, dark color. DICKINSON—Seedy, badly-fitting costume. HOOSICK—Same. MRS. VANDALIA—Street dress of housekeeper, with market basket on arm, as if just returning from market. HIRAM POUNDCAKE—Gray pants, white apron, baker's cap. DAVID BEESLEY—Fish vender's rig. SELTZER—Well-worn business pants and vest, no coat. POLICEMAN—Policeman's uniform. PROPERTIES. Spade for DICKINSON; bank-note for MONEYMAKER; fish-line for HOOSICK; paper signs for DUMMIES; market basket containing butter, sausage, popcorn balls, etc., for Mrs. VANDALIA; japanned tray, with small tin plate containing pie, for HIRAM; basket containing large imitation lobster for BEESLEY; box containing three or four empty mineral water bottles, and two large bottles charged with seltzer water, with faucets to work freely, for SELTZER; club for POLICEMAN; assortment of vegetables for crowd. NOTE.—This farce, although played on the minstrel stage as an after piece in black faces, may be done equally well or better in white faces, and such dialects given to the respective characters as may best suit those who are to sustain the parts. It liias been localized in various cities by putting on the programme the name of some leading, clothing house " Scenes at Rogers. Peet & Co." in New York; " Oak Hall " in Boston; "Wanamaker's" in Philadelphia, etc. V10.1 SCENES IN FRONT OF A CLOTHING STORE. SCENE.-—Exterior of a clothing store. Enter MONEYMAKER, C. D. F. MONEY. Confound i t ! thieves are getting so bold, snd fearless that my two new wir.e dummy figures have again been stolen, and with them two suits of my best clothing. This makes the sixth time my figures hav$ been stolen, in spite of the vigilance of the police and my clerks. I know what I'll 4o—I'll get two live men to dress in my suits and stand before the door, It wilf thett be impossible to steal them. Hello! this , looks like a ;peraou looking for work. Eater MONROE DICKINSON, L. 1 E., with spade on his shoulder. MONROE. I wonder What that feller's looking at me for. MONEY. Are you looking for employment? MONROE. Noi as I know of. MONEY. Are you seeking for work ? MONROE. Work never bothers me any. MONEY. I mean, are you looking for a position? MONROE. Yes; I'm going fishing. Do you know any good place where i can dig worms? MONEY. Look here, sir. I want to hire you to do some work. I want; you to be a dummy. MONROE. A dummy engine? MONEY. NO, a dummy "figure. Listen to me. I wish to dress you in a, suit of fine clothes and have you stand before my store, perfectly motionless and silent, all day long. MONROE. Ain't you afraid I'll get sun struck? MONEY. NO danger of that, sir. MONROE. HOW much does the dummy get? MONEY. I'll give you five dollars a day. MONROE. Give it to me first. I can't be a dummy unless I have security. MONEY. Very well, sir; here's your money, (bus.) Now hurry in and put on the suit. I want to attract the attention of people returning from market, MONROE {examining bill). The srreen on this bill rooks faded. MONEY. The bill is genuine. Now let me tell you, sir. If y:m speak, or in any way betray that you are a living man, you will forfeit the money that I intend to give you as an extra, inducement. MONROE. What is the extra inducement? 4 SCENES IN FRONT Of A CLOTHING STORE. MONEY. For remaining silent I'll give you live dollars additional every day. MONROE. I'm ready to be induced, (holds out hand.) MONEY. Wait until you have earned it. MONROE. I'm silent now. I ain't saying anything, am I? MONEY. Wait until your day's work is done. Is it a bargain ? MONROE. Yes; on account of the inducement I am induced to accept. Enter JOB HOOSICK, L. 1 E., with fish-line. JOB (to MONROE), Hain't you dug any bait yet? MONROE. GO 'Jong, man ; I ain't going fishing. I'm hired for a dummy. JOB. What kind of a dummy? MONROE. I'm going to be dressed up in fine clothes and stand in front of this store. Go on ! go on ! Go and fish ; I don't know you. JOB. Well, ain't you going to keep your contract with me? MONROE. I tell I don't know you. I'm a dummy. Move on! move on! MONEY, (to MONROE). Wait a moment I will engage your friend to represent the other dummy. JOB. How much does the dummy get? MONEY. I will pay you according to your figure and style. MONROE. Then he ought to get about five cents a year. MONEY. I want both'of you to work for m e ; but remember, if you speak or move you forfeit the engagement. Now step inside and put on the suits my clerks will give you; and lay aside that fish-line and shove'i. MONROE. Let me keep the shovel, and I will look like the "Old Sexton." MONEY. Hurry up, both of you. and put on the suits. JOB. Oh! ain't this lucky! Wear new clothes everyday, and don't have to pay for them ! MONROE. Come along, cheap dummy, (both enter store.) MONEY. This is a grand idea of mine. No more stealing of wire figures and loss of suits. I think these men are honest, and I'm sure the'idea will be a success, and that rival clothing dealers will soon adopt the plan. Come, hurry up, there ! {bus. ad lib. until comedians are attired and come forth, MONROE with a plaid suit and sign-board on his breast, "This suit only $5.50"; JOB wears suit marked, "This style $4.00." MONEYMAKER compliments them upon their appearance, and places them R. and L. of o. D. and adjusts them in position.) MONROE. Can we go offon a visit if we want to? MONEY. Well, not during business hours. So Til chain you both to the doorway. MONROE (aside). That knocks it in the head. I thought I was going to slip-away with this suit. (MONEYMAKER chains them both to the doorway, keeping them apart.) MONEY. Now remember, under no circumstances are you either to talk or move. If you do, you forfeit the mouey. (enters store.) Enter MRS. VANDALIA, R. 2 E., with market basket, in which, are rolls oj butter, balls of popcorn, and links of sausage. She stops and admires the suit that MONROE 'wears, feeling the texture of the cloth. MRS. V. There's a suit would fit Johnny. MONROE. Let up, there! * You're pinching my arm. SCENES IN FRONT OF A CLOTHING STORE. 5 MRS. V. What's that? Bless me! I thought I heard the figure speak. {feels coat.) MONROE {squirming). Quit! You're tickling me. MRS. V. I don't think the vest would tit him. {feels vest.) MONROE. I hope she'll keep her claws off that five-dollar bill I've got in my vest pocket. MRS. V. The pants are too long. MONROE. I don't care ; they lit me well enough. JOB. Say, come over here and look at my suit. MRS. V. Only five dollars and a half! I'll buy the whole suit. (MONROE steal sausage, butter rolls, and popcor?i—eats popcorn^) JOB. Halves in that popcorn. MRS. V. That's the cheapest suit I ever saw. {takes out snuff-box and opens it. MONROE takes pinch of snuff and passes a pinch over to JOB. While MRS. V. -is praising the suit both dummies yawn and try to keep from sneezing, then both at once give vent to' a terrible sneeze. MRS. V. starts in great fright and dashes away R. 1 E. Dummies laugh. MONROE greases his head with the butler and eats the popcorn. JOB vainly endeavors to get some.) MONROE. Lay low. Here comes somebody else. The game is yours this time. Enter HIRAM POUNDCAKE, L . 2 E., with small tray containing a small pie. He stops to admire MONROE'S suit. HIRAM. That's a cheap suit at five dollars and a half. It would just fit me too. {feels cloth, pinching MONROE, who makes a wry face, and watching his chance, steals the pie and eats it. JOB makes frantic attempts to attract MONROE'S attention and get some of the pie. HIRAM during the time admires suit, etc.) HIRAM. Well, I.guess I'd better move on with this here pie, or else I'll be late with it. [Exit, R. 2 E. JOB {cries). You git everything to eat, and you don't give me a bit of it. Give me some of the pie. MONROE {eating voi-aciously). Too late. It's all gone. If anything more eatable comes along it's yours, t : Enter DAVID BEESLEY, L. 2 E., with basket containing a large green lobster. DAVID {shouting). Crabs, lobsters, oysters, and clams ! Hello, that's a nice suit, {goes over to JOB and admires the suit.) JOB. This is the cheapest suit you ever saw. {steals hand into basket and quickly withdraws it, uttering a terrible yell; the lobster is seen fastened to his fingers, and he dances about in pain. DAVID, terribly frightened, rushes off'L. 2 E., shouting for the police. MONROE reaches over to JOB'S assistance and a claw of the lobster is fastened to his hand also. Both pull and yell until MONROE gets the lobster, which in his pain hs jams into his pocket. MONEYMAKER comes hastily from the doorway to ascertain the cause of the rumpus.) MONEY. What do you mean by this, noise? {neither JOB or MONROE speak)Do you hear me? Was it one of you that uttered that terrible yell? {not a word or movement) IJow nicely they represent the dummies. What a glorious idea, and how well they curry it out. {re-enters store.] MONROE. Golly! that lobster is chewing up my ribs. 6 SCENES IN FRONT OF A CLOTHING STORE. JOB. LAY low. Here comes somebody. Do I have this one to myself? MONROE. Yes, this is yours. Enter POLICEMAN, R. 2 E. Both dummies quail and tremble as he fixes a stem gaze on them. POLICE. How much these figures look like a couple of rascals I was ufter yesterday. Under the pretence of fishing they were stealing watermelons. (JOB winks at MONROE. BUS. ad lib.) I wish it wns them. How quick L would nab them and lock them up. The smallest of the two is a great scoundrel; a bigger thief never lived (MONROE laughs) except it is the other one. (JOB laughs) I'll be on the lookout for them. That's a cheap suit, {examines MONROE'S suit) I wonder if there is anything in the pockets, {looks R. and L. and searches MONROE'S vest pocket—finds the bill) Hello, here's luck—a five-dollar bill in the pocket of the vest.. Money's getting plenty when dummy figures have it about them. {Exit, L. 2 E. MoNRpE dejected. JOB {laughing). The cop's got your money—ha, ha, h a ! MONROE. That's a nice way to serve a dummy. JOB. Lay low. Here conies somebody else. Enter SELTZER, L. 2 E., with box of mineral water, two large bottles of seltzer water, with faucets to work. He pauses to admire suit on MONROE. SELTZKR. When the boss pays me I'm going to get that suit. (MONROE steals two bottles of seltzer, passing one to JOB as the boy looks up. MONROE works the faucet, sending stream of waiter in boy's face—boy shouts "Police ! " Crowd rush on—MRS. VANDALIA. DAVID, HIRAM and POLICEMAN. They pelt dummies with all sorts of vegetables. MONROE and JOB dodge the missiles and work the mineral water into their faces at every chance. MONEYMAKER comes out from door, c , between them; they deluge him with contents of bottles.) CURTAIN. STAGE DIRECTIONS. R means Right of Stage, facing the Audience; L. Left; C. Centre; R. C. R'ght of Cciitre; L. C. Left of Centre; D. F. Door in the Flat, or Scene running across the i.;ick of the Stage; C. D. F. Centre Door in the Flat; R. D. F. Right Door in the Flat: L. D. F. Left Door in the Flat; R. D. Right Door; L. D. Left Door; 1 E. First Kiitrainee; 2 E. Second Entrance; IT.E. Upper Entrance; 1, 2 or 3 G. First, Second or Third Groove. R. R. C. C. L. C. L, if^T The reader is supposed to be upon the stage facing the audience. DE WITT'S AND The ETHIOPIAN COMIC DRAMAS best and most complete list of Ethiopian and Comic "•• Dramas ever printed. Not only are the plots excellent, the characters droll, the incidents funny, the language humorous, but the situations, by-play, positions, pantomimic business scenery, and tricks are so plainly set down and clearly explained that amateurs can put any of them on the stage without the slightest difficulty. Included in this Catalogue are some of the most laughable and efTective pieces of their class ever produced. Most of the female'roles may be assumed by male characters. [ggPIn ordering, please be particular to give correctly full title of the play desired. the [BIT3 Any of the following plays sent, postage free, on receipt of price—fifteen tents each. | 3 i p A d d r e s s as on first page of this Catalogue* DE WITT'S ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMA. No. I T H E LAST OF T H E MOHICANS. An Ethiopian Sketch, 1 TRICKS. 3 H E M M E D I N . A n Ethiopian S k e t c h , b y J. C. Stewart. C h a r acters, three male, one female. Costumes modern. Scene, a studio. Acting time, twenty minutes. 4 E H ? W H A T IS I T ? An Ethiopian Sketch, by J. C. Stewart. by J. C. Stewart, Characters, three male, one female. Costumes of the day, except Indian shirts, etc. Scenery, a chamber and a wood, Acting time, eighteen minutes. An Ethiopian Sketch, by J. C. Stewart. Characters, five male, two female. Costumes of the period. Scenery, two interiors= Acting time, eighteen minutes. Characters, four male, one female. Costumes of the day, Scene, a ahdmber. Aciing time, twenty minutes- DE WITT'S DRAWING-ROOM OPERETTAS. price 15 Each. The number of Musical Amateurs, both ladies and gentlemen, is not only ve ry large, but is constantly increasing. And very naturally, for there is no more refiiiec* and pleasant mode of spending leisure hours than in singing and playing the ohoici productions of our best composers. Hitherto there has been an almost total lack (A' suitable pieces adapted to an evening's entertainment in parlors by Amateurs. ,0\ course whole Operas, or even parts of Operas, require orchestral accompaniments and full choruses to give them effect, and are therefore clearly unfit for Amatei r ; performance, while a succession of songs lacks the interest given by a plot audj* contrast of characters. In this Series we have endeavored to supply this want. rJfhe aest music of popular composers is wedded to appropriate words, and the wh;olfl Woven into plots that are effective as petite plays—but are rendered doubly interest* ing by appropriate and beautiful music, specially arranged for thorn^ t A f r i c a n u s B l u e l i e a r d . Ethiopian iuarlesque, in 1 act Music and dialogue by Frank Dumont. 6 male, 2 female characters. / C h a r g e o f t h e H a s h B r i g a d e (The). Comic Irish Musical Sketch. Mi/isim Offenbach's celebrated opera, " La Princess de Trebizoude." Libretto by A. B. Sedgwick. 1 male, 1 female character. S i n g l e M a r r i e d M a n (A). Comic Operetta, in 1 act. Music arranged from Offenbach's celebrated Opera Bonffe, " Madame l'Archiduc." Libretto by A. B. Sedgwick. 6 male, 2 female churacte.s S o l d a g a i n a n d g-ot t h e M o n e y . Comic Operetta, in 1 act. Music and Libretto by Alfred B. Sedgwick. 3'male, 1 female character. ' f a i l off a- S h a r k ( T h e ) . Musical Monologue. By Tom Hood, Sr. Introduo. tion and music rewritten and adupted by A. B. Sedgwick. 1 female character-. T w i l l S i s t e r s (The). Comic Opera, in 1 ai:t. Music from the most popular numbers in Le Cocq's celebrated Opera Bonffe, « Girofle-Girofla." Libretto « by A. B. Sedgwick. 2 male. Ai'emai« oiiaraotai-a. E IOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMA.- -Continued. No. V ' 49. Nfcnt in a Strange Hotel, Ethiopian sketch 132! Noble Savage, E t h . sketch 153. Ncvah's Good Bye, I r i s h musical enetchi 145. Nc Pay No Cure, E t h . sketch 22, Obeying Orders, E t h . s k e t c h . . . . . . 27. lCOth Night of Hamlet, Eth. sketch 125. OL, H u s h I operatic olio, 3 scenes. 30. One N i g h t i n a Bar^Room, E t h , sketch , 114. One Night i n a Medical College, E t h . sketch .* 76. Oae>, Two, T h r e e , E t h . sketch 91. P a i n t e r ' s Apprentice, E t h . farce... 87. P e t e a n d t h e Peddler, E t h . a n d I r i s h sketch 135. P l e a s a n t Companions, E t h . sketch. 92. Pojlar Bear, E t h . farce 9. Policy Players, E t h . sketch. . . . . . . 67. Poimpey's P a t i e n t s , E t h . interlude, 2 'scenes ' 65. P o s t e r ' s Troubles, sketch 66. Pot* t Wine v s . Jealousy, s k e t c h . . 115, Private Boarding, farce • 14. Recruiting Office, E t h . eke ten 105. Reliearsal (The), I r i s h farce, 2 s c . . . 45. Remittance from H o m e , Ethiopian sketch - 55. Rigging a P u r c h a s e , E t h . s k e t c h . . 81. Rival Artists. E t h . sketch 26. Rival T e n a n t s , E t h . sketch 138. Rival B a r b e r s ' Shops, E t h . farce.. 15. S a m ' s C o u r t s h i p , E t h . farce 59. Sausage Makers, E t h . sketch, 2 sc. 21. Scampini, p a n t o m i m e , 2 s c e n e s . . . 160. Scenes in F r o n t of a Clothing Store, farce 80. S c e n e s on t h e Mississippi, E t h . sketch, 2 scenes 84. S e r e n a d e (The), E t h . sketch, 2 s c . M.F. 2 4 1 2 5 2' 7 4 1 1 1 1 7 7. 1 7 5 2 5 4 7 1 1 1 6 6 . 2 3 5 4 1 1 3 2 6 3 75. 4 93. 4 6 1 29. 2 1 97. 5 1 137. 6 3 143. 99. 7 1 85. 116. 6 7 M.F. Siamese T w i n s , E t h . sketch, 2 s c . . 5 Sleep Walker, E t h . sketch, 2 scenes 3 Slippery Day, E t h . sketch 6 1 Squire for a Day, E t h . s k e t c h . ; . . . 5 1 Stage-struck Couple,Eth. i n t e r l u d e 2 1 Strangers, E t h . b u r l e s q u e 1 1 Streets of New York, s k e t c h , . . . . . 6 Storming t h e F o r t , sketch 5 Stupid Seavant, sketch 2 Stocks U p ! Stocks D o w n l E t h . farce . 2 S u l p h u r Bath, E t h . farce 3 Take It, D o n ' t Take It, E t h . sketch 2 T h e m P a p e r s , E t h . sketch 3 T h r e e Chiefs, E t h . sketch, 2 scenes. 6 T h r e e A. M., sketch, 2 scenes. . . . 3 1 T h r e e Strings t o o n e Bow, E t h . sketch 4 1 Ticket Taker, E t h . farce 2 Tricks, E t h . s k e t c h . . 5 2 Two Awfuls, E t h . sketch ,... 5 Two Black Roses, E t h . sketch 4 1 Uncle E p h ' s D r e a m , E t h . sketch, 2 scenes 3 1 L J i t e d States Mail. E t h . farce 2 2 Unlimited Cheek, E t h . sketch 4 1 Vinegar Bitters, E t h . sketch 6 1 Wake u p , William H e n r y , E t h . sketch , 3 Wanted, a N u r s e , sketch 4 Weston, theWalkest, Dutch sketch 7 1 What Shall I Take ? E t h . farce 7 1 Who Died F i r s t ? E t h . sketch 3 1 W h o ' s t h e Actor? E t h . farce 4 Whose Baby is i t ? E t h . s k e t c h . . . 2 1 Wonderful T e l e p h o n e , E t h . sketch 4 1 Wrong Woman in t h e R i g h t Place, sketch, 2 scenes 2 2 Young Scamp, E t h . sketch 3 Zacharias' F u n e r a l , E t h . f a r c e . . . . 6 > A C o m p l e t e D e s c r i p t i v e C a t a l o g u e of De W i t t ' s A c t i n g P l a y s a n d D e W i t t ' s E t h i o p i a n a n d Comic D r a m a , c o n t a i n i n g P l o t , C o s t u m e s , S c e n e r y , T i m e of B e p r e a e n t a t i o n , a n d all o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , m a i l e d f r e e a n d p o s t - p a i d o n a p p l i c a t i o n . A d d r e s s a s o n F i r s t P a g e of t h i s C a t a l o g u e . PANTOMIME PLAY, ,f Tl la fc HUMPTY DUMPTY." lebrated Pantomime, as originally played for 1,000 nights by the SORGE L. Fox. Arranged by John Denier, Bs$, Eight male, dmale characters. Price, 25 Cents. g*tf***tftf**Wtf% 5 ^ Eg ^'WBmm^^^M^Sm^-M will TO 'MANAGE AMATEUR J> ^J§ & Jt> & £ THEATRICALS*" u A n Indispensable Book for Amateurs. Plain instructions for constructing and arranging stage, making scenery, getting up costumes, making up, producing stage illusions and effects, etc., together with many valuable suggestions for managers and players* Handsomely illustrated with six colored plates. Price, Twenty-five cents each, &1&&&&&&&&&1Z&& Uf\ ^ . ^ D E WITTS SELECTIONS FOR AMATEUR AND & j> PARLOR THEATRICALS. J> &k 11 & J> Nos. \f 2, 3, 4 and 5* & <£ 1 Comprising the choicest selections, from the very best dramas, comedies, tragedies and farces, both modern and classic, especially adapted for presentation by amateurs, and for parlor and drawing-room entertainments. 5 Price, Twenty-five cents, each number. <£ . ^MYMYMYMYMYMYIYkm