Table of Contents CAST: 2
PROPS: none
SETUP: The narrator walks to the center of the stage and says
that he would now like to present for his audience, that historical
event, Napoleon`s last farewell to his troops, after his defeat
at the battle of waterloo. He builds up the atmosphere, by asking
his audience to imagine these thousands of soldiers, weary from
days of fighting etc. When this has been built up enough,
'Napoleon' enters, sticks his right hand under the left breast of
his jacket, walks forward and says...
Napoleon: "FAREWELL TROOPS".
CAST: 2 scouts
PROPS: none
SETUP: none
1st scout: "OOOOOUCH , OOOOOH , OOOUCH."
2nd scout: "What's the matter with you?"
1st scout: "A bee's stung my thumb."
2nd scout: "Try putting some cream on it then."
1st scout: "But that bee will be miles away by this time."
CAST: 2 (may use another for the police dispatcher to expand
on the skit)
PROPS: none
SETUP: One person lying on the ground, dead. Another sees him and
runs for the telephone and, panicking, gasps,
Scout: "Police, there's a dead person here... Where?....
Uh..."
(looking for a sign)
"I'm at Montgomery and Westchester... Spell it?... Uh,
M-o-t-n... Uh, M-o-t-g..."
(confused)
"Just a minute, I'll drag him over to King and Elm!"
CAST: 5 or more
PROPS: None.
SETUP: One person acts as a lamp post, shining a flashlight on
the ground. Another, SCOUT 1, is groping around in the pool of
light. A third person enters.
Scout 2: "What are you looking for?"
Scout 1: "A quarter that I lost".
[He joins Scout 1, and helps him search. A Scout 3 and Scout 4 enter and repeat the above scene. Finally one of them asks,]
Scout 2: "Where did you loose the quarter?"
Scout 1: (Pointing away)
"Over there:.
Scout 2: "Then why are you looking here?"
Scout 1: "Because the light is better over here!"
CAST: 2
PROPS: none
SETUP: 1st scout walks to center of stage and starts talking in a
loud voice.
1st scout: "Empty cornflakes packet, banana skin, old tin can, bottle top, sweet wrappers, broken bottle, moldy cheese, milk carton."
2nd scout: (Enters) "Say, what do you think you're doing?"
1st scout: "I'm talking a load of old rubbish."
CAST: 4
PROPS: loud horn, air horn or other very loud device.
SETUP: First scout walks to center of stage, stands to attention,
salutes and says...
1st scout: "BE PREPARED".
[This is repeated by three other scouts. When they are all standing side by side, a loud motor horn or explosion is let off behind the audience.]
All scouts: 'We TOLD you to be prepared!'
CAST: 1
PROPS: none
SETUP: 2 scouts spot smoke signals in the distance.
1st Scout: "Hey George, look over there, smoke signals"
2nd Scout: "Oh yes Mike, what do they say?"
1st Scout: "Help..........My..........Blanket's..........On.........Fire."
CAST: 4 - 7
PROPS: sponge, window squeegee
SETUP: An office setting, the boss is at his desk.
[An assistant runs in and excitedly tells the boss that he has just received a message that the Viper is coming. The boss gets very agitated and upset, repeating the assistant's message. Several others come in repeating the same message. They are all in a state of panic when the last person comes on stage with a squeegee and a sponge.]
The Viper: "I'm the vindov viper. I've come to clean your vindovs. Vhere do I start."
CAST: Leader & helpers
PROPS: rope or string
SETUP: The leader gives instructions for playing candy store.
Leader asks people from the audience take a long string and hold on and adds others until there is a long line of people holding onto the string. Then the leader explains that this is the candy store because there are some suckers hanging on the line.
CAST: Leader, helpers & several customers
PROPS: long pole or stick, blanket
SETUP: The leader gives instructions for playing candy store.
A candy store owner enters carrying a long pole. He asks two members of the audience to hold the pole, draping a blanket or sheet over it, explaining that this is the candy store. One by one customers come in asking for different types of candy, to each, the owner replies that he doesn't have any. Finally, a customer asks what he does have. The owner states he doesn't have any candy left except for these two suckers on a stick, pulling the blanket away at the same time.
CAST: SPL & several boys
PROPS: none
SETUP: SPL matches the boys in, single file, with SPL leading
them like a drill sergeant. The SPL tells them to stop and
addresses them.
SPL: "Halt. I have some good news and some bad news. The
good news is that you get to change underwear."
(The boys cheer and he cuts them off.)
"The bad news is that they have to change with each another.
You change with him, you change with him..."
CAST: 2
PROPS: none
SETUP: The "good guy" is chasing Black Bart all around
the area.
There are many Black Bart variations, all revolving around the basic plot of the hero chasing Black Bart. The hero yells non-specific phrases such as:
"Get back here, Black Bart!", "I'll catch you, Black Bart!", "Stop, Black Bart!", "It's no use, Black Bart!", and so forth...
The hero and BB come face to face. BB is cornered, building up the tension. Destroy it with the lines like: "You get the ball, I'll get the bat and we'll meet in five minutes."; "Oh, all right, Black Bart, you use that one and I'll use the other one."; "O.K., it's the great taste, not the low price!"; etc.
CAST: Chief, several Indians
PROPS: sheet or poncho
SETUP: Pick a "volunteer" to be the dead Chief
Shortcake and have him lie down covering with a towel/sheet
except for his head.
Have each boy repeat a line on what to do with Chief Shortcake such as: burying the Chief with all his worldly possessions, should be burned in a great ceremonial fire, put in a cave and seal him up, and so on for as many as you need. The last Indian says that they are all wrong, "I bury Shortcake" and squirts whipped cream on Chief Shortcake's face.
CAST: 2
PROPS: suitcase, briefcase, milk case, etc.
SETUP: First person already on stage, supposedly to introduce
next activity.
Second person walks in with a suitcase. First person asks where he is going. The first person's reply is that he is taking his case to court. A little while later he comes in with the case and also a ladder. This time he says that he taking his case to a higher court.
CAST: 3-4 defendants, judge, cop,
PROPS: none
SETUP: In courtroom in from of judge. Cop brings in defendants
one at a time.
Defendant: "I'm Innocent! I was just picking up pebbles on the beach!"
[Two or more with similar stories. Last person comes on stage either dressed like a guy dressed like a girl or a girl, saying, "Hi, I'm Pebbles", in an alluring manner.]
CAST: elevator operator, 4-5 passengers
PROPS: none
SETUP: An elevator operator is opening the elevator doors and
intoning "Ground Floor, going up".
A passenger gets on and begins to jiggle slightly. The elevator operator intones each floor with a description of what's on that floor. (Women's Clothing, Toys, men's clothing, household, etc.) A passenger gets on at each floor and begins to jiggle as well. As the elevator gets higher the passengers begin to jiggle more. When the top floor is reached the passengers begin to jiggle like mad, the operator intones "BATHROOMS" and they all rush quickly off. The operator suddenly looks funny, begins to jiggle, shouts "ME TOO!" and runs off the stage.
CAST: 4
PROPS: bench
SETUP: Three guys are sitting on a park bench. Goober is quietly
reading. Gomer is pretending to swim in a lake, jumping off the
bench and swimming around. Gopher is pretending to be fishing,
reeling in fish after fish.
[A Policeman comes in and watches them for awhile.]
Policeman: (to Goober) "Hey, Mac, do you know these other two guys."
Goober: "Yes, officer, they're my friends. I brought them here for some fresh air." (looks knowingly at the officer)
Policeman: "I think you better take care of your friends. Take them home before they cause problems."
Goober: "Sure thing, officer."
(to his friends) "Say, boys, climb into the boat."
[the others climb onto the bench and Goober pretends to row off stage.]
CAST: 3-4
PROPS: glass of water, comb
SETUP: There is a glass of water in the middle of the stage.
First scout crawls across the floor crying for water. He dies dramatically shortly after beginning his crawl. The second person dies just short of the glass of water. The third person on his last bit of strength really hams up his desperation as much as he can. He reaches the water, takes out a comb, grooms his hair with the water, sighs with relief and goes off stage.
CAST: 3
PROPS: none
SETUP: A man enters and sits down in a restaurant and orders a
hamburger. The waiter bring out his hamburger and the man starts
eating it.
Customer: "Waiter! There's a hair in my hamburger!! What kind of a joint are you running here!!"
Waiter: (Inspects the hamburger) Why, I'm so sorry sir. I'll bring you a fresh one right away!"
[Another one is brought out, and it has a hair in it. It is taken back and replaced. The third hamburger also has a hair in it. The man gets upset and demands to see the cook. The cook comes out.]
Customer: "I would like to know just how you make your hamburgers."
cook: "Nothing special. All I do is roll the meat into a ball and squeeze it into patties."
[He demonstrates, making patties by placing the meat under his arm and squeezing.]
CAST: king, 3-4 couriers
PROPS: papers, roll of toilet paper
SETUP: The setting can be either a king or a boss in his office.
The leader beckons to a courier or assistant that he wants his royal/important papers. The person runs in with a sheath of papers, the king/boss is quite agitated, tosses them aside and demands that they bring him his important papers.
Other people bring in other papers one at a time, but the king/boss throws them all aside and gets more and more upset, demanding that he must have his important papers.
At last the court jester/office boy comes in with a roll of toilet paper. The king knights him/boss promotes him, thanking him profusely, and runs off the stage in visible relief.
CAST: 4-6
PROPS: none
SETUP: One person is moving along a wall/ground listening and
listening.
Other people come along and ask him what he is doing. He says dramatically, "Listen," and the others do.
One of them says, "I don't hear anything", in a disgusted voice. "LISTEN", he says more dramatically and they listen some more.
Again someone says, "I don't hear anything." The original listener says, "You know," with a faraway look, "its been like that all day."
CAST: 1
PROPS: none (turban)
SETUP:
A guru with a turban on his head comes out and sits down in the middle of the stage. Members of the audience are solicited to take part in the session. They are told to repeat the magic phrase after the guru. When ever this phrase brings enlightenment, they may return to the their seat in the audience.
All sit cross-legged on the guru repeating the guru's actions and words. The guru moves his arms and chants "Oh... Wa... Ta... Goo... Siam..." All chant with him. Keep it up for a long while. Eventually everyone catches onto the fact that they are really saying, "Oh, what a goose I am."
CAST: 2
PROPS: 2 coats, paint bucket, brushes, ladder optional
SETUP: Leader is up front, about to continue program.
A painter wearing two coats pushes through the crowd to the front, excusing himself. He excuses himself saying he is a painter and is supposed to paint this area. The leader asks him why he is dressed for winter. The painter replies that he was told to paint the room with two coats.
CAST: 5-6
PROPS: none
SETUP:
The instrument consists of several kneeling performers. The player strikes each on the head with a fake mallet or his fist as if playing a xylophone. Each player utters a single note when struck. Simple songs such as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" can be played this way.
CAST: 2
PROPS: various personal items, and a pair of long underwear.
SETUP: 2 pickpockets, Freddy Fingers and Hands Harry meet and
embrace each other enthusiastically.
They tell where they've been in the last few years, and as they say good-bye, one says to the other, "oh, you may want this." He gives back his watch. The other one says, "Well, as long as you were so nice, you can have this back." and returns his billfold. This exchange of articles continues until Freddy hands back Harry's pair of underwear. Harry looks into his pants, and admits that Freddy is still the master of the trade.
CAST: 2
PROPS: none
SETUP: It is announced that a member of the troop has memorized
Washington's Farewell Address and is about to do a dramatic
portrayal of it.
[A boy emerges (dressed as Washington, if desired) and delivers his farewell address.]
Washington: "Bye Mom!"
CAST: 4
PROPS: none
SETUP: Pilot/co-pilot and control tower operator/assistant are
located on opposite sides of the stage area. Co-pilot makes
engine noises.
Assistant: "I think that there is a plane overhead."
Pilot: (yelling loudly) "Pilot to control tower, "I'm coming in. Give me landing instructions!"
Tower: (in loud monotone as if through a microphone) "Roger, land on runway number 2."
Pilot: (loudly) "Roger, landing on runway 2 in 10 minutes."
Tower: "Control tower to pilot, why are you yelling so loud!"
Pilot: "Pilot to control tower, because I haven't got a radio!"
CAST: 3
PROPS: can of pop, empty; table or stand
SETUP:
The first person walks in with a can of pop, open and ready to drink it. He sets it down and moves away a little as a second person comes by and starts to talk with him. A third person walks by from the other direction, sees the pop can sitting there and guzzles it, leaving the empty. The first person returns to the pop can, looks at the empty can with a puzzled look on his face, shrugs his shoulders, and then burps as loudly as he can.
CAST: 4-6
PROPS: presents for teacher, box
SETUP: Kids are bringing in presents for their teacher on the
first day of school.
The teacher can tell what the child's parents does by the present he brings, such as apples from parent's fruit stand, baker's child brings rolls, candy maker brings candy. The last person brings in a crudely wrapped package, with yellow liquid leaking out. The teacher tastes the liquid and states that his father must run a bottling factory. The child replies that no, his dad is a dogcatcher, and there is a puppy in the package.
CAST: 3
PROPS: none
SETUP: A prisoner is being brought before a judge for robbery.
The policeman says that he caught him red-handed. Judge asks if it is true and the prisoner says,
"Well, maybe so and maybe not".
The prisoner is asked if he has stolen before and he replies,
"Mmmm... now & then".
Judge, impatient now, asks where he stole these things and the prisoner replies
"here and there".
Judge tells the policeman to lock him up! Prisoner asks when he will get out of jail. Judge smugly says,
"Oh, sooner or later."
CAST: 2
PROPS: glass
SETUP: Scout runs through area several times holding a glass of
water. Finally the leader has enough.
Leader: "What ARE you doing?"
Boy: "The school is on fire!"
Leader: "How do you expect to put the fire out with a tiny glass of water?"
Boy: "This ain't water, it's gas.
CAST: 4-6
PROPS: 'rocket'
SETUP: The scene is the launching pad of a large rocket (fake it,
or can be cut from a large piece of cardboard.)
There is an elaborate countdown, but the rocket fails to go off at zero. All those present inspect it and check on a number of highly-scientific-sounding devices - the supersonic sector wire; the exhaust fin fanstand; the sub-stabilizer exidizer, etc. All seem perfect. Finally a small boy speaks up.
Boy: (Holds up a power cord)
"I've found the trouble. Somebody forgot to plug it in.
CAST: 3-4
PROPS: sleeping bag, brown cotton balls
SETUP: Several slug trainers bring on their trained slug and
deposit it in the stage center. The slug is a person encased in a
sleeping bag.
On command the slug performs various trick such rolling over, sitting up, playing dead, leaping in the air slightly, etc. A volunteer is brought from the audience and is told that the slug is trained to crawl over the human body. The volunteer lays down and the slug crawls across him leaving a dribble of water or brown cotton balls. The trainers apologize.
Trainer: "Sorry, but our slug isn't potty trained."
CAST: 2
PROPS: notepad and pencil
SETUP:
A 'soldier' falls on the ground moaning that he is about to die. The medic kneels over him frantically trying to record his name for the records. He keeps on asking his name, but he is in too much pain to bother with his name and keeps on asking for help. In desperation the orderly tells the soldier that he is dying and that he needs his name to tell his mother. The soldier reply that his mother already knows his name.
CAST: 2
PROPS: none
SETUP: The scene is a park with a statue. (boy, posing as a
famous statue such as The Thinker or The Discus Thrower) A person
introduces himself as Dr. Arthritic Kneecap of the University of
Amputation and Mutilation.
Dr. Kneecap explains having discovered a formula to revitalize calcium and mineral deposits. It even would work on this statue he says. The doctor pours the bottle on the statue which slowly comes to life. The statue and the professor talk about being alive. The doctor then asks the statue what is the first thing you want to do. The statue says that he wants to kill 5,000 pigeons with his bare hands.
CAST: 5
PROPS: turkey costumery
SETUP: Four guys (turkeys) waiting for the Best Turkey Contest.
One turkey is really strutting his stuff, he really wants to win. He preens, even leaves for a minute coming back with additional stuffing and feathers sticking out, etc. Derogatory comments are made about this turkey by the others.
The contest begins and the strutting turkey wins, only to find out that the winner gets to be Thanksgiving Dinner. The turkey starts to run and the judge chases after him, telling the audience how he loves a happy winner.
CAST: 2, 4 or more train members
PROPS: Train - Several boys linked together making chuga choo
sounds, boy in front has a flashlight.
SETUP: Two boys enter as if following a trail. They begin to
argue over what kind of tracks they are.
1st Tracker: "I say they are raccoon tracks"
2nd Tracker: "No they're wolf tracks"
1st Tracker: "No they're badger tracks".
2nd Tracker: "No they're skunk tracks..."
[The argument continues until they are suddenly run over by a train.]
CAST: 3
PROPS: bandages, dirt & blood
SETUP: Three guys all bandaged up and smeared with dirt and blood
come dragging into the meeting with a story about the fantastic
battle that they had just gone through.
1st person: "What a battle, what fantastic odds! We never should have attempted it in the first place! 3 against a 1000, unbelievable!"
2nd person: "It's a miracle that we survived; 3 against 1000, it was truly amazing!"
3rd person: "It's a battle that will go down in history. Blood and guts all over the place!"
[Continue, hamming it up. Finally, one guy says...]
1st person: "Yeah! They were the toughest three guys I've ever seen."
CAST: 6 - 8
PROPS: none
SETUP: Fans are standing in line waiting to buy tickets for the
big game, movie, or concert. The ticket window isn't open yet.
The fans are talking, saying how much they want to attend the
event and wondering when the ticket window is going to open to
sell tickets.
[A person walks up to the front of the line. The fans get upset, tell him to not butt in line and to go to the end of the line, and shove him back. The person tries several times to reach the front of the line and then finally gives up.]
Person: (As he is leaving)
"I give up, they can get someone else to open this ticket
window."
CAST: 5
PROPS: pliers; apples; string; ax or clippers, etc.
SETUP: A boy on-stage is suffering from an acute toothache,
holding his cheek and moaning.
A second boy enters, and the toothache complains to him. The other boy says he will help, and pulls out tooth with a pair of pliers. The boy with the toothache says he pulled the wrong tooth.
Another person comes along and gives him some apples, saying that will cure his toothache. Boy eats them all and ends up with a stomachache.
Another person says to tie a string to his tooth, and tie the other end to a door. They set it up with the door swinging towards the toothacher, and the door hits him in the head. He now has a toothache, headache, and a stomachache.
Another person enters with some hedge clippers, an ax or something.
He says, "I hear you have a toothache". The boy with the toothache says, "Not that!" and runs off the stage.
CAST: 5-6
PROPS: socks
SETUP: Several scouts are returning from summer camp. They all
pile into a car.
One by one the Scouts start holding their noses, coughing, fanning the air in front of their faces, etc. They are all looking at a specific scout as this proceeds. One scout finally complains to the offensive scout that he is stinking everyone out. The offender says that it isn't his fault. The scout accuses him of a peculiar smell, and asks if he has taken a bath, washed his shirt, and finally asks if he changed his socks. The offender claims that he sure has. Irritated, the offender pulls a pair of dirty, smelly socks out of his back pocket as proof.
CAST: 2 Scouts
PROPS: Cooking pot or bucket, fishing pole with line, stool.
SETUP: Center stage is a lad fishing from a bucket. He keeps
pulling the rod as though he has something on the line. A passer
by looks at him as he walks by and then walks on. After a few
steps the passer by comes back to the lad.
Passerby: "What are you doing there then?"
Fisher: "I'm fishing, what does it look as though I'm doing?"
Passerby: "Fishing eh!, what are you fishing for."
Fisher: "I'm fishing for suckers."
Passerby: "Have you caught any?"
Fisher: "Yes you're the third today."
CAST: 4 scouts
PROPS: A cardboard box, and a stuffed dog (or rabbit, etc.)
SETUP: Several participants are gathered around outside the
store, chatting. Roger enters holding the box.
Roger : Hi guys, would you hold this box for me while I go
into the store?
(Exits)
Martin: I wonder what's in the box?
Gerry : I don't know, but something is leaking out!
Bob : (Rubs finger against the bottom of box, then licks
finger)
Hmmm, it tastes like lemon soda.
Martin: (Also rubs box and tastes finger)
No. I think it's more like chicken soup.
Roger : (Returns, looks in box)
Oh, you naughty puppy!
CAST: Scoutmaster, announcer, 3 or more Scouts.
PROPS: A compass and a map.
SETUP: Scouts are gathered around the SM with the map and
compass.
Announcer: In this scene, we see a Scoutmaster teaching a Patrol about maps and compass.
Scoutmaster: Now fellows, if you take a bearing from the map this way you can now stand up and, keeping the compass away from your belt buckle, walk along the bearing until you reach your destination. John, you try that.
[John Does as instructed, exits, re-enters]
Scoutmaster: In the same way you can take a bearing on a distant object, and use that to find where you are on the map. Now, each of you take a bearing on that big tree on the hill top.
[Other boys Do as instructed, passing compass around, making suitable comments. This continues for a few moments]
Scoutmaster: All right, let's all gather around. That wraps up tonight's compass lesson. There is just one more important point! Never, never buy a TATES compass.
Tom : Scouter, why should we never buy a TATES compass?
Scoutmaster: You know the old saying: "He who has a TATES is lost!"
CAST: 4 Scouts and the cook.
PROPS: a large pot, several spoons, and a floor mop (a large rag
would work). A chef's hat or apron would also be useful.
SETUP: Several boys are seated around a large pot, sampling the
imaginary contents with the spoons.
Announcer: This scene takes place in the camp Dining Hall.
Scott : Boy, this is sure good soup.
Brad : Yep, it's got REAL flavor.
David : Sure is, why it's even better than my Mom makes.
Matthew: Oh yeah. It's the best food I've eaten at camp all week.
Cook : (Enters waving floor mop and shouting)
Hey you guys! Get out of my mop water!!!
CAST: 2
PROPS: Set for customer, if available.
SETUP: Waiter enters, puts down bowl of soup on the table and
begins to leave. Customer picks up spoon and starts to dip it
into soup.
Customer: Waiter, waiter, there's a fly in my soup!
Waiter: (Returns, very snooty, peering into the soup)
Oh, yes, you are right sir. That will be an extra 25 cents for
the meat.
Customer: But waiter, he's swimming all over the top!
Waiter: (Still snooty) You are right, sir. It doesn't know it's a fly, sir. It's doing the Butterfly stroke.
Customer: Well, I think it must be an Australian fly!
Waiter: Why do you say that sir?
Customer: BECAUSE NOW IT'S DOWN UNDER!
CAST: 4
PROPS: bag
SETUP: Three guys are talking.
Leader: "Look, there is the UGLIEST man in the world. He is so ugly he keeps his face covered."
[All look and point at a boy or man with a bag over his head].
1st Guy: "I don't believe he is the ugliest man in the world."
[The he goes over and looks under the bag and promptly dies, screaming.]
2nd Guy: "I don't believe anyone can be that ugly."
[He also looks and dies or faints.]
Leader: "I didn't think he was ugly enough to kill my friends. I'd better check into this."
[So he looks and the "ugly man" promptly dies screaming.]
CAST: 4 or 5 scouts, leader
PROPS: blanket
SETUP: 4 or 5 scouts bend over at the waist and hold on to the
one in front. All are covered with a green blanket.
Leader: "Hey everyone, this is my trained caterpillar,
Hermy. Hermy can do tricks. Want to see some?"...
"Hermy raise your right legs."
[Hermy does and all clap. Next raise left leg up, then hop, etc.]
Leader: "For Hermy's best trick we need a
volunteer."
[Select a volunteer. 'Volunteer' is told to lay down and Hermy,
with all of his legs will step over her and never, never step on
her even once. So volunteer lays down and the caterpillar steps
over him very carefully, but the last person dumps a bucket of
water on the volunteer]
Leader: " I'm so sorry, but Hermy isn't potty trained."
A variation on this is the trained elephant:
The elephant trainer goes through a similar routine with an elephant named "Nuts" (2 people under a gray blanket) but the animal's name is part of the command, as in "Sit, Nuts", "Stand, Nuts", etc.
After the elephant has obeyed 3 or 4 commands, the trainer declares that his elephant can walk over people without hurting them. He then gets one volunteer to lay in the path of the elephant and he says, "Walk, Nuts." Since the volunteer is undamaged, the trainer gets another and has them lay side-by-side so the elephant can walk over both of them. Increase the number of people as often as you like. Eventually, the (pre-chosen) victim is in the line of people on the floor. Then another actor wanders through the audience with a tray of small, brown paper bags and (loudly) calls "PEA...NUTS", whereupon the back end of the elephant lifts one leg and dumps enough water to be obvious onto the victim.
Remember: NUTS, the name of the elephant, MUST be included as the last part of each command.
CAST: 4-5 inmates, jailer
PROPS: none
SETUP: The scene is set up as Crazy Charlie is being thrown in a
jail. Prisoners are laying around the yard, killing time.
Someone calls out "37!" and the inmates burst into laughter. Moments later "57!" is called out and more laughter results. Crazy Charlie asks the guy next to him what is going on. He is told that they have been together so long that everyone knows each others jokes so well that they have numbered the jokes to save time.
After a while Charlie decides to give it a trial and calls "52!", but no one laughs; there is complete silence. Charlie asks his friend what is wrong. His friend tells him not to worry, that there isn't anything wrong. "Some people can tell jokes and some people can't."
CAST: 2, or more for more echoes
PROPS: none
SETUP: At echo canyon.
[The leader announces there is an unique echo in this area and he is going to try it out. The following is a dialogue between the leader and the echo - a person out of the room or out of sight.]
Leader: Hello
Echo: Hello
Leader: Cheese
Echo: Cheese
Leader: Bologna
Echo: (silence)
Leader: (to group) It must not be working now. I'll try something else.
(to echo)
Our leader is great. (or) the camp food is great (or) etc.
Echo: Bologna
CAST: Narrator, 2 actors
PROPS: rope or cord
SETUP: Two people, one a fisherman and the other a fish market
manager come on and hold a long cord between them.
The fish market manager attempts to call the fisherman on the telephone to see if he has any fish today, and the fisherman acts as if he can't hear him.
Narrator explains the phone line must be drooping to close to the ground, so 'Volunteers' are brought out of the audience one or two at a time to hold the cord between the fish market and the fisherman. The fish market man attempts to call each time. When several people are holding the line, the market man is able to communicate with the fisherman.
The fisherman says that he doesn't have any trout but he does have a lot of suckers hanging on the line.
CAST:
PROPS: 1 or 2 flashlights, depending on the area to be covered.
SETUP: Act out a scene as in an old-time movie. Any kind of
simple script (western, heroine and villain, etc.) can be written.
Must be dark. 1 or 2 scouts are setup with flashlights between
the action and the audience. The actors move slower than normal,
while the flashlights are flashed back and forth across the stage
area. Experiment with how fast the flashlights are moved to get
the right effect.
Run through a short movie scene. Just as the scene is about to end, the narrator says, "Oh no! Something's wrong - it's going backwards!" Then run through the whole scene backwards. Keep the scene short, to only a minute or two.
CAST: 3 - 5 scouts, members of the audience, as desired.
PROPS: none
SETUP: First scout comes on.
Note: This one is so old, but it appeals to the lads in my troop.
First Scout: 'Oh no I've lost it'
[He then starts to search around on the floor. Second scout comes in.]
Second Scout: "What are you looking for?"
First Scout: "I have lost my little green ball."
[Both scouts continue searching the floor. Several more scouts come on and are told about the lost little green ball. Members of the audience can be persuaded to join in the search. After enough time has been dragged out, the first scout sticks a finger up his nose.]
First Scout: "Don't worry, I will just have to make another one."
CAST: Four scouts
PROPS: You need a cooking pot in the center of the stage.
SETUP: Cooking pot is set up on a fake campfire. 1st scout walks
to pot carrying his mug. He dips his mug and takes a drink.
1st Scout: "THIS CAMP COFFEE IS GETTING WORSE!"
[2nd scout walks to pot carrying his mug. He dips his mug and takes a drink.]
2nd Scout: "THIS CAMP TEA IS GETTING WORSE!"
[3rd scout walks to pot carrying his mug. He dips his mug and takes a drink.]
3rd Scout: "THIS CAMP CHOCOLATE IS GETTING WORSE!"
[4th scout walks to pot, dips his hands in and takes out a pair of wet socks. As he wrings them out he says. ]
4th Scout: "I THOUGHT THAT WOULD GET THEM CLEAN!"
CAST: 4 or more
PROPS: Articles of clothing
SETUP: Scout 2 enters and passes Scout 1, wearing a hat.
Note: In the USA this would be J.C. Penny or Montgomery Ward or such.
Scout 1: "Where did you get the hat?"
Scout 2: "Timothy Eaton."
[Scout 3 enters and passes Scout 1 carrying a pair of pants.)
Scout 1: "Where did you get the new pants?"
Scout 3: "Timothy Eaton."
[Others enter carrying new articles of clothing and offer similar explanations. Finally # 4 enters wearing just underwear.]
Scout 1: "Who do you think you are dressed like that?"
Scout 4: "I'm Timothy Eaton!"
CAST: 3-man 'machine' crew, leader, etc.
PROPS: large log, twig, small rock, large rock, buckets of water.
SETUP: Two scouts hold up a blanket with a person behind it with
a large log, large rock, and water. The crowd is never to see the
setup of the person behind.
Leader: I have just invented an enlarging machine. Whenever something is put in, it comes back out bigger. I want people to come up and try it out, and help me prove it really works. Can I have a volunteer?
[The 1st volunteer is told to throw over the blanket a small twig... out comes the log -- wow amazing].
[2nd vol. is told to throw over a small pebble... out comes the large rock -- wow again (be careful where you throw.)]
[3rd vol. (previously setup) is asked to spit over the top of the blanket... the blanket falls and the volunteer is drenched.]
Variation 1: Drench the leader. Just don't get anyone wet without asking first.
Variation 2: Instead of ending on water take a small scout and throw him in. A large troop/staff/leader member comes running out and chases the person that tossed him in.
CAST: 2
PROPS: chair, notepad & pencil
SETUP: A person comes to a psychologist and says that he needs
help. The patient thinks that he is a dog.
[The patient is holding up his hands like a dog begging. Throughout the skit the person acting like a dog, scratching behind his ear, whining, panting with tongue out, etc.]
Doctor: "How long have you had this problem."
Patient: "Ever since I was a puppy."
Doctor: "Would you please lie down on the couch?"
Patient: "I'm not allowed to get up on the furniture."
Doctor: "Why haven't you seen a doctor sooner?"
Patient: "My family liked having me fetch the paper every day for them."
[Doctor's advice is to make sure that he gets all his shots and don't go chasing any cars.]