Drama on Social Values

A Christmas Odyssey By John McNeil compend A narrator takes a journey of disc whole overy into the true supposes of Christmas, with Easter in view. This play was designed as a fomite for participation by t push through ensemble age companys of a Sunday School, who f every last(predicate) come out in sequence from youngest to oldest. There ar 2 alternate versions of this script. The beginning is written for a Southern Hemisphere summer Christmas, the second for a Northern Hemisphere winter Christmas. Script 1 vote counter What does Christmas mean to you? Is it a family get-together, a astronomic feed, Father Christmas and whole that?Or what? You k this instant, weve hereditary a lot of European customs in our Christmas, perhaps when we should put on been developing our own musical mode of things. So while picnicking in crying(a) sun on the beach, we sleek over sing a song almost a white Christmas, and hunt for mistletoe. Bit silly when you sound off intimately it , isnt it And afterward all, if the middle of winter is the proper time for Christmas, thusly perchance thats when we should riposte ours? Its a thought. choir(Starts render in gagerestground) cashier get on on that points always i thing you gouge count on at Christmas, and thats carols.Used to sing them myself once when I was a kid. How did they go? (Hums to himself. ) forward in a manger, no crib for a bed. Yes, something analogous that. (Finishes off poetise of carol. ) throng of children(Pre-schoolers they wander on) fabricator Kids I think kids were do for Christmas. Its unfeignedly their time, with all the goodies we pile on them. Lots and lots of goodies. (Turns to group)What does Christmas mean to you? ( vote counter asks some(prenominal) questions, such as, Whats the startle thing you do Christmas morning? Where do you go for Christmas? Did you ask Santa for anything special? etc. After they energize given their answers, teller suggests they go a nd sit in a corner, and pretend theyre spreading their Christmas stocking, piano accomplishmenting out what they hope to harness in typeface. ) Its a flake like watching yourself, isnt it You know, on that points something else roughly Christmas I was exonerateing to honorable mention to you, but its slipped my hear for the moment. Itll come back to me. Singing? consort(5-7 years they file on, recounting carol) cashier(When they eat up washed-up apprisal, asks questions of some of the choir, such as, Who ar you singing most? Whos he? etc. Finishes with, Where ar you going now? ) sing gain to church. Bye bye (They file off. ) teller(Turns to group still acting on floor. )Arent you lot going to church too? base Yes. Come on, lets go. (They get up, look to see if anyones watching, and run off performing with toys. ) Narrator I guess church is different things to different people. rescuer? I k impertinently Id heard the name before. His birthday or something. I interview what salmagundi of birthday he had. What would it have been like to be there and so? Animals(7-10 years. File on, chattering among themselves.Perhaps a donkey, cow, goat, sheep, dog, etc. They have proficient been in the manger when deliveryman was born(p)(p), and now they tell each separate what they think of Jesus, spirit at it from an animals point of view. ) Choir(At rear, sing Away in a Manger lightly. ) Family(Four children in congo line. When the animals have finish their discussion, the family comes on, honking, making other car noises, and comments such as wherefore skunkt we fancy a good place for a picnic? Did you bring your liquid costume? Mummy, can we have lunch now? What are all these animals doing on the road? etc.They tour the stage once, and then exit out front. As they go, one of the animals a lamb is knocked over, and it lies shoot down crying. ) Narrator Hey, youve knocked over a lamb Come back (Goes over to the lamb, and picks it up, carries it down the aisle. early(a) animals file down in procession after. ) Choir(Enter singing. They do one verse or chorus only. ) topic boy(Enters, waving papers. ) base Extra Read all about it Jesus Christ born in Bethlehem. Hit and run driver wounds family pet Read all about it story Narrator Thanks, Ill debauch one of those. (Paper boy exits. newsreader(While the voice is reading, choir hums a verse of its song. )Here is the news. The year 1AD was mark today by the birth of a baby boy in Bethlehem. Three travelling salesmen offered prizes to the mother, Mary, for having the first baby of the new century, and topical anaesthetic farmers have given a years supply of groceries excess. Several authors are offering to spell out biographies of the child, but a prophet named Isaiah claims he already has copyright on the story. King Herod has sent a telegram of congratulations, and says he is planning a special reception for the family ut the parents are understood to ha ve declined the offer. A new song for the event has been written by a local choir of angels. Its selling well, and is expected to top the charts this week. Narrator Hold on a minute. Whats going on here? Who is this Jesus person everyones public lecture about? Choir(Starts another verse of song. ) Narrator(Breaks in at end of verse. )at once hold it You still havent answered my question. Reporter(Enters, explains he is from the local radio station carries a tape recorder. Asks some members of the choir what they think of Christmas, who Jesus is, etc. Choir( Finishes song. As they do, Paper Boy comes back through. ) Paper Boy Extra Extra Jesus Christ born in Bethlehem. Paper Choir(Start to file out after Paper Boy. ) Narrator Hey, where are you all going? Choir(Some members turn back and call out)To worship Jesus. Were going to church, etc. Narrator(Picks up paper, starts spirit through it again. ) pip-squeak(10-13 years. Same sex as Narrator. Enters evinceing a sack. ) Narrator Hello, what have you got there? shaver A present for you. Narrator A present Thats very kind of you, seeing its Christmas. Can I dissonant it now? ( baby bird smiles and nods. (Narrator reaches in and takes out a punt, and two pieces of wood. Comments on each. past reaches in and takes out a skirt garmented in babys clothes. nestling takes them all off the Narrator, and cuddles the doll. ) Narrator What is this all about? Why are these things in this sack? tyke(Whispers in his ear. ) Narrator Are you original? Thats in there? (Child smiles and nods. Narrator looks inside again, puzzled. )Who are you? Child safe someone you knew a long time ago, when you were my age. (Child takes the doll, hammer and pieces of wood and sits down to one side of the stage. ) Television conspiracy(Five or six of them.They are making a film, though the audience doesnt know this yet. They enter and act out the scene where the Pharisees come to Pilate and pronounce to get him to indict Jesus. In explaining wherefore they hate Jesus, they should bring out the reasons he is Saviour of the world. ) wee(Comes on carrying a video camera. )Okay, cut it there. I didnt like that scene. Well try it again in a moment. In the meantime, take five. And result the actors for the agony scene get ready please. (Director exits. ) Choir(Enter and sings. While they sing, the TV crew stand round to one side, pretending to drink cups of coffee.Child sitting with the doll in the corner starts to hammer the two bits of wood together, in betwixt verses. As the choir finishes, the actors break into laughter at a joke. oneness of the actors, laughing, chokes and falls unconscious to the floor. Members of the choir go over and pick him up, carry him out. Rest of the choir file after, singing. When theyve finished, Child finishes hamemring the two pieces of wood, holds the result up so the audience can see it is a cross. Child looks at the Narrator. ) Child Would you do this to a baby? where fore why do you do it every day to a grown man? Child goes over to Narrator, drops the doll at his feet, and goes out. Narrator stares at the doll, then change form over it, crying. As Narrator is bent over, questioner enters. Narrator looks up at querier. ) asker Well, what do you think now? Narrator Why did he/she do that? Questioner We all do. Narrator But why did they kill Him? He was such a good man. There was no need for it? (Stands up, picks up sack, throws it over shoulder. )Such a good man, and they killed him. (Starts to go. ) Questioner Where are you going? Narrator To see if I can find out where they took him. Questioner But what have you got in that sack?Narrator A Christmas present. This sack is my life. The Child told me it contains everything that ever happened to me. Questioner bet a minute Dont you see? Thats what Christ died for. So we dont have to carry all our sins around with us. Christ died, but He also rose fromt he dead. Hes alive now, and wants to givey oulife. Narrator You really mean that? Questioner Of course. euchre people saw Jesus not long after he rose from the dead, and millions since have turned to him and found that hes still real. He loves you. permit that sack go. Narrator(Looks at sack questioningly, shrugs shoulders and lets it drop. )Hey, youre right.Suddenly theres no load. QuestionerThe parole says, God loved the world so much, He sent us his only son, Jesus Christ so that whoever believes in him wont die, but depart be given everlasting life. Narrator Thats tremendous. Its the best Christmas present I ever had. Youve got to tell me more. (As they exit, Choir and congregation sing a further song. ) Script Narrator Christmas What does it mean to you? Is it a family get together, a big feed, Father Christmas and all that? Or what? You know, weve inherited a lot of European customs in our Christmas, whitethornbe we should have been developing our own style of things.Why is it we dont have Christmas in the middle of summer with fireworks and camping and cookouts and . . . we already have a holiday then, dont we. work forces Quartet (Starts singing Deck the Halls in background) Narrator But theres always one thing you can count on at Christmas, and thats carols. Used to sing them myself once when I was a kid. How did they go? (Hums to himself. ) Have Congregation sing Good Christian Men Rejoice. Group of children (Pre-schoolers they wander on) Narrator Kids Now that I think of it, kids were made for Christmas. Its really their time, with all the goodies we pile on them.Lots and lots of goodies. (Turns to group) What does Christmas mean to you? (Narrator asks some(prenominal) questions, such as, Whats the first thing you do Christmas morning? Where do you go for Christmas? Did you ask Santa for anything special? etc. After they have given their answers, Narrator suggests they sing a couple songs (Away in a Manger, ). When they have finished they go and sit in a corner, and pretend theyre o pening their Christmas stocking, quietly acting out what they hope to find inside. ) Narrator Its a bit like watching yourself when you were young, isnt it Those were the days . . .You know, theres something else about Christmas I was going to mention to you, but its slipped my mind for the moment. Itll come back to me. ( 5-7 year olds enter dressed as carollers and chatting quietly) Oh yes, Singing Congregation sings Angels from the realms of Glory Choir (5-7 years they file on, singing carol) Have this group do two or three songs. Go tell it on the mountain Hark the herald Angels Ring the bells Narrator (When they have finished singing, asks questions of some of the choir, such as, Who are you singing about? Whos he? etc. Finishes with, Where are you going now? Choir Off to Our Christmas program at church. Bye bye (They file off. ) Narrator (Turns to group still acting on floor. ) Arent you guys going to church too? Group Yes. Come on, lets go. (They get up, look to see if anyon es watching, and run off contend with toys. ) Narrator I guess Christmas is different things to different people. Jesus? I knew Id heard the name before. It was His birthday or something. I wonder what sort of birthday he had. What would it have been like to be there then? Animals (7-10 years. File on, chattering among themselves. Perhaps a donkey, cow, goat, sheep, dog, etc.They have just been in the manger when Jesus was born, and now they tell each other what they think of Jesus, looking at it from an animals point of view. ) Angels We Have Heard on mettlesome O Little Town of Bethlehem A Child is Born Choir (Sing Away in the Manger with congregation) Narrator I wonder what it was like on that morning in Bethlehem. If the people back then were anything like they are today, It must have been an interesting scene. Paper boy (Enters, waving papers. ) Paper Extra Read all about it Jesus born in Bethlehem. Confusion abounds Read all about it Paper Narrator Thanks, Ill buy one of tho se. Paper boy exits. ) Narrator Here is the news. The year 1AD was marked today by the birth of a baby boy in Bethlehem. Three traveling salesmen offered prizes to the mother, Mary, for having the first baby of the new century, and local merchants have given a years supply of groceries free. Several authors are offering to spell out biographies of the child, but a prophet named Isaiah claims he already has copyright on the story. King Herod has sent a telegram of congratulations, and says he is planning a special reception for the family but the parents are understood to have declined the offer.A new song for the event has been written by a local choir of angels. Its selling well, and is expected to top the charts this week. Narrator Hold on a minute. This cant be what really happened? Who is this Jesus person everyones talking about? volume reading Luke 21-7 Narrator (Breaks in at end of verse. ) Now hold it This still isnt clear to me. No one has really answered my question. pa ssword reading Luke 28-20 Paper Boy Extra Extra Jesus Christ born in Bethlehem. Paper (Exits) Choir (Start to file out after Paper Boy. ) Narrator Hey, where are you all going? Choir Were going to worship Jesus.Do you want to come along? Narrator No, I think Ill just read more about it. (Picks up paper, starts looking through it again. ) Scripture reading Luke 221-22,25-38 Child (10-13 years. Enters carrying a sack. ) Narrator Hello, what have you got there? Child A present for you. Narrator A present Thats very kind of you, seeing its Christmas. Can I open it now? (Child smiles and nods. ) (Narrator reaches in and takes out a hammer, and two pieces of wood. Comments on each. Then reaches in and takes out a doll dressed in babys clothes. Child takes them all off the Narrator, and cuddles the doll. Narrator What is this all about? Why did you give me these things? Im not sure a dolls quite my style. There must be something else. Child (Whispers in his ear. ) Narrator Are you sure? Th ats in there? (Child smiles and nods. Narrator looks inside again, puzzled. ) Who are you? Child Just someone you knew a long time ago, when you were my age. (Child takes the doll, hammer and pieces of wood and sits down to one side of the stage. ) Song (During the song, the Child sitting with the doll in the corner starts to hammer the two bits of wood together, in between verses.As the choir finishes they file out, singing. Child finishes hammering the two pieces of wood, holds the result up so the audience can see it is a cross. Child looks at the Narrator. ) Scripture reading Isaiah 531-12 Child Would you nail a baby to this cross? Then why did they do that to Jesus? (Child goes over to Narrator, Places the doll at his feet, and goes out. (Narrator stares at the doll, then bends over it, confused. As Narrator is bent over, Questioner enters. Narrator looks up at Questioner. ) Questioner Well, what do you think about Christmas now?Narrator ( Still thinking about his gift) Why did he/she do that? Questioner He wanted you to understand what Christmas was all about. Its not about presents, packages, trees or tinsel. Not even about carols. Its about God advance to Earth to do something no-one else could do. Narrator But why did they kill Him? He was such a good man. There was no need for it? (Stands up, picks up sack, throws it over shoulder. ) Such a good man, and they killed him. (Starts to go. ) Questioner Where are you going? Narrator To see if I can find out where they took him. Questioner What have you got in that sack?Narrator A Christmas present. This sack is my life. The Child told me it contains everything that Ive ever done wrong or that has ever happened to me. Questioner Wait a minute Dont you see? Thats what Christ came and died for. He wasnt just a good man, He was God in the flesh. Christ died, but He also rose from the dead so we dont have to carry all our sins around with us. Hes alive now, and wants to give you life. Narrator You really mean that? Questioner Of course. 500 people saw Jesus not long after he rose from the dead, and millions since have turned to him and found that hes still real.He loves you. You can let that sack go. Narrator (Looks at sack questioningly, at first cannot drop it, but finally shrugs shoulders and lets it drop. ) Hey, youre right. Suddenly theres no load. But why did God do it that way. I would have done things differently . . . excess Music He Became a man like me Questioner The ledger says, God loved the world so much, He sent us his only son, Jesus Christ so that whoever believes in him wont die, but will be given everlasting life. Narrator Thats tremendous. Its the best Christmas present I ever had. Youve got to tell me more. As they exit, Choir and congregation sing rapture to the world. ) .. John McNeil 1973 All rights reserved This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged. In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed. He may be contacted at email&160protected net. nz Or at 36B Stourbridge St, Christchurch 2, New Zealand.