"Doing" Drama To be used for announcing a new drama program. Characters:
Tom, Terry and Mary (any or all could be male or female)
Setting:
Mary's living room; Mary sits, reading; Tom and Terry visit
Props: large book, with large type label - Christian Drama Lighting
standard
Sound: standard Costumes:
leisure clothing
(Tom and Terry enter and see Mary reading a book.) Terry:
Hi Mary.
Tom:
What's that you're reading?
Mary:
Well, actually I'm reading a book about drama.
Tom:
Drama? You mean like being an actor, and going to Hollywood, and that sorta thing.
Mary:
Well, Tom, drama is about acting and stuff, but it isn't necessarily just done in Hollywood, you know.
Terry:
Yeh, Tom, I mean like there's actors in New York and in lotsa places. There's even actors right here in Lexington. My friend and I went to the (name of theatre) Theatre last month, it was great!
Mary:
Well, actually this book is about Christian Drama.
Terry:
Christian Drama? What's that?
Tom:
Duh! Christian Drama is drama that's done in church! Sheesh! What did'ya think it was, ya wiener!
Mary:
Well, you’re close, but that’s not exactly right. Any kind of drama could probably be done in church. But, like it says here in this book I got, (opens book and reads), "Christian Drama is that form of drama which has been specifically
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written and performed for the purpose of glorifying, praising and worshipping Jesus Christ, or as an evangelisation tool for presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ in a unique ministry manner." Tom:
Say what? What does all that mean? Are you trying to say that if people here at Lexington Covenant Church were to put on, say, The Sound of Music, you're saying that wouldn't be Christian Drama? I mean, there's no bad language or anything in Sound of Music for Pete's sake! That's good family entertainment, after all!
Mary:
Well, I agree with you, Tom. The Sound of Music is excellent family entertainment, and if we get real good it would be nice to stage a big production like that in the church. But that would be church drama, not Christian Drama.
Terry:
Church drama. Christian drama. I don't get it! I just don't see what's the difference.
Mary:
Well, like it says in my book, we need to understand that Christian drama is simply another method of ministry, another way of telling people the story of Jesus, and how he died for each of us.
Tom:
Ministry? But ministry is like preaching. or like Sunday School, or even like music. Those are ministries. But acting? I can't see how that could be ministry.
Mary:
Unfortunately some people won't come to Sunday School, or they won't listen to a sermon with an open mind. So the story of God's love never gets to them. But maybe they will come to listen to drama, or they'll be more receptive to that kind of message. Doesn't matter how they learn about Jesus, the important thing is that they do hear the message.
Terry:
You know, this is starting to make sense! But where are you going to get people who know how to act in this Christian drama? I know just about everyone here at Lexington Covenant and I don't know one person who's an actor.
Tom:
Hey, that's right! Where are you going to get these actors from?
Mary:
Well, actually I was planning that both of you would help me in that area.
Terry makes time-out sign: Hey, time out here! Me, be an actor? I don't think so Tim! Not this kid! Tom:
Me neither! I'm no actor, I mean . . . .
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Mary:
Tom, I distinctly remember a Christmas Sunday School concert where you were Joseph, and if my memory is correct, Terry, you were one of the Wise Men. And both of you had lines to remember, and you didn't miss one word.
Terry:
Yeh, well, that was different. I mean, I was just a kid, and, well, it was different, that's all, I mean . . . .
Tom:
Well, you can count me out, I mean, I could never be an actor, I mean, playing a phoney role and all.
Terry:
Right on! Phoney roles! That’s what they are!
Mary:
Phoney roles? Why would they be phoney roles? I mean, Tom, when you played Joseph, are you saying that was a phoney role? Same with you, Terry! Are you saying that the Wise Men were phoney?
Tom:
No, we aren’t saying that Joseph and the Wise Men were phoney, they really happened, we all know that! But when Terry and me were playing those roles, we were phoney, we were not Joseph and the Wise Men from the time when Jesus was born, we were still Tom and Terry from the twentieth century. So we were just playing a part, and so we were phoney!
Mary:
Very interesting! So you two are telling me that playing a part and using a story makes a person a phoney. I really never thought I’d hear you call Jesus a phoney!
Terry:
Jesus? A phoney? Who said Jesus was a phoney? He sure wasn’t an actor!
Mary:
No, he probably never was thought of as an actor, but He sure did play many parts to tell a story and to teach an important lesson. I believe they were called parables.
Tom:
Parables? But parables aren’t drama, I mean, . . . .
Terry:
Well, you know, I can kinda see what Mary’s driving at, I mean, like the Parable of The Good Samaritan. Jesus was telling a story, and He was teaching an important lesson.
Mary:
Jesus used many forms of ministry: He was a great preacher, but He also used dramatic word stories, kind of Bible-time drama, when He needed to bring out a really important truth. You know, when I remember back, I did kinda enjoy acting in the Sunday School
Tom:
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concert. Terry:
Yeh, actually I guess I did too. I’ll do it if you do, Tom. What d’ya say?
Tom:
Well, OK, I mean, after all, it is ministry. By the way, Mary, what drama are you going to do first?
Mary:
I’m not sure yet. Have you guys got any ideas?
Tom:
What about a Bible story. Like how about Noah and the lion's den. Do you have a script for that one?
Terry:
Or how about building a story from sayings from the Bible? I remember Pastor (name) saying something about “many are cold but few are frozen”. Didn't make sense to me, but I heard it with my own ears! I’m sure that would make a great drama.
Mary:
I can see why it doesn't make sense! You must be referring to the verse in Matthew that says, "many are called but few are chosen."
Terry:
Oh, maybe that was it.
Tom:
Mary, I’d like us to do a drama about the apostles and their wives, the epistles.
Mary:
Apostles? Epistles? Whatever are you . . . .
Terry:
Okay! Now I have a suggestion. I’d like to do a drama about the cross-eyed bear named Gladly. Do you think a drama about Gladly would be OK?
Mary:
Gladly? A cross eyed bear named Gladly? (thinks) "Gladly the cross-eyed bear"! I don't know what you are talking about!
Terry:
Well, it’s one of the songs we sing in church, I know that!
Mary:
I can’t recall many hymns about bears! (pause) Oh, I get it! (laughs) There is a hymn called, "Gladly the cross I'd bear." It means that a person who is willing to follow Jesus is also willing to gladly bear some crosses, or hardships. It really has nothing at all to do with bears!
Tom:
Then why did the song writer call it “Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear”?
Mary, in exasperation: Oh, you guys, I can see you have a lot to learn before we get our drama Doing Drama Page 4 Copyright DramaShare 1997
ministry off the ground here at Lexington Covenant! Tom:
Yeh, but you know, I think we can have a lot of fun learning through Christian Drama.
Terry:
Yeh, and after all, like you said Mary, it is Christian ministry.
Tom:
Let’s go talk to Patricia John, I think she can help us get started.
Actors exit together.
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