BUY BONDS
KEEP ’EM FLYING
/ S4I
VOL. XXII.
WINSTON-SALEM. N. C.. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26. 1942.
Number 1 5.
• •
MERLIN DIARY
• • •
ACT I
The scene is laid in King
Oughter’s Knight Club. On
the rear wall is a large parch
ment sign bearing the name of
the club with illuminated let
ters. In center back is a dias
upon which is a table for two
'covered with a ted checked
tablecloth. In the front left is
a large round table set with
soup plates and coffee cups.
There is also a dinner bell on
the table. About the table are
four benches. Bright colored
tapestjries adorn the wall.
When the curtain rises King
Oughter and Queen Grinydean
are discovered sitting on the
dias at the small table. King
Oughter is slumped in his chair
with one foot up and reading
the Camelot Observer. Queen
Grinydean i s embroidering
tapestry. Both are wearing ap
propriate crowns.
King Oughter: (throws the
paper down and sings) Tune:
Soloman Levi:
The times are medi-evil and
we’re in a sorry state
When editorial comment says
that Knight Clubs do not
rate!
The Camelot Observer even
dares to drop a hint
That some imply romance may
dye since Thursday’s out of
print
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, etc
(Rises from the table, steps
from the dias and paces the
floor).
Repeats: The times are medi-
evil, etc.
Queen Grinydean: Just keep
calm. King Oughter, your
knights are still hot numbers,
and may win fame and fortune
any day now.
King 0.: Well, anyway. I’m
getting hungry, and I wish the
boys would hurry. (He sits
again at the table reading the
Observer).
(Enter Dancealot dressed in
evening clothes, but wearing
knightly helmet and carrying
shield ai^d spear. With him are
Sir Twistum and Sir Percev-
erin’ dressed in full knightly
costumes. They wave to King
Oughter and Queen Grinydean
and March to the front of the
stage. They sing: Tune: Here
Comes three Dukes a’roving):
Here come three Knights a-rav-
ing, a-roving, a-roving,
Here come three Knights a-rov-
a-roving.
With their Knightly chivalry.
Dancalot:
I am famed Sir Dancealot, Sir
Dancealot, Sir Dancealot,
I am famed Sir Dancealot, with
his Knightly chivalry.
Twistum:
I am called Sir Ti’istum bold.
PLAY
(In Three Acts)
Produced by the Medi-Evil Opera Company of Salem College
And Salem Academy
Dramatis Facultae
King Oughter
Queen Grinydean
Sir Dance-a-lot
Sir Twistum
Sir PercTverin’ ^^"'§^‘® Oughter’s Court
Sir Kayper
Lilyrtiayd of Astolat
Maid Marian
Lady of Shalott
Two Pages
Gadabout, Knight of King Oughter’s Court
Lynette, Leader of the Chorus Girls
Nine Chorus Girls, Enough said!
A quinas \ Scholastic Philosophers
B-quinas )
TTiree Little Monks
Merlin. Magician — Yes. and correspondent!
Scribe — A-Line-A-Day!
Queen Morgan le Fay, Queen of the Evil Forces
The Six Deadly Sins *
The Lesser Evils
Messenger
The Black Knight
Castor ||)
Damsels in Distress
Stars, of course!
Pollux )
Vivien, the Sorceress
Marco Polo, disguised as Friar
Herald
A Palmer
* The Seventh absent but unexcused!
Any resemblance to persons medi-evil or modern is purely intentional.
Sir Twistum bold. Sir Twis
tum bold
I am called Sir Twistum bold,
with my Knightly chivalry.
Perceverin’:
And I’m Sir Perceverin’, -ev-
erin’, -everin’.
And I’m Sir Perceverin’ with
my Knightly chivalry.
King 0.: Hello, boys! Soups
on, and I’m starved. We won’t
wait for the others.
Queen G.: W’^here have you
been, Sir Dancealot?
Sir Twistum: Oh, he’s just
been Scouting around!
Dancealot: Sorry to be late
but I’ve just learned a new
step. ,1 (He tries to persuade
Grinydean to dance, but she
looks at Oughter and refuses.
He does a step or two of a
dance and then the three
Knights pub down their shields
and spears and sit at the
Round Table).
(Enter Sir Kayper carrying
an immense dish of meat, and
pointing his toes in the air as
he takes each step. He is wear
ing an apron over his knightly
garb).
Kayper: (Sings to tune:
“When I was a Lad, I served a
turn”):
When I was a lad I served as
Squire
To the Knights and the King
until I rose higher
Now I see that the viands do
not fall
And polish up the pewter for
the good brown ale,
I polish up the pewter, but I’m
not so hot it’s true
When it comes to joining
Knightly jousts or deeds of
daring do.
(He places the meat on the
Round Table and does a caper
as he repeats);
I polish up the pewter, but I’m
not so hot it’s true
When it comes to joining
knightly jousts or deeds of
daring do.
(He sits at the table with the
other three Knights).
Sir Dancealot: Let us drink
to King 0. and his noble Queen
(he makes a sweeping bow
toward Queen G.)
Queen 0. to King 0.: It’s
Sjinka and won’t disturb your
knight’s rest.
Knights: (stand with raised
coffee cups and sing): Tune:
Drink, Drink, from The Stu
dent Prince:
Drink! Drink! Drink to King
Oughter and drink to the
Knights of his table so
round,
“Drink, Drink,” from The Stu-
lady whose equal can never
be found.
(The Knights sit down and
begin to eat. There is a wail
ing. In comes Lilymayd in an
evening dress, in her right
hand a lily and in her left a
letter from the Cuts Commit
tee.)
All: Why, it’s Lilymayd of
Astolat!
Sir Kayper: In distress as
usual.
Lilymayd sings: (To “El
mer’s Tune”):
I don’t want knowledge at col
lege, just frolic and friends
I’m all forsaken, they’ve taken
my cuts and week-ends.
I went to Claude’s place, such
disgrace. Who will make
amends
For my tragic doom!
Dancealot: Would ye noble
Lord, but bid me rise from this
bench that I without discour
tesy may leave the table and
not displease my leige lady, I
would come to the aid of the
fair damsel yonder.
King 0.: Sure, I’d like to do
it myself, (Queen G. frowns,
extends a restraining hand),
but I suppose it wouldn’t do.
Sir Dancealot (kneels before
Lilymayd: I shall seek out
your cuts and week-ends and
restore them to you again.
Lilymayd sings:
If you’re not kidding, I’m will
ing, come give me your hand
(he rises;
The cuts committee lacks pity,
but you understand —
Lets dance the Samba, I am a
partner that’s grand
T’will lighten the gloom.
(They dance the Samba to
gether. At the end of the dance
they move to one comer and
talk).
Enter Maid Marian, weeping,
(Continuud on Page Two)