Chapter VII: Making Your Properties

Puppets usually require a few well-chosen properties. These should be in scale with the puppets, and serve some practical need. Properties should be similar to the things used in the time of your play, in the country of your play, and by the class or classes of people represented in your play.

It is well to be familiar with the life, customs, and manners of the people who lived at the time of your play. The library, historical museum, and art museum are sources of information. First, there is the library in which there are always books and pictures and a wealth of information for your use. Take several pieces of tracing paper with you when you go there, also several well-sharpened pencils, and your colored crayons. When you find a suitable illustration, make a sketch or a tracing of it and careful color notes.

Let us suppose that you are about to make the properties for _Men of Iron._ Take the story and from it make a list of the properties that you will need. You will probably make a list somewhat like this:

Act I—Courtyard. Properties required:

1. Bench for the squires to sit upon and later for Myles to
stand upon.

2. An upright post, or pell, to be used by Myles when he
practises with his sword.

3. An anvil to be placed in the armorer’s shop.

4. A ball for Myles.

Act II—Garden. Properties required:

1. Garden seat for Lady Anne to sit upon when she plays her
lute.

2. A lute for Lady Anne.

3. A ball for Myles.

Act III—Great Hall. Properties required:

1. Throne for the king to sit upon.

2. A dais for the throne to rest upon.

3. A seat for the minstrel.

4. A carved oak chest, such as was usually seen in the great
halls.

5. Royal carpet.

6. Hangings for the ladies’ gallery.

7. A lute for the minstrel.