Statues

Statues

This game is from 'Games for Children' by Cecily M Rutley, about 1932

'This is a very merry laughing game.

'One player has to be chosen to be the "clown". Then all the others go and sit, or stand, about the room, garden, field, or wherever else you may be playing, in any position they like. For instance, one player can sit down and cross his legs and arms. Another can stand up balancing himself - or herself - on one leg. Another can lie flat down on the floor or ground. Another can stand up on a chair or stool, and bend his - or her - head to one side. And so on. These players are the "statues", and when they have taken up their different positions they must keep as grave and silent and still as real ones.

'When all are ready the clown begins to walk about amongst them. He goes up to one statue, and, stopping before it, tries, by staring at it, speaking to it, or by making comical grimaces or actions, to make it laugh. If he can do so that statue has to come down from its pedestal or get up, and go away from the others. It is out for this round. But if the statue still keeps quite grave and solemn, the clown goes on to another one, and tries to make it laugh.

'Every statue that laughs while the clown is trying to make it do so has to go out. And any statue that smiles or laughs while the clown is looking at another has to go out also. The clown goes from statue to statue until he has made all laugh, or all have laughed. The statue that keeps serious longest becomes the clown, and you begin the game again.'