Near Columbine, place a practical uncooked artichoke; have this of good size, and nail it to a wooden standard, painted black.  At both places there are tall white wooden goblets.

In the centre of the table there should be a curious, grotesque, but very gay flower, standing upright in a pot of wood or heavy paper, which will not break when Thyrsis drops it.  Concealed at the root of this plant there should be a small sack of black confetti, to be used in the “poison scene.”

The table should be set with nothing but these articles, and yet give the appearance of bounty and elegance.

Place the table parallel with the footlights,—­the long side toward the audience.

Columbine’s chair is at the actors’ right, and Pierrot’s opposite—­Columbine’s hat hangs from her chair-top.  Both chairs are festooned with tissue-paper ribbons, at least ten feet long, to be used later by the shepherds to represent their wall.  These must be of such a texture as to break readily when Corydon walks through, and a prearranged transverse tear or two will assist in the prompt breakage when he does so.

PROPERTIES: 

Two white wooden bowls, one filled with fruits and the other with confetti and paper ribbons,—­one ribbon to be of cotton or silk, in order to be not too easily broken by Corydon when strangling Thyrsis

Two tall white wooden goblets

One artichoke nailed to a standard

One flower in paper or wooden pot, the root wrapped with black crepe paper (or use confetti)

Black and white tablecloth

Macaroons

Boots and prompt-book for Cothurnus (large flat black book)

Also, if desired, mask of Tragedy for Cothurnus

Crepe or tissue streamers of different colors, including no red or blue, for wall.

COSTUMES: 

PIERROT:  Lavender or lilac satin, preferably a blue-lavender.  Care should be taken that the lavender does not turn pink under the stage lights.  Pierrot’s costume is the conventional smock with wide trousers, with black crepe paper rosettes on the smock, wide white tarleton ruff.  Black evening pumps with black rosettes may be worn.  Black silk skull-cap.

COLUMBINE:  Tight black satin bodice cut very low, with straps over the shoulders, quite like the modern evening gown; very full tarleton skirts of different shades of pink and cerise, reaching to the knees; ruffled bloomers of apple-green tarleton, the ruffles showing below the skirts; black silk stockings and black ballet slippers, laced with green.  Hat of lavender crepe paper, with streamers of gay colors—­including, however, no clear red or blue.  Hat should be small and very smart—­not a shepherdess hat.  Columbine should be made up to suggest a doll.  As originally interpreted she had short light hair, standing out bushily all over her head.  Long hair should be rolled under to give a bobbed effect, or could be arranged in obvious caricature of some extreme modern style, but must look attractive, and must be blonde.