"I once directed this skit and, having prepared it with the kids a few weeks prior to the actual campfire (and the kids

being from another group), I'd forgotten that I had to arrange for their brooms. So in the middle of the skit, I

remembered about the brooms and quickly ran into the camp kitchen to get the brooms!

"It seems to me that this one perhaps could use a little "setting the scene" -- perhaps start off with the "actors"

standing around on break, and the Director calling them in, saying that they'd had enough time already. On that note,

I once participated in the presentation of this skit. I was a fifth cleaner who was sort of on break, sort of working. I

had a coffee cup, a broom, some towels, etc. I would go up and clean the camera, sweep around the son who was

lying on the ground, occasionally try to interrupt, but not quite manage to, etc. After a verbatim presentation as

follows, I added in, "Yeah guys, let's get back to work!"

"Otherwise known as "At the Movies" from the Leader Magazine -- text from the Best of the Leader Magazine Cut

Out Pages." Author

Cast: Director, Others in a Studio (Clapper Board, Lighting Men), Mother, Son, Doctor, Undertaker, brooms

for the actors

Director: Lights, Camera, Action!

Clapper: Scene one, Take one!

The actors play the scene without the least sign of emotion as lighting people follow and cameraman films.

Mother is flipping pancakes at the stove when son walks in.

Son: Mom, I don't feel too well. (He collapses)

Mom: (Goes over, looks at son.) Oh, I'd better call the doctor. (Moves to the phone, dials making click,

click, click sounds.) Doctor, come quick. My son's collapsed.

Doctor: (Enters, checks pulse and breathing.) He's dead. I'd better call the undertaker. (Goes to phone,

dials making dialing sounds like Mom did.)

Undertaker, you'd better come. I have a dead body here.

Undertaker: (Enters and begins to measure the body.)

Director: (Jumps up.) Cut! Cut! That was terrible. You had no emotion AT

ALL! Let's do it again. This time, give me more emotion!

Cast: (Exiting) Right. More emotion.

Director: Lights, Camera, Action!

Clapper: Scene one, Take Two!

The actors redo the scene, using exactly the same words, but with great hammy histrionics. Mom weeps

uncontrollably throughout, son dies very dramatically, etc. At the same point as in Take One, the Director yells,

"Cut! Cut!"

Director: That was better, but too fast. Let's try again. This time, slow it down. Lights, Camera, Action!

Clapper: Scene on, Take three!

The actors redo the scene in slow motion -- talking slowly, mowing slowly. For example, when the telephone is

dialed it goes click ... click ... click ... and after the doctor check's the son's pulse, the son's hand falls slowly back

to the floor, etc. The Director yells "Cut!" in the usual place.

Director: That was far too slow! Let's speed it up!

This time the actors do the scene so quickly that the son throws himself to the ground, the doctor is there before

Mom can hang up, and so on.

Director: (At the same place) Cut! That was absolutely terrible! Actors? Do you call yourselves actors!!??

Cast: Actors? Who said anything about actors? We're the cleaners! (All pickup brooms and exit.)