Stunts & Skits - Short I
Useful Links
A list of useful stunts & skits linksThe Operation
By setting up a white sheet and using a light behind it, a
hospital operation can be silhouetted onto the sheet, which
is set up like a screen. Ham it up with humourous dialogue,
occasionally throwing a peeled tomatoe or a piece of raw liver
or spurt of ketchup out to the audience. A good creative imagination
would be an asset here.
The Little Green Ball
First scout comes on and says 'Oh no I've
lost it'
He then starts to search around on the floor.
Second scout comes in and asks what he is looking for.
First scout replies that he has lost his little green ball.
Both scouts continue searching the floor.
Several more scouts come on and are told about the lost little
green ball. even members of the audience can be persuaded
to join
in the search. After enough time has been dragged out, the
first
scout, sticks a finger up his nose and says "Don't worry
I will
have to make another one" YUK!!!!!
All Face:
An
Indian and a white man are traveling together. It's cold and
the white man is shivering. The white man is all bundled up
and the Indian has very little on (i.e. trousers, no shirt)
and his blanket. The white man complains about the cold and
doesn't understand why the Indian isn't. The white man asks
the Indian how he stays so warm. The Indian asks if his face
is cold. The white man says no it isn't. The Indian replies,
"Me all face."
Artistic Genius:
The scene is an art show where
judges are inspecting several canvases are displayed. They comment
on the brightness, color, technique, that is used on the different
pictures. They select one for the prize and comment additionally
on the genius, imagination, and the beauty of the picture. The
artist is called up and the winning picture is shown to him.
The painter exclaims, "Oh, my goodness, that got in by
mistake. That's the canvas that I clean my brushes on.
Balloon Orchestra:
The players in the orchestra
each hold a balloon. They blow up their balloons in unison,
then let out the air in a squeak at a time to the rhythm of
some easily recognized rhythm such as "Blue Danube"
or "Jingle Bells". To end the skit all fill their
balloons with air and let go at the directors signal.
Big Game Hunting:
Two to four hunters talking together each says that he is packing a heavier and more powerful gun to shoot with. The first starts out with a small handgun and the last ending up with a very powerful rifle, shotgun, whatever. Two others come over who have overheard the hunter and want to settle a bet. Are the hunters going after wolves or moose. One of the hunters relies," "Why no, we are going after mosquitoes!!"
Black Bart:
There are several Black Bart skits,
all revolving around the basic plot of the hero chasing Black
Bart. The hero and BB come face to face. BB is cornered, building
up the tension. Destroy it with the anticlimactic line of: "You
get the ping pong ball and I'll get the paddles and I'll meet
you in five minutes." Or "Oh, all right, Black Bart,
you use that one and I'll use the one upstairs." Use the
latter one when BB is trapped in some room.
Bonfire:
A leader begins to explain how to lay a campfire. The leader decides
to use members of the audience to represent different pieces
of wood. The bonfire builders bring up various volunteers. Some
of the volunteers are bunched in the center for tinder with
others placed for kindling with the "big" logs stacked
on top of each other in increasing larger sizes. The leader
then says that the fire is ready to light, strikes a match,
whereupon, several accomplices yell out that its ON FIRE and
dash several buckets of water on the fire.
Candy Store:
The leader gives instructions for
playing candy store. He asks that one person take a long string
and hold on and then adds others until there is a long line
of people holding onto the string. Then the leader explains
that this is a candy store because there are some suckers hanging
on the line.
Candy Store:
(variation): A candy store owner enters carrying a long pole. He asks two members of the audience to hold the pole, draping a blanket or sheet over it, explaining that this is the candy store. One by one customers come in asking for different types of candy, to each, the owner replies that he doesn't have any. Finally, a customer asks what he does have. The owner states he doesn't have any candy left except for these two suckers on a stick, pulling the blanket away at the same time.
Change Underwear:
Have the boys march in, single
file, with one boy leading them like a drill sergeant. The sergeant
tells them to stop and addresses them. He tells them he has
some good news and some bad news. The good news is that they
get a change of underwear. The boys cheer and he cuts them off.
The bad news is that they have to change underwear with one
another. The boys groan.
Chief
Shortcake:
Pick a "volunteer"
to be the dead Chief Shortcake (adult leader) and have him lie
down covering with a towel/sheet except for his head. Have each
boy repeat a line on what to do with Chief Shortcake such as:
burying the Chief with all his worldly possessions, should be
burned in a great ceremonial fire, put in a cave and seal him
up, and so on for as many as you need. The last Indian says
that they are all wrong, "I bury Shortcake" and squirts
whipped cream on Chief Shortcake's face.
Chin Faces:
Performers arrange themselves with
their heads hanging upside down over the edge of a table with
a sheet or other drape covering their body with holes cut out
exposing their mouth and chin. Place sunglasses just below the
chin in front of the neck for "eyes." The chin becomes
the nose, the mouth is the mouth - but upside down, so to smile
you need to actually frown. The "chin face" makes
a short silly speech or sings a harmonious song. Several "chin
faces" in a row can form a singing group or mime a recording.
Variation: Have the "chin face" be a chicken instead
of a person.
Contagious Disease Ward:
The scene takes place in the waiting room of a doctor of contagious and communicable diseases, Dr. Ringworm, M.D., l.s.d., v.i.p., l.c.b. Have four chairs and a stand for magazines or books. In walks a fellow (a) with an itch which he scratches periodically in different places. He grabs a magazine and attempts to read but is disturbs periodically by his itch. After a while a second fellow (B) comes in with a serious hand twitch. B sits next to A. B gradually starts to scratch with the itch, while A's hand starts to twitch. When it has been well established that they have contracted each others' disease, a third person enters with a serious leg twitch. Pretty soon all three have the hand twitch, leg twitch, and itch all over. A fourth guy comes in bouncing all over the place and shaking every muscle in his body. The actions of the four guys become more frantic and are bouncing around in their chairs. Then a boy dressed like a pregnant lady strolls in casually and the other four scramble for their lives. If possible or desired have some jazz music playing in the background for the scouts with the diseases to keep the beat to.
Court Case:
Second person walks in with a suitcase.
First person already on stage asks where he is going and the
first person's reply is that he is going to court. A little
while later he comes in with the case and also a ladder. This
time he says that he taking his case to a higher court.
Court Scene:
Guy brought in - "I'm Innocent!
I was just picking up pebbles on the beach!" Two or more
with similar stories. Last person comes on stage either a guy
dressed like a girl or a girl, saying, "Hi, I'm Pebbles",
in an alluring manner.
Crazy Charlie:
The scene is set up so that Crazy
Charlie is portrayed as being in a mental institution. It's
dinner time and before he can ask for anyone to pass the meat,
someone calls out 37 and the room bursts into laughter. Moments
later 57 is called out and more laughter results. Crazy Charlie
asks the guy next to him what is going on. He is told that everyone
knows each others jokes so well that they have numbered the
jokes.
After a while Charlie decides to give it a trial and call 52,
but no one laughs; there is complete silence. Charlie asks his
friend what is wrong. He friend tells him not to worry that
there isn't anything wrong, some people can tell jokes and some
people can't.
Dancing Knee Dolls:
Paint faces on the knees of the performers. Use dresses (or pants and shirt) to dress the legs as dolls with the arms bulging out. The clothes can be made out of crepe paper, cloth, or real clothing. Cover the upper legs and body with a sheet. Direct a flashlight (spot) onto each knee.
Doctor's Office:
First patient comes in hiccuping
and asks to see the doctor. The second patient comes in cross-eyed,
with a silly look on his face. The third person can't control
his muscles and is all jittery. They are all asked to sit down.
The first person is asked to go in. There is a real commotion
and the patient comes out fine. The same thing happens to the
second and third patients. The nurse tells the doctor it is
time to go home. The doctor emerges with the symptoms of all
his patients and goes offstage.
Doggie Doctor:
A person comes to a psychologist
and says that he needs help, he thinks that he is a dog, holding
up his hands like a dog begging. Throughout the skit the person
acting like a dog, does dog like things, like scratching behind
his ear, whining, etc. Doctor asks how long he has had this
problem. Ever since he was a puppy is the reply. The doctor
asks if he will lie on the couch but the person says that he
can't since he can't get on the furniture. Doctor's advice is
to make sure that he gets all his shots and don't go chasing
any cars.
Easter Bunny:
The Easter Bunny is out delivering
his eggs and the police arrest him for breaking and entering
a house. The police don't believe that he is the Easter Bunny,
but finally decide to believe him and let him go. He decides
to finish delivering and tries to enter another house where
an old lady or man accuses him of stealing. The Bunny says,
"Oh no, not again!" and is run off the stage by the
old lady swinging a stick or umbrella.
The Echo:
The club leader announces during the singing that he has noticed
an echo in the room and he is going to try it out (also could
be on a hike overlooking a canyon). The following is a dialogue
between the leader and the echo - a person out of the room or
out of sight.
Leader: Hello
Echo: Hello
Leader: Cheese
Echo: Cheese
Leader: Bologna
Echo: (silence)
Leader: (to group) It must not be working now. I'll try again.
(to echo)
+ This leader is great.
Echo: Bologna
Elevated Gum:
A boy enters chewing gum, acting
like a business man, with a briefcase etc. Walks up and enters
a elevator, sticks gum on the wall. A kid listening to rock
& roll on his portable stereo, dances into the elevator,
leans on wall, hands sticks to gum. Tries hard to pull hand
off the wall. The kid looks at the gum, stretches it, picks
his nose, sneezes, etc.; all getting on the gum. Throws the
gum at the back of the elevator where it sticks. Dum, spacey,
jock stereotype enter the elevator, leans on the back wall and
the gum gets stuck to the following places: first head and elevator,
then head and hand, both hands, foot and both hands, both feet
and hands, hands, knees, and hand to face. He
finally gets free and sticks gum back on side wall. Businessman
enters the elevator after the Jock leaves, see gum and decides
to chew it again; then leaves.
The Elevator:
The scene opens with an elevator
operator intoning "Ground Floor". A passenger gets
on and begins to jiggle slightly. The elevator operator intones
each floor with a description of what's on that floor. A passenger
gets on at each floor and begins to jiggle as well. As the elevator
gets higher the passengers begin to jiggle more. When the top
floor is reached the passengers begin to jiggle like mad, the
operator intones bathrooms and they all rush quickly off. The
operator suddenly looks funny, begins to jiggle, shouts "ME
TOO!" and runs off the stage.
Flea:
Boys
standing in a line, first boy scratches, then second on down
the line, last boy feels it and says "Oh there you are
Marvin, I've been looking all over for you. You've got to stop
hopping around, Marvin (boy acts as though Marvin has hopped
away) you come back here.(goes out into the audience looking
and touching people) There you are Marvin, you've got to stay
here (looks at pretend speck) Hey you aren't Marvin, (puts it
back into the audience) Oh Marvin where are you?
The Firing Squad:
A firing squad lines up with a prisoner. The leader of the firing squad calls out "Ready ... Aim ..." The prisoner shouts, "Tornado!" The soldiers all run for cover and the prisoner escapes. A Second prisoner is brought out, the leader calls out "Ready ... Aim .." and the prisoner shouts, "Landslide!", the firing squad runs for cover and the prisoner escapes again. Repeat this for other natural disasters. The last prisoner is brought out and having seen the other prisoners escape decides to do the same thing except he yells "Fire" and the firing squad does.
Fish Market:
Two people, one a fisherman and the other a fish market manager
come on stage and hold a long cord between them. The fish market
man attempts to call the fisherman on the telephone to see if
he has any fish today, the fisherman acts as if he can't hear
him. Volunteers are brought out of the audience and hold the
cord between the fish market man and the fisherman one or two
at a time with the market man attempting to call each time.
When several people are holding the line, the market man is
able to communicate with the fisherman. The fisherman says that
he doesn't have any trout but he does have a lot of suckers
hanging on a line showing the line the volunteers are holding
up.
Flying High:
Boys on a flight to Germany or other
destination. They act up and really give the stewardess or steward
(den leader, 11 year old patrol leader etc.) a hard time. Finally,
one of them bumps into her/himand knocks a tray on him/her.
The steward/stewardess smiles and says, "Why don't you
boys just run outside and play."
Four Leaf Clover:
A
person finds a four leaf clover. He feels sure that it will
bring him good luck. Another person runs into him. They accuse
each other of running into each other. They start hitting each
other. A policeman comes along, the other guy accuses the lucky
person. The lucky person is hauled off to jail. The lucky person
reappears, disgruntled and unhappy. Garbage is dumped on him
as he walks along and gets fined by a policeman for littering.
The lucky man throws away the four leaf clover. Another finds
it. The former lucky man comes back on stage. The person who
found the four leaf runs on stage saying he just won a million
dollars and has good luck since he found it. The former lucky
man slumps down, groans, and begins to cry.
Friends of Years
- Three guys are sitting on a park bench. Goober is quietly reading, Gomer is pretending to swim in a lake (jumps off bench and swims around). Gopher is pretending to be fishing, reeling fish after fish. Policeman comes in and watches them. Policeman asks Goober if he knows the other two men. Goober says they are his friends. The policeman thinks Goober ought to take care of his friends. Goober says okay and asks the others to climb into his boat. Goober pretends to row off stage (the policeman staring after them, shaking his head in disbelief).
>Ghostcatchers:
Two guys start a ghost catching business.
They go to this house and can't get rid of the ghost. The ghost
finally leaves because one of the guys sings very badly and
off key. The ghost can't stand it and leaves.
Glass of Water:
There is a glass of water in
the middle of the stage. First scout crawls across the floor
crying for water. He dies dramatically shortly after beginning
his crawl. The second person dies
just short of the glass of water. The third person on his last
bit of strength really hams up his desperation as much as he
can. He reaches the water, takes out a comb, grooms his hair
with the water, sighs with relief and goes off stage.
Granny's Candy Store:
Paint a verbal picture of
the various scouts acting as a cash register (person says ching,
ching), popcorn machine(goes pop, pop), door (person holds arms
horizontal, swinging saying creak, creak), tree, chair, etc.
Have three guys standing there with no parts to play. Have several
scouts come in one at a time, as customers. They ask Granny
for various items of candy; licorice, gum, etc. Finally disgusted,
a customer asks what she does have, and she says all she has
left is these three suckers standing in the corner.
Hairy Hamburger:
A man sits down in a restaurant and orders a hamburger. The waiter bring out his hamburger. The man starts eating his hamburger and finds a hair in it; complains to waiter and another one is brought out. The second hamburger has a hair in it and is taken back. The third hamburger also has a hair in it. The man gets upset and demands to see the cook. The cook comes out and the man asks him how he makes his hamburgers. The cook says that all he does is roll the meat and demonstrates making patties by placing the meat under his arm and squeezes.
Hiccup for Me:
A boy comes out and says something
like, "Hic - I can't - Hic - get rid of these Hic-ups".
Another person comes out and asks what wrong. He is told and
yells "BOO!" to help the boy get rid of his hiccups.
It didn't work. Several more people try various methods to get
rid of the hiccups and they are fail. Last method is tried and
seems to work, but just as he leaves the stage starts hiccuping
again, so he falls to the floor in despair.
How to Make the Team:
Two boys, one eats vegetables,
exercises, ballerate (ballet & karate), runs (gets a kid
to chase him home-school bully). The other kid eats candy bars,
plays baseball with guys. First guy (vegetable eater) makes
the team and the other kid doesn't. The other kid says; "What
did I do wrong? Whaaa ! ! !"
The Important Papers:
The setting can be either
a king or a boss in his office who beckons to a courtier or
assistant that he wants his royal or important papers. The person
runs in with a sheath of papers, the king or boss quite agitated
tosses them aside and demands that they bring him his important
papers. Other people bring in other things one at a time such
as a Boy Scout Handbook etc. the king throws them aside and
gets more and more upset demanding that he have his important
papers. At last the some one comes in with a roll of toilet
paper (court jester, office boy etc.). The king knights him
or the boss promotes him thanking him profusely and runs off
the stage in visible relief.
Is It Time Yet?:
Have several boys standing
in a line (facing the audience) with one arm on the next boys
shoulder. The first boy in line looks at the second and asks
the second boy, "IS it time yet?" The second boy asks
the third boy the same question and so on down the line.The
boy at the end of the line looks at his watch and says to the
boy next to him, "No, its not time yet," and this
continues on up the line to the first boy in the line again
with each boy saying it in turn. This can continue a couple
times; then when it gets to the last boy, he says, "It's
time!" and when the message gets back to the first boy
each boy moves his arm from the other's shoulder and puts his
other arm on the boy next to him.
Variation:
Everyone is sitting down instead of sitting up with their legs
crossed the same way. When the time comes all they do is switch
legs simultaneously.
Mr. Kerplunk:
Announce him as Mr. Kerpluk the world
renown spitter. He could be French, German, etc. with the appropriate
accent. He says he will demonstrate several of his famous spits
for the group. An assistant holds a bucket across the stage
for Mr. Kerplunk to spit into (tap on the bottom of the bucket
to create the special effect). Here are some examples of spits
to use but be creative in creating your own:
1) Short Shot: He spits; sound effect comes immediately.
2) Riccohet Shot: He spits for a side wall (tree etc. if outside)
and
watches it bounce around before it hits the bucket.
3) Long Shot: He spits and follows the long arc with his head;
sound
made after a long pause.
4) Fast Shot: Sound effect is made before he spits.
5) Super Shot: Advertised as the most famous. Spends a minute
getting mouth full of spit, cheeks bulge out and finally spits.
Guy in front stands up and wipes water or raw egg from eye.
Knot Demonstration:
A person comes out with
a length of rope. He proceeds to give a knot demonstration some
of which do not turn the way he expects. He has creative and
imaginative names for his knots such as the double hitch back
loop tie, clove hitch with a triple loop bight, etc. The last
knot he ties is one that he says that a person can't loosen.
The more they try to loosen the knot the more it tightens. He
demonstrates a temporary version of this around his neck. He
pulls on the knot when he is finishes and exclaims, "Oh
no, I've tied the wrong knot, I’ve tied the permanent version,
and leaves the stage choking.
Lie Detector:
A transparent container (i.e.
an old vase) and a coin with a string attached. The container
sits on a table with a cloth over it. Have two guys start up
a conversation where one tries to convince the other that the
container and coin is a lie detector. The coin jumps up and
down pulled by another person below the table when somebody
tells the truth. The second guy doesn't believe the first guy
that the vase is a lie detector. Punch line is that the boy
with the container and coin says he isn't lying and that he
hasn't lied in his whole life where the table falls over with
the container revealing the boy underneath.
Listen at the Wall:
One person goes along a wall
listening and listening. Others come along and ask him what
he is doing. He says dramatically, "Listen," and the
others do. One of them says, "I don't hear anything",
in a disgusted voice. "LISTEN", he says more dramatically
and they listen some more. Again someone says, "I don't
hear anything." The original listener says, "You know,"
with a faraway
look, "its been like that all day."
Living Xylophone:
The instrument consists of
several kneeling performers. The player strikes each on the
head with a fake mallet or his fist as if playing a xylophone.
Each player utters a single note when struck. Simple songs such
as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" can be played this
way.
Mad Reporter:
The scene is a bridge where
a very depressed reporter is about to jump off (the end of the
stage or a platform could be the end of the bridge). The reporter
says that he has had it, can't get a big story, all washed up
and wants to end it all. He calls out, one, two, swinging his
arms when another person shows up and asks what is going on.
He tells him his sad story which encourages him to tell him
his; they both get depressed and decide to jump. They call out,
one, two, and another person shows up. They each tell this person
their sad story and he decides to jump to. Once more they call
out One, ... Two, ... Three ! All the people jump except for
the reporter who runs off saying; "I've
got a great story, two people jump off the bridge. Wait until
the boss sees this." A building could be used as well as
a bridge.
The Magic Bandanna:
Two guys come out, one
is the magician, one his not so smart assistant. The magician
introduces his act and sends his assistant to a table behind
him. The magician facing the audience tells Herkimer to do exactly
as he says. There is a table by Herkimer which has a bandanna
and a banana. The magician asks Herkimer to pick up the bandanna
and to perform various actions such as put the bandanna in his
right hand, fold it in half, fold the four corners together,
stuff it in
his left fist and upon one, two, three, it will disappear. However,
Herkimer, picks up the banana, not the bandanna and performs
these actions. At the end when Herkimer is supposed to show
his fist, for the disappearance of the bandanna, he throws the
mashed up banana at the magician instead. The magician chases
him offstage.
Martian Mamma:
Mamma is washing dishes, back to baby. Baby says that he wants a drink. "Right in front of you dear", says mamma. Baby picks up green drink. Baby says that he wants Martian Cream Pie, getting real pushy, aggressive, and bratty; throwing the drink on the floor. Baby tells mamma that he spilled his comet juice. Mamma turns around putting out two fake arms telling the baby that she only has four arms.
Medical Genius:
Setting is the office of a famous
psychiatrist. He is seated behind a table. Nurse brings in a
patient with a flowerpot on his head. Another patient enters
and runs around, waving his arms as if flying. Next patient
keeps brushing his clothes and complains about bugs crawling
on him. Doctor says: "For heaven's sake, don't brush them
off on me.!"
Military Genius:
Sergeant is drilling a group of
uniformed men, who are a pretty sloppy lot - shoestrings untied,
shirt tails out, collars unbuttoned, hats at odd angles etc.
Sergeant drills in a march, but they go in the wrong directions,
trip while turning, and so on. Finally, he has of the group
marching left and the other half marching right. He instructs
them to reverse direction and turn and march toward each other.
Instead of passing between each other, they meet head on and
all fall down. Sergeant weeps bitterly into a large handkerchief,
steps among the prostrate bodies and pretends to jump up and
down on them.
Mixed Body Acting:
Fasten a shirt backwards
around the first person's neck, leaving the sleeves empty. Have
a second person stand behind the first and put his arms through
the shirt sleeves. A sheet is held by two others behind the
head of the singer hiding the second person. As the first person
sings, the second person gestures with his hands. This can be
done with more than one singer. Variation 1: Instead of singing
have the second person trying to do various ordinary acts such
eating from a bowl, tying shoes, cooking such as cracking eggs
(on the narrator as one possibility) etc.
Mixed Up Magic:
Child is told to clean room. The child hates to clean his room so he gets out his book of magic spells and use one to clean the room. Unfortunately, the room gets worse with clothes etc. thrown in from offstage. This happens again twice. The child decides he might as well clean up this mess and proceeds to do so. When the room is finally clean, the child is ready to throw the magic book in the garbage. The child talking to himself says, "Enough of this Hocus Pocus". More stuff flies in. The child moans not again !
Musical Genius:
The announcer makes a flowery
introduction about how fortunate the audience is to have the
opportunity to hear the splendid vocal group about to perform.
After the introduction, the group marches onto stage and lines
up across the front. The announcer states that their first number
will be that appealing ballad "The Little Lost Sheep".
Following a short musical introduction, singers open their mouths
and produce a long, loud "Baa-a-a".