Extract from Onetonners Tonne of Skits

Interactive Action Stories

Contents
WILD WEST SHOW .................................................................................................................................. 2
LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS DAUGHTER ....................................................................................................... 3




WILD WEST SHOW

CAST:
Narrator, cowboys: Alkali Ike, Dippy Dick & Pony Pete; 2 women, 3 horses. The
audience take the part of the Indians.

ACTIONS:
Cowboys: "Whoopee!"
Indians: Indian yell with war dance wo-wo-wo-wo-wo-wo-wo-
Women: Scream
Horses: Clippety-clop (hands/feet)
Rifles: "Bang, bang!"
Bows & arrows: "Zip, zip" hand motions
Stage Coach: "Rumble, rumble"; circular motion with arms

STORY:
Narrator tells the story while it is acted out by the characters.
It was in the days of stagecoaches [rumble rumble] and cowboys [whoopee] and Indians
[war cry]. Alkali Ike, Dippy Dick, and Pony Pete were three courageous cowboys
[whoopee]. When the stagecoach [rumble rumble] left for Rainbow's End they were
aboard, as were also two women [scream], Salty Sal and a doll-faced blonde. The
stagecoach [rumble rumble] was drawn by three handsome horses [clippety-clop] and it
left Dead End exactly on time.
The most dangerous part of the journey was the pass known as Gory Gulch. As the
stagecoach [rumble rumble] neared this spot, the women [scream] were a bit nervous and
the cowboys [whoopee] were alert, fingering their rifles [Bang! Bang!] as if to be ready for
any emergency. Even the horses [clippety-clop] seemed to sense the danger.
Sure enough - just as the stagecoach [rumble rumble] entered the Gulch, there sounded
the blood-curdling war cry of the Indians [war cry]. Mounted on horses [clippety-clop], the
Indians [war cry] rode wildly toward the stagecoach [rumble rumble] and took aim with their
bows and arrows [zip-zip].
The cowboys [whoopee] took aim with their rifles and fired. The women [scream] screamed.
The horses [clippety-clop] pranced nervously. The Indians [war cry] shot their bows and
arrows [zip-zip].
The cowboys [whoopee] aimed their rifles again, this time shooting with more deadly effect.
The leading brave fell and the Indians [war cry] turned their horses [clippety-clop] and fled,
leaving their bows and arrows [zip-zip] behind. The women [scream] fainted. The cowboys
[whoopee] shot one more volley from their rifles [Bang! Bang!] just for luck. The driver
urged on the horses [clippety-clop] and the stagecoach [rumble rumble] sped down the
trail.

LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS DAUGHTER

ACTIONS:
Evil Steve, the villain: hiss
Lighthouse keeper: cry Oh dear!
Dudley Daring: cheer AT LAST!
Lighthouse keepers daughter: sigh Aaah

SCENE:
Narrator tells the story while it is acted out by the characters. Much action will have the
actors going round and round the lighthouse, and the lighthouse itself a very tall
person standing centre-stage with a torch on his/her head must rotate, too. Actors may
end up dizzy, but that is all part of the fun.

STORY:
Here we have a lonely lighthouse, beset by stormy seas. All alone the lighthouse stands,
flashing its light round and round. [Lighthouse turns round and round until it gets dizzy and
stops.]

And in this lonely lighthouse lives the lonely lighthouse keeper [Oh dear!] who climbs round
and round the stairs round and round the stairs round and round the stairs to reach
the top of his lonely lighthouse. [Actors onstage now freeze.] From offstage comes the
lighthouse keepers daughter [Aaah!] rowing daintily. She ties up her boat, gets out, and
begins to climb the stairs. The lighthouse keepers daughter [Aaah!] climbs the lonely
lighthouse: round and round and round and And the lighthouse keeper [Oh dear!] is still
climbing round and round and meanwhile the lighthouse flashes its light round and round
and round and OH NO! Evil Steve [hiss] meets the lighthouse keepers daughter [Aaah!].
Evil Steve [hiss] GRABS the lighthouse keepers daughter [Aaah!]. Evil Steve [hiss] carries
off the lighthouse keepers daughter [Aaah!].

Down the lighthouse they go. Round and round and round and round and while the
lighthouse keepers [Oh dear!] head goes round and round and round and round and
while the lighthouse flashes its light round and round and round and BUT HARK! WHO
COMES? It is Dudley Daring, OUR HERO! [AT LAST!] [All other actors freeze.]
Dudley Daring our hero [AT LAST!] rows towards the lonely lighthouse. Dudley Daring our
hero [AT LAST!] reaches the lonely lighthouse. Dudley Daring our hero [AT LAST!] climbs
the lonely lighthouse, round and round and round and...[All spring into action again.]
While down the lighthouse comes Evil Steve [hiss] dragging the lighthouse keepers
daughter [Aaah!] round and round and round and... as the lighthouse keepers [Oh dear!]
head goes round and round and round and and the lonely lighthouse flashes its light
round and round and round and round and STOP!

Dudley Daring our hero [AT LAST!] MEETS Evil Steve [hiss]. Dudley Daring our hero [AT
LAST!] BASHES Evil Steve [hiss]. Dudley Daring our hero [AT LAST!] VANQUISHES Evil
Steve [hiss]. [Evil Steve kneels at the feet of Dudley Daring.]
The lighthouse keepers daughter [Aaah!] runs up the stairs: round and round and round and
round and to her father, the lighthouse keeper [Oh dear!], whose head stops going round
and round, while Dudley Daring our hero [AT LAST!] runs up the stairs round and round and
round and round and dragging Evil Steve [hiss] round and round and round and round
and until they STOP!

And Evil Steve [hiss] gives back the stolen life savings of the lighthouse keeper [Oh dear!];
and the lighthouse keepers daughter [Aaah!] gives her poor father [Oh dear!] a kiss and,
why not?: a kiss to Dudley Daring our hero [AT LAST!] while the lonely lighthouse flashes its
light round and round and round and round and [All other actors bow and exit.]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
These skits are all included in this compilation because I would like to share the
enjoyment as widely as possible. They have been collected, organised and adapted
from my experience with youth organisations including schools, scouts, churches and
music camps.
As is often the case with songs and stories that belong in folklore, it is impossible to
trace authors of items in the form they have come to me. Some have been in several
publications from organisations including the NSW Dept. of Sport & Recreation, Scouts
Australia, the Y.M.C.A. and in more recent years in the internet. If you are concerned
about a possible copyright infringement then please let me know so that due recognition
can be given.
My thanks go to all the teachers, leaders and [most of all] children whose creativity has
been reproduced here, or inspired me to create several of the skits. I hope to continually
update the collection, so contributions are welcome!
Phillip Ward
September, 2013