By BILLY ST. JOHN © Copyright 1999, by Pioneer Drama Service, Inc

Performance License The amateur acting rights to this play are controlled exclusively by PIONEER DRAMA SERVICE, INC., P.O. Box 4267, Englewood, Colorado 80155, without whose permission no performance, reading or presentation of any kind may be given. On all programs and advertising this notice must appear: “Produced by special arrangement with pioneer drama service, inc., Englewood, Colorado.” copying or reproducing all or any part of this book in any manner is strictly forbidden by law.

All other rights in this play, including those of professional production, radio broadcasting and motion picture rights, are controlled by pioneer drama service, inc., to whom all inquiries should be addressed. SOMEONE SAVE MY BABY, RUTH! Or... Foil That Villain!

A Sweet Melodrama by BILLY ST. JOHN

CAST OF CHARACTERS

TAFFY ��a sales clerk at The Sweet Shoppe TOFFEE ��another sales clerk HUBERT ��a customer TOM ��another customer MRS. MURPHY ��yet another customer MINNIE ��her child PRALINE CANDY ��owner of The Sweet Shoppe SIDNEY SWINDLE ��a villain FARRON HEIT ��a candy cook CINDY GRADE ��another candy cook PENNY CANDY ��a sweet young widow and our heroine. She carries around her infant, Baby Ruth, a real doll (and played by one!) ADA SOURBALL ��a villainess ERNEST NOBLE ��a policeman, our hero EXTRAS ��if desired

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES TIME: The late 1800s. PLACE: A Boston candy store called The Sweet Shoppe and a park nearby. Scene One: The Sweet Shoppe. A summer afternoon. Scene Two: The park. About sunset. Scene Three: The Sweet Shoppe. The following morning. Scene Four: The park. About sunset. Scene Five: The Sweet Shoppe. Immediately following.

For previewii only SOMEONE SAVE MY BABY, RUTH! Or... Foil That Villain!

Scene One The Sweet Shoppe. A summer afternoon. The setting is The Sweet Shoppe, a store filled with delicious confections. The front door, which has a window in its upper half, is STAGE RIGHT beside a large window that faces a street; a backdrop beyond depicts store fronts from the late 1800s. The UPSTAGE CENTER wall contains shelves on which sit baskets of various candies; each candy is individually wrapped in foil or plastic or paper. A counter is STAGE LEFT on which are more baskets of candy, paper bags, pencils and an old- fashioned cash register. A swinging door to the kitchen is behind the counter on the STAGE LEFT wall; a light switch is beside it. Steps lead down into the audience. LIGHT-HEARTED MUSIC of the period is played before the show and FADES OUT as the CURTAIN RISES. AT RISE: TOFFEE and TAFFY, two young sales clerks wearing aprons over long dresses of the period, are busy waiting on customers HUBERT and TOM. The two young men wear white pants, pastel shirts and straw boater hats as they flirt with TOFFEE and TAFFY. At the counter are MRS. MURPHY and her ten-year-old daughter, MINNIE. (NOTE: MINNIE can be played by an adult.) SIDNEY SWINDLE, our villain, stands at the shelves UPSTAGE; he will keep his back to the audience until indicated. EXTRAS can be used, standing together chatting and holding their paper bags of candy. As they talk to the boys, TOFFEE and TAFFY take candy from the various baskets and drop them into small brown paper grocery sacks, then write the number of candies inside on the bag with pencils. ALL ad-lib about the selections a couple of beats. MRS. MURPHY: I’m ready to pay for my purchases now. TAFFY: (Calls out.) Miss Praline! PRALINE’S VOICE: (OFFSTAGE LEFT.) Coming! PRALINE: (ENTERS STAGE LEFT. She is a cheerful woman in her forties or older.) I’m sorry, Mrs. Murphy. I was going over a new recipe for bon-bons with my cooks, Farron Heit and Cindy Grade. MRS. MURPHY: That’s quite all right, Praline. MINNIE: Bon-bons? Yum! PRALINE: I’ll give you a sample the next time you come in, Minnie, dear. They’re delicious, if I do say so myself. MRS. MURPHY: I have no doubt they are. All of your confections are

For preview1 only heavenly. I adore your candies... (She hands her the sack.) as you can see. PRALINE: (Reads the number on the bag.) Twenty-five pieces. That will be 25 cents. MRS. MURPHY: (Takes a quarter from her reticule.) A penny apiece. Even though your prices are higher than your competitors’, it’s worth it. MINNIE: I hope you stay here forever and ever! PRALINE: I certainly plan to. Business couldn’t be better. MRS. MURPHY: obviously. It looks as if you could use more help. PRALINE: funny you should mention that. As a matter of fact, my late husband’s niece, Penny Candy, is due to arrive from Hershey, Pennsylvania, with her baby, Ruth, any minute now. She’s going to assist in the shop. MINNIE: mama, can we stay so I can play with Ruth? PRALINE: I’m afraid the sweet little thing is too young to be a playmate for you just yet, Minnie. Baby Ruth is an infant. MINNIE: oh, I thought she was a girl. MRS. MURPHY: She is, dear. An infant is a baby. (To PRALINE.) And your niece’s husband? PRALINE: alas, he’s gone. Reese was a sailor and was lost at sea. MRS. MURPHY: How tragic! By the way, I’d also like five cents’ worth of saltwater taffy. PRALINE: I have some right here. (She takes five pieces of candy from a basket on the counter and adds them to the sack.) MRS. MURPHY: You were saying about your nephew? PRALINE: The boiler on the poor lad’s ship exploded, and the vessel sank beneath the waves. They never even recovered Reese’s pieces. MRS. MURPHY: What a sad story! PRALINE: Yes. This brings the total to 30 cents. (MRS. MURPHY gives her a nickel from her reticule. PRALINE rings up the purchase on the cash register and puts in the coins.) MRS. MURPHY: My goodness, I had better leave before I spend my entire household allowance on sweets! Come, Minnie.

For preview2 only M INNIE: Yes, Mama. Bye-bye, Miss Praline. PRALINE: Good-bye, dear. (MRS. MURPHY and MINNIE cross to STAGE RIGHT and EXIT. If EXTRAS are used, they also will EXIT, chatting quietly.) Taffy, Toffee, I’ll be in the kitchen. Call me when the customers are ready to complete their purchases. TAFFY/TOFFEE: Yes, Miss Praline. (PRALINE EXITS STAGE LEFT. SIDNEY turns forward. He is a typical villain, greedy and cruel. He wears a suit of the period, spats, perhaps a bowler hat, and has a moustache that curls up on the ends. VILLAINOUS MUSIC COMES IN. SIDNEY glances at TOFFEE, TAFFY, TOM and HUBERT, who are in their own little world giggling and flirting. They continue to do so quietly in the background.) SIDNEY: (Turns back to face the audience, then crosses to DOWNSTAGE to talk to them in an aside.) Sidney Swindle, here—I’m the villain of this piece. (He gives a villainous laugh. The MUSIC STOPS.) I just thought I’d get that out of the way. So Mrs. Candy’s niece, Penny, and her baby are going to be moving in? Too bad. You see, I’ve tried to persuade the old biddy to sell me The Sweet Shoppe, but so far she has turned me down. I’m prepared to make one final offer. If she refuses, then she will have to meet with a tragic accident so that I can buy the property at public auction. In order for that to happen, she must leave no heirs, which means if she goes, then the niece and her little brat must go as well! (He gives another laugh.) I guess you want to know why I’m so desperate to take possession of the old woman’s business here, huh? Well, I could just tell you, but I’ll go find the villainess, my partner in crime, Ada Sourball, and we’ll cover it in the dialogue, okay? We’ll be right back. Don’t go away, you hear? (He crosses to the door STAGE RIGHT and EXITS.) TOFFEE: (To HUBERT.) Miss Praline’s fudge is delicious. I can’t decide what else to get. TAFFY: (To TOM.) My favorite is her peanut brittle. HUBERT: You know what Tom and I would really like? Some kisses. TOFFEE: (Touches a basket.) They’re right here. TOM: That’s not the kind we mean. (TOFFEE and TAFFY giggle.) TAFFY: You’re just awful, Tom! Aren’t Tom and Hubert just awful, Toffee? TOFFEE: Yes, they are, Taffy! (She whispers.) They’re awful cute. (The GIRLS giggle.) HUBERT: What do you say, girls? How about a little sample? (He and TOM pucker their lips and make kissing noises.) For preview3 only TAFFY: now, stop it! TOFFEE: Do you want to get us fired? TOM: aw, Miss Praline would never fire you. She’s too tender-hearted. HUBERT: Yeah, she’s as soft in the center as a chocolate-covered caramel. TOFFEE: (To HUBERT.) Well, you’re that soft in the head if you think I’m going to kiss you in public. HUBERT: Then let’s go someplace private. Can I meet you when the store closes and walk you home... maybe through the park... about sunset? TOFFEE: Well... TOM: That sounds like a good idea. What about you, Taffy? Can I walk you home, too? TAFFY: Well... HUBERT: (To BOTH GIRLS.) You won’t be sorry. (He and TOM make the kissing noises. The GIRLS squeal.) TOFFEE: all right, we’ll go! Just stop it! TAFFY: Yes, stop it! You look like a pair of guppies! (The BOYS laugh.) TOM: We’ll be back about five-thirty. (He indicates the sacks the GIRLS are holding.) Put those under the counter. We’ll pay for them then. Let’s go, Hubert. HUBERT: Till we return, ladies. (He and TOM tip their hats, cross to STAGE RIGHT, turn back, make more kissing sounds, then EXIT. The GIRLS break into giggles, still holding the candy bags.) TAFFY: Those boys are just awful! TOFFEE/TAFFY: awful cute! (They giggle. Suddenly, we hear the CRASH OF PANS from the kitchen. TOFFEE and TAFFY jump, startled. A beat later, FARRON HEIT storms IN STAGE LEFT and crosses below the counter and to DOWN CENTER. He is in his forties or older. He wears white pants, shirt, long apron and chef’s hat and carries a spoon.) FARRON: That’s it! A culinary artiste can not work under these conditions! It’s impossible! (CINDY GRADE storms IN STAGE LEFT and crosses to him. She, too, is middle-aged and wears a white dress, apron and chef’s hat. She carries a ladle. PRALINE follows her IN and stops DOWN LEFT.) CINDY: You’re the one who’s impossible! The recipe tastes better with dark chocolate! For preview4 only FARRON: Semi-sweet! CINDY: Dark! FARRON: Semi-sweet! PRALINE: farron! Cindy! Please! You can make a batch of each and let the customers buy whichever they prefer. FARRON: Well... CINDY: I suppose... PRALINE: You’re both wonderful cooks. I just wish you wouldn’t lose your tempers so easily. CINDY: I apologize, Miss Praline. I’ll wash the chocolate I flung off the walls. FARRON: And I’ll wash mine off the ceiling. I apologize as well, Miss Praline... to you, but not to her! (He points his spoon at CINDY; to her.) I am a creative genius. You are nothing but a clumsy candy cooker! CINDY: (Points her ladle at him.) Oh, yeah? Well, why don’t you go stick your head into a vat of chocolate and create the world’s largest chocolate covered peanut?! (FARRON gives a cry of outrage and lunges at CINDY with the spoon. She parries with the ladle. SPRIGHTLY MUSIC POPS IN as they proceed to sword fight with their utensils.) PRALINE: farron! Cindy! Stop that! Suppose a customer should come in? TOFFEE: This is better than a Mack Sennett comedy! TAFFY: Yeah, but... Cindy! Farron! I think I smell something burning! (The MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY. FARRON and CINDY freeze.) FARRON: (Cries out, then to CINDY.) See what you’ve made me do? If the batch of candy is ruined, it’s all your fault! (He rushes around the counter to the door STAGE LEFT.) CINDY: (Follows him.) Burning can only improve your candy! (They EXIT STAGE LEFT.) PRALINE: oh, dear. Sometimes I wonder if hiring two cooks was a good idea. TAFFY: It was a great idea, Miss Praline. I think it’s because Cindy and Farron keep trying to outdo each other that they keep coming up with such wonderful recipes.

For preview5 only T OFFEE: Yes, and they never would have invented those delicious peanut clusters if Farron hadn’t flung some goobers at Cindy while she was holding a bowl of chocolate. PRALINE: I guess you’re right. Where are the young men? TAFFY: They’ll be coming back later. We’ll put these under the counter until they return. (She and TOFFEE cross behind the counter and put the sacks on a shelf underneath.) PRALINE: Very well. (She joins them behind the counter.) While you’re not busy, I need you to cut some squares of wrapping for the bon- bons when they’re ready. (She takes a box of foil and two pairs of scissors from under the counter.) If Farron and Cindy can call a truce long enough to make a batch. TAFFY/TOFFEE: Yes, ma’am. (They cut off narrow strips of foil which they cut into two-inch squares. The foil’s box is covered with plain brown paper to hide any modern brand name on it.) PRALINE: Sales have been so brisk today, I suppose I had better make sure we’re not running low on any of our selections. (She crosses around the UPSTAGE end of the counter and checks the candy baskets UPSTAGE.) Gum drops... mints... jaw breakers... (A LIGHT, SPRING-LIKE TUNE is heard as the door STAGE RIGHT opens and PENNY CANDY ENTERS, carrying BABY RUTH, a doll wrapped in a blanket, and a small valise or carpet bag. She wears a light-weight coat over a long dress of the period, a hat and gloves and carries a reticule. PENNY is a sweet, pretty girl in her early twenties—our heroine.) PENNY: aunt Praline? (The MUSIC FADES OUT.) PRALINE: Penny! (She rushes to her and hugs her.) Penny Candy! You’ve arrived! Welcome, child. PENNY: Thank you, Aunt Praline. How will I ever repay you for opening your door... and your heart... to me and my Baby Ruth? PRALINE: Hush up, now! We’re family, and families should be there for one another. Let me see my new little niece. (She takes BABY RUTH.) What a sweet little thing! PENNY: and such a doll, too. Baby Ruth never cries. PRALINE: Taffy, Toffee, come meet Penny. (TAFFY and TOFFEE cross below the counter and join them.) Penny, these are my clerks, Toffee and Taffy. They’ll show you how to wait on customers. TAFFY: miss Praline has told us all about you.

For preview6 only T OFFEE: We’ve been looking forward to meeting you. (They shake hands with PENNY.) PENNY: and I, you. Aunt Praline has written me all about you and the cooks and The Sweet Shoppe. I know I’m going to love it here. PRALINE: and this is Baby Ruth. TOFFEE/TAFFY: (Look at the baby.) Awwww. (They and PRALINE make silly “kitchy-koo” type noises.) TAFFY: She’s beautiful. TOFFEE: Yeah—she’s a real doll. PRALINE: I’ve prepared a bassinet for her in the kitchen so we can all keep an eye on Baby Ruth during the day. TOFFEE: and Taffy and I helped Miss Praline prepare a bedroom for you in her apartment over the shop. PENNY: The whole place smells like peppermint. I’ll love living over a candy store. PRALINE: Penny, why don’t you go with the girls up to your room where you can freshen up? I’ll put Baby Ruth in her bassinet. PENNY: all right, Aunt Praline. TAFFY: (Picks up the valise.) I’ll take this for you. TOFFEE: This way. (They lead PENNY to the door STAGE LEFT. PRALINE follows, “goo-gooing” to the baby.) We were sorry to hear about your husband, Penny. PENNY: Thank you. Though the Fates can be cruel, they can also be kind. After all, they brought me and my child to this secure haven. What trouble could touch us now? (ALL EXIT STAGE LEFT.) SIDNEY: (ENTERS after a beat at the door STAGE RIGHT, leaving it open, and crosses to CENTER. VILLAINOUS MUSIC COMES IN. Aside.) What trouble, indeed? (He gives another nasty chuckle. The MUSIC HALTS.) I’m back. Sorry I took so long, but I told Ada to meet me a block from her house, and she got lost. Between you and me, she’s not the sharpest tack in the barrel. At any rate, it’s time to bring her on. (He looks at the STAGE RIGHT door.) Pssst! Ada! The coast is clear! (RAUNCHY MUSIC STRIKES UP as ADA SOURBALL ENTERS STAGE RIGHT. She is attractive, but not too bright. She wears a dress and a hat of the period. Her clothes are of a dark color, perhaps burgundy.) ADA: all right, already, I’m here! (The MUSIC HALTS.)

For preview7 only SIDNEY: This is the store I was telling you about. ADA: (Looks around.) It’s a nice little shop, but it would never make anyone rich. So why do you want to buy it? SIDNEY: (With a glance at the audience.) I was hoping you would ask. (They step DOWNSTAGE.) This is top secret information, Ada. Boston is soon to become the first city in America to build a subway system. ADA: Subway? What’s a subway? SIDNEY: (Aside.) She got that question right, too! (He moves about; to her.) A subway is an underground railway. Trains will someday carry passengers under Boston from one end to the other. ADA: Under the city? Like moles? I never heard of such a thing! SIDNEY: It’s the wave of the future. The first subway was built in London in 1863, 30-odd years ago. It was only a matter of time until one would be constructed in the United States. ADA: and the first subway here will be in Boston? SIDNEY: Yes. What’s more, I’m negotiating a deal with the city council to sell them the land where the tunnels will be dug. The main entrance will be right where we’re standing, once I buy The Sweet Shoppe and have it torn down. Without this piece of property, the plan will fall through, and the land I’ve already bought will be worthless. I’d be ruined, Ada, and I’m not about to let that happen! (To audience.) You get all that? ADA: So where do I come in? SIDNEY: now that you know where the shop is located, I want you to come back tomorrow, when there are lots of customers here, and buy some candy. Eat a piece, and pretend to get sick—act like you’ve been poisoned. That should drive Praline Candy’s customers away and ruin her business, whereupon I’ll make my final offer to buy it. If that plan fails, I’ll... (He pulls a finger across his neck in a cutting fashion.) ADA: You’ll run your finger across your neck? SIDNEY: never mind! (Aside.) Now do you see why I’m the brains of this outfit?(To ADA.) Let’s leave before anyone comes in and sees us together. No one must suspect we’re in cahoots. (He takes her arm and pulls her STAGE RIGHT.) Come on. ADA: okay! Okay! Easy on the material! (SIDNEY opens the door STAGE RIGHT.) I just got one question.

For preview8 only SIDNEY: What’s that? ADA: Where’s “cahoots”? I thought we were in Boston. SIDNEY: (Exasperated.) Ahhhhh! (He pulls her OUT STAGE RIGHT, then closes the door. After a beat, PENNY ENTERS STAGE LEFT without her coat, hat, etc. She has donned an apron. She crosses below the counter to DOWN CENTER.) PENNY: (To herself.) Ahhh... how fortunate am I, to know the comfort and love of a family, and to have shared love with a wonderful man, my dear late husband, Reese. Though I shall never forget him, perhaps I shall find love again someday... an earnest, noble man to be a help-mate and a father to my Baby Ruth. ERNEST: (ENTERS STAGE RIGHT. He is a policeman, dressed in a uniform of the period. ERNEST is our hero, a nice-looking, brave and kind young man.) Oh, hello. I haven’t seen you in The Sweet Shoppe before. Are you a new clerk? PENNY: Yes, I am, Officer. I’m Praline Candy’s niece, Penny Candy. ERNEST: (Offers his hand.) I’m pleased to meet you. (PENNY extends her hand.) I’m Ernest Noble. (They touch hands to shake. ROMANTIC MUSIC SWEEPS IN; for a couple of beats, they freeze, overwhelmed by the feeling that courses through them, then they release their hands and the MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY. Both feel awkward, stunned by love at first touch.) ERNEST: I... PENNY: I... ERNEST: (Turns forward, to himself.) How lovely is this pretty Penny! I should do my duty and arrest Cupid, for he has surely shot an arrow through my heart! PENNY: (Turns forward, to herself.) Can this be love again, so soon? Has Fate sent me another to fill dearR eese’s shoes... wherever they are? (They break their reverie and turn STAGE LEFT as there is a SCREAM from CINDY, OFF STAGE LEFT. She bursts through the door STAGE LEFT and runs DOWN LEFT, followed by FARRON, who is brandishing a large knife.) FARRON: You kitchen witch! I’m going to kill you! (He and CINDY freeze as they see ERNEST. FARRON quickly puts the knife behind his back. To ERNEST.) Just kidding! CINDY: Hello, Officer Noble. ERNEST: ms. Grade, Mr. Heit, is there a problem?

For preview9 only FARRON: a problem? No, no problem! (He puts an arm around CINDY’S shoulder.) Everything’s fine. CINDY: (A growl under her breath to FARRON.) Move it or lose it! (FARRON hastily drops his arm. To ERNEST.) I think everything will be all right, Officer... now. FARRON: (Backs to the door STAGE LEFT.) Uh... Cindy... I believe I was about to show you the proper way to cut the fudge. CINDY: (Follows him.) The day I need you to show me anything, I’ll let you know! (They EXIT STAGE LEFT.) PENNY: You don’t suppose he...? ERNEST: Would hurt Cindy? Not a chance. They fight all the time, but underneath, I suspect they care a great deal for each other. PENNY: I hope so, Officer. ERNEST: Please, call me Ernest. PENNY: ernest. And you may call me Penny. ERNEST: Penny... PRALINE: (ENTERS STAGE LEFT.) Penny, I... oh, hello, Ernest. I see you’ve met my niece. ERNEST: miss Candy, yes. PRALINE: It’s Mrs. Candy. Penny is my niece by marriage. ERNEST: Marriage? (To PENNY.) You’re married? PENNY: I was. My late husband, Reese, a sailor, now lies beneath the salty brine. (She wipes away a tear.) ERNEST: How sad! (Aside.) And how that single tear makes me want to hold and comfort her! PENNY: I shall always treasure his memory, and the legacy he left behind, a daughter, my precious Baby Ruth. ERNEST: You have a child? I love children. PENNY: You do? (Aside.) What a tender heart beats beneath that shiny badge! PRALINE: Would you like to see her? Baby Ruth is sleeping soundly in her bassinet beside the oven. ERNEST: I would love to look upon the innocent babe. PRALINE: Penny?

For preview10 only PENNY: This way... Ernest. (ERNEST follows her as she crosses to the door STAGE LEFT. They EXIT.) PRALINE: (To herself.) If I know true love when I see it, then my darling Penny has found the one to ease her heartache, and brave Officer Noble has met the girl who can make his life complete. Ah, young love... (She sighs. The ROMANTIC MUSIC FADES BACK IN as the LIGHTS LOWER TO BLACKOUT and the CURTAIN CLOSES.)

Scene Two The park. About sunset. During the BLACKOUT, STAGEHANDS set free-standing trees DOWN LEFT and DOWN RIGHT on the apron. The MUSIC FADES OUT as the LIGHTS COME UP. We hear VOICES from OFF DOWN LEFT. TOM’S VOICE: (OFF DOWN LEFT.) Come on now, Taffy. HUBERT’S VOICE: (OFF DOWN LEFT.) You promised, Toffee. (TAFFY and TOFFEE giggle OFF DOWN LEFT, then ENTER DOWN LEFT and run to DOWN CENTER, still giggling, followed by TOM and HUBERT who carry their sacks of candy from the store. TOFFEE and TAFFY carry reticules. They wear light-weight coats and girlish hats.) TOM: I just ate one of my peppermints, so I’m real kissable! HUBERT: So did I! (The BOYS make kissing sounds. The GIRLS giggle.) TAFFY: You stand right there while we discuss it. (She and TOFFEE huddle facing UPSTAGE, away from the BOYS and the audience.) What do you think, Toffee? TOFFEE: I guess we do owe them a kiss. Hubert’s right, we did promise. TAFFY: That’s right, we did. All right, boys, pucker up, We’re going to plant some big ones on you. (TOM and HUBERT are jittery with excitement. TAFFY and TOFFEE turn toward them. They have removed big, red, wax lips from their pockets or reticules and put them on their mouths. TOM and HUBERT yelp, startled, and TOM jumps into HUBERT’S arms. [NOTE: HUBERT catches TOM like a baby with one arm around his back and the other under his bent knees. This can be vice-versa with TOM catching HUBERT. If one actor is smaller than the other, if the large man can jump into the smaller one’s arms, the effect will be especially comical.] The GIRLS remove the lips and double over laughing.) HUBERT: What in the world?! TAFFY: They’re wax lips. End of script preview. 11 PRODUCTION NOTES PROPERTIES ONSTAGE: On shelves: baskets of candy; on counter: baskets of candy, paper bags, pencils, cash register; under counter—roll of tin foil, scissors. OFFSTAGE: Candy for contest prizes. BROUGHT ON, Scene One: Sack of candy, reticule with coins (MRS. MURPHY); spoon, knife (FARRON); ladle (CINDY); valise, doll, reticule (PENNY). BROUGHT ON, Scene Two: Sack of candy (TOM, HUBERT); reticules with fake red lips (TOFFEE, TAFFY); caramels for contest (SIDNEY); doll (PENNY). BROUGHT ON, Scene Three: Sack of candy, reticule with coins (MRS. MURPHY); marshmallows (MINNIE); trays of fudge (FARRON, CINDY). BROUGHT ON, Scene Four: Doll (TAFFY). BROUGHT ON, Scene Five: Wire (SIDNEY); doll (ADA).

SOUND EFFECTS Crash of pans, old-fashioned police sirens.

COSTUMES Check the script for specific details.A s the play takes place over two days, you might want to have the women change dresses and the men change shirts to help denote the passage of time. Exceptions would be the characters who wear uniforms: ERNEST, FARRON and CINDY. Also, SIDNEY could wear the same dark suit throughout. The WOMEN can wear light-weight coats and hats for outdoor scenes, or if coming into the store from outside.

MUSIC Music should be of the period. You’ll need the following types: villainous, romantic, raunchy, light-hearted, dramatic, frantic and chase.

MISCELLANEOUS As a fund raiser, a week or so before the play opens, you might consider selling Baby Ruth candy bars with fliers for the play wrapped around them. You could sell candy at the performances too, of course. Selections should include Baby Ruths and Reese’s Pieces. If you live in the South where they’re available, Goo Goo Clusters would also be a good choice. For preview35 only Your stagehands can be used as EXTRAS, as well as your ushers, so that The Sweet Shoppe can appear to attract lots of customers. As an extra treat for your audience, you might wish to include the following section in your program.

AUNT PRALINE’S SWEET SHOPPE CANDY RECIPES

SAUCE PAN PEANUT BUTTER CANDY 1 cup sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1 1 /2 cups peanut butter 4 cups corn flakes Bring sugar and syrup to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and corn flakes. Drop by spoon onto wax paper. Dry.  MARSHMALLOW FUDGE 2 cups sugar 2 /3 cup evaporated milk 1 /2 cup butter or margarine dash salt 12 regular marshmallows 1 1 /4 cups miniature marshmallows 6 ounces chocolate chips 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 /2 to 1 cup chopped pecans In a sauce pan, mix sugar, milk, butter, salt and marshmallows. Stir over medium heat until it comes to a good boil. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips, vanilla and nuts. Spread in buttered 8x9-inch square pan.

For preview36 only PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE BALLS 2 sticks margarine, melted 1 1 /2 cups graham cracker crumbs 1 /2 cup chopped pecans 1 cup angel-flake coconut 1 box powdered sugar 1 12 oz. jar crunchy peanut butter 1 package candy-quik squares, chocolate Mix all of the ingredients except chocolate squares, thoroughly. Shape into balls. Melt chocolate and dip balls into chocolate mixture, then spoon onto waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Let cool.  MARSHMALLOW BON-BONS

1 /2 cup chocolate fudge ice cream topping 1 /2 cup caramel flavored ice cream topping 40 large marshmallows Assorted candy decors such as chocolate shot, colored shot, chopped nuts, flaked coconut or cinnamon candies In separate sauce pans over low heat, melt the chocolate and caramel ice cream toppings, stirring constantly. Set out marshmallows and candy decors. For each bon-bon, spear a marshmallow onto a toothpick, dip it in a topping, then roll in choice of decor.  CHERRY ALMOND TOFFEE 1 cup finely chopped toasted almonds 3 /4 cup chopped candied cherries 1 cup butter (NOT margarine) 1 1 /2 cups packed brown sugar 1 6 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips Line 13x9x2 inch baking pan with foil. Butter the foil and sprinkle nuts and cherries evenly over it. Butter sides of a 2-quart sauce pan. Melt butter over low heat, then stir in brown sugar. Cook on medium high until boiling sugar disolves, about 4 minutes. Cook on medium, stirring frequently, approximately 15 minutes. Quickly pour into pan and sprinkle on chocolate chips. Spread mixture when chips are melted. Cool and break into pieces.

For preview37 only ALMOND DELIGHT 24 squares white chocolate 1 can condensed milk 1 teaspoon almond flavoring 1 /8 teaspoon salt 2 cups toasted almonds 1 cup almond brickle chips Mix chocolate and milk. Microwave on high 2–3 minutes. Stir until smooth. Add salt, flavoring, almonds and chips. Spread evenly in pan lined with waxed paper. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Break into pieces.  COCONUT PEAKS

3 /4 cup cold mashed potatoes 4 cups confectioner’s sugar 4 cups shredded coconut 1 1 /2 teaspoons vanilla dash salt 1 6 oz. package chocolate chips Combine potatoes, sugar, coconut, vanilla and salt. Form into peaks (about 1 tablespoon) and let stand 20 minutes on waxed paper. Dip bottom of coconut peak into melted chocolate. Store in refrigerator.  WHITE FUDGE

1 2 /4 cups sugar 1 /2 cup dairy sour cream 1 /4 cup milk 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon light corn syrup 1 /4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 /3 cup candied cherries Combine sugar, sour cream, milk, butter, corn syrup and salt in heavy 2-quart sauce pan. Stir over moderate heat until sugar is disolved and mixture reaches a boil. Boil over moderate heat 9–10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand about 1 hour. Add vanilla and beat until mixture just begins to lose its gloss and holds its shape. Quickly stir in walnuts and cherries and turn into greased pan. Let stand until firm, then cut. For preview38 only PRALINE PEANUT PATTIES 2 cups sugar 2 /3 cup evaporated milk 1 /2 cup light corn syrup 1 /4 teaspoon salt 1 cup sifted powdered sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 1 /2 cups dry roasted peanuts Butter sides of heavy 2 quart sauce pan. In it, combine sugar, milk, syrup and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil. Continue cooking to 234º on candy thermometer or to soft ball stage, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla; mix well. Stir in peanuts. Drop by tablespoons onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet.  CARAMEL FUDGE

1 2 /2 cups sugar 1 cup evaporated milk 1 /2 cup sugar 1 /2 stick margarine 1 /4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla

1 In a large sauce pan, mix 2 /2 cups sugar and evaporated milk. Place over low heat and stir constantly until it comes to a rolling boil. Set 1 aside. Caramelize /2 cup sugar. Keep temperature of milk mixture hot to prevent lumping. Pour caramel into milk, stirring as you pour. Stir and cook until fudge holds together and forms a soft ball. Add margarine, vanilla and salt. Beat mixture until thick and creamy. Pour into buttered dish. This also makes a great cake icing.

For preview39 only CHEDDAR CHEESE FUDGE 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1 cup butter 1 /2 cup cocoa 1 1 /2 pounds confectioner’s sugar 1 1 /2 cups nonfat dry milk powder 1 /2 teaspoon vanilla Have all ingredients at room temperature; combine in large bowl. Beat 1 until creamy. (You might need to moisten mixture with /4 cup whole milk.) Put in buttered 9 inch square pan. Chill. When firm, cut candy in 1 64 squares. Makes about 3 /2 pounds. (Drained chopped maraschino cherries, flaked coconut, miniature marshmallows or chopped nuts may be added.)  SEAFOAM CANDY 3 cups brown sugar 1 cup water 1 tablespoon vinegar 2 egg whites 1 teaspoon vanilla Mix sugar, water and vinegar together in a sauce pan and boil until a little dropped in cold water forms a hard ball. Remove from heat and pour slowly over beaten egg whites. Beat continually with a rotary beater until mixture stiffens. Add vanilla and continue beating until creamy and stiff. Turn onto buttered pan or drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Top with walnut pieces, if desired. 

Y y      y  y’   !

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