In My Place Characters Mary - Deaf Mute Girl, age about 8 – 9 Barabbas - Father of Mary (Robber, Murderer, Mercenary) Anna - Mother of Mary, wife of Barabbas Claudia - 12 year old sister of Mary Setting All of the play takes place in the family's living room. There should be as much rich trappings as possible to indicate that Barabbas is financially successful. Large pillows are placed on the floor throughout the room. An opening to represent a door is partially covered by a rich colored blanket at down stage right. Costuming All characters should be in Biblical dress. Anna and Mary should be dressed in brighter colours, Claudia in somber but rich colour (earth tone). Barabbas should be in a dark, preferably black, colour. Conduct of Characters Claudia is a quiet introspective young girl who is old enough to be aware of her father's trade and to be ashamed of it. She shows great love and empathy for Mary, hesitating love coupled with sympathy for Anna but obvious disgust, hatred for her father Barabbas. Barabbas is a very large man with a booming voice and an overbearing attitude to indicate that he is used to being in charge and in authority, this with everyone except for Mary for whom he shows a very obvious gentleness. Anna is constantly in between Claudia and Barabbas as mediator, trying to create harmony. Mary is a happy young child who is unable to speak, she communicates in sign language. Since Mary can not speak it is essential that each person she is signing to look fully at Mary each time they are signed to, and that they slowly, as though thinking through the message, repeat back the theme of the message which was signed, after which they will go on with their own lines where relevant. It is critical that the audience not be left in any doubt as to the "lines" which Mary has signed. Books on signing are available from public libraries, also check with schools as many have programs for speech / hearing impaired. Coaches, (or even an actress for the role of Mary), will likely be available. Props Gold coins in a brown cloth bag, a broom, some flowers and a vase, a small round table Script The scene opens with Claudia sweeping the floor, rearranging the pillows, etc. Anna and Mary enter through stage right door. Anna is talking just before they enter, Claudia looks up as they enter, she smiles at Mary and brushes Mary's hair as Mary goes by. Mary excitedly pulls on Claudia's dress to get her attention and signs to Claudia. Mary signs:
See the lovely flowers which mother and I picked.
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In My Place Mary is carrying a handful of flowers which she hands to Claudia who puts them in a vase on the table. Claudia:
Yes Mary, I do see the lovely flowers which you and mother picked. Oh how they light up this room.
Anna:
Thank you Claudia, my daughter, for tidying up around the house. Your father has been gone for four days now and I expect him home soon. He will be pleased to see the house so spotless.
Claudia (aggravated): It is not for the thieving murderer Barabbas that I clean the house. My wish would be that he be captured by the Romans and would never darken our door again. Anna (upset): Do not dare say such a thing of your father, show him the respect which he is due. Claudia:
Respect? For a murderer, for a thief, for a mercenary, for one without the slightest feeling or love for anyone except himself? No I will have no respect ever for the likes of Barabbas, nor will I ever refer to him as my father.
Anna:
But it's your father that he is. And, look around you, your father looks after us well. And he does show great love for your sister Mary.
Claudia:
Yes, I'll admit he does have love for Mary. But what he should show is shame for his evil ways.
Anna (grabs Claudia by the shoulders and shakes her violently): I warned you never to talk about your father in that tone ever again. Never again! Since you have taken up with your new friends there is no living with you. Claudia:
My new friends are followers of the Messiah , the Nazarene. They have shown me what it is to live in love and in harmony with God. And the more I learn of the teachings of Jesus, the more I realize just how unrighteous is the lifestyle which your husband, all right my father, Barabbas, leads and which we accept. Mother, you know last night for the first time I met Jesus Christ face to face. He was healing the sick who had been brought to Him. And He looked deep into my eyes and said, 'Would you that I would heal you as well child?' I responded that I had no physical deficiency. He replied that the Son of God had come to heal not just the bodies but the souls of men. You see mother, He looked right into my very soul and clearly saw the torment. And He forgave my sins and He made me feel, - new!
Anna:
I have heard of this Nazarene. I have heard that He has even raised men from the dead. I once suggested to Barabbas that we might take Mary to Jesus that she might talk.
Claudia:
Oh Mother that would be wonderful.
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In My Place
(Claudia kneels down and cradles Mary in her arms), signs and talks at the same time: like to take you to see Jesus that you may hear and speak. Mary signs:
I would
Who is Jesus? How can He make me speak?
Claudia signs and talks at the same time: You ask who Jesus is and how He can cause you to speak? Dear sister, He is the Messiah. And all things are possible with Him since He is the very own son of the Lord God Almighty. Mary signs:
Father has taken me to the best doctors in the land, they say that there is no hope.
Anna signs and talks at the same time: Yes dear daughter, I know that your father has taken you to the best doctors and that they say that your case is hopeless. But Claudia believes, and I do too, that the Messiah has the power to work miracles. Mary, excited, signs: It would be so good to speak, may I please go to see the Messiah? Anna:
We will discuss it with your father when he returns.
(There is a noise outside and Barabbas' voice is heard offstage). Barabbas:
You will stand guard exactly as I have told you. It will be a swift and a painful death for anyone foolish enough to disobey me.
Barabbas enters the door, drops a bag on the table, it knocks the vase of flowers to the floor. Mary begins to cry and kneels down to rescue the flowers. Mary signs:
Father you have broken my lovely flowers.
Barabbas laughs: Broken your lovely flowers you say. Well what is in this bag will buy many things for you my darling, things much more beautiful than plain desert flowers. (Barabbas dumps the gold coins on to the table). Claudia:
How can you bring blood money into this house? On this money is the stench of the blood which was spilled to obtain it. Who did you murder to get this money Barabbas?
Barabbas :
You will have some respect child. But to answer your question it was a stupid merchant who pranced about as though he were a rich king. When I found that this was the full extent of his possessions I took both his possessions and his life.
Mary, excitedly pulls on Barabbas' coat until he bends down to her, signs: Oh father, mother and Claudia are taking me to see the Messiah that I may speak.
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In My Place Barabbas, annoyed speaks to Anna and Claudia: What is this? You two are taking my daughter to see some lunatic prophet so that she may - speak? How dare the two of you put such unfounded thoughts into her poor young mind. You both know very well that all the best doctors in the land agree that the case is hopeless. I have a good mind to have the two of you whipped, beginning with this wretch of a daughter. Mary pulls at his coat, signs:
Oh father please! Don't you want me to speak?
Barabbas:
Of course I want you to speak. You know that I would give all that I have if you could speak.
Mary signs:
Then let Mother and Claudia take me to see the Messiah, please father.
Barabbas, looks fiercely at Claudia and Anna: Well very well then, Claudia and your mother may take you to see this, this Nazarene. I have business to attend to but when I return I should hope for the sake of your mother and your sister that you can indeed speak. For if you are not able I shall do more than speak with the two of you. Mary, puts her arms around Barabbas, signs:
Thank you father.
(Lights go out. Actors all very quietly file out stage right). After a few minutes lights come back up. There are excited voices offstage as Mary, Anna and Claudia are heard talking outside). Mary:
Oh mother it is so amazing. Claudia, you were right! Jesus did have the power to heal me.
Claudia:
Yes dear sister. Jesus is the Son of God and is all powerful.
(All three enter the room, happy, smiling). Anna:
I can't wait for your father to return home to hear the good news. He too will be excited.
Claudia:
If only father could receive healing from the Master.
Mary:
Healing? For father? Is he sick? What is wrong?
(There is a noise outside, Barabbas staggers into room, clothes torn, blood smeared on his face). Anna:
Barabbas, what has happened? You have been hurt.
Barabbas:
I will be fine. I was arrested by the Roman guards. I was to be crucified. But He took my place.
Claudia:
What are you talking about father? Why were you to be crucified? And who would take the place of someone who would be crucified?
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In My Place
Anna, brings a pitcher of water:
Here, have a drink. And tell us what happened.
Barabbas, drinks, wipes his mouth with the back of his hand: When I left here last night I was upset, not thinking clearly. I robbed and murdered a traveler just outside Jerusalem. Too late I realized that the Roman soldiers had set a trap for me. I was arrested and since my deeds are well known, my trial was speedy and I was sentenced to die. Anna:
My husband, how did you escape?
Barabbas:
Escape? I didn't escape. I was set free. At the time of my trial another man was also undergoing a speedy trial. He was accused by the Sanhedrin of claiming to be God. The Jewish leaders had taken this man to Pontius Pilate to demand that he be crucified. Apparently Pilate didn't agree that he deserved to die however the chief priest, Caiaphas and his father in law, Annas were insistent. Pilate has never had a backbone so rather than annoy the Jewish leaders Pilate sent this prisoner to Herod, that Herod would do his dirty work. But Herod would have no part of it. He returned the prisoner to Pilate. After much wrangling Pilate brought me out and stood me beside this prisoner. He reminded the gathered throng that, as is our custom at the Feast time, he would release one prisoner. Pilate suggested that he release this other prisoner and carry out the death penalty on myself, this due to the seriousness of my many crimes. But instead, the people demanded that I be released and that this other prisoner be crucified in my place. (At this point Barabbas breaks into tears. After a moment he controls himself and goes on): And just before the other prisoner was taken away to be crucified he looked at me with a look of pure . . . . love. And I was left standing there, aware that for some unknown reason this person was killed in my place.
Claudia gasps: Barabbas:
Father, what was the name of the other prisoner? I heard Him referred to as Jesus, the Christ, of Nazareth.
Claudia screams:
They have murdered the Son of God.
Barabbas:
He died in my place. He gave His life for me.
Anna:
He gave us more than that. Father I went to visit the Messiah. And He healed me. I can hear, I can speak.
Barabbas:
He was crucified for the sins which I committed. Yet He also saw fit to provide for my family. Why would anyone do this for one as unworthy as I?
Claudia:
Because, as He explained to us, He came to provide for sinners.
Barabbas:
And what are we to do for Him in return?
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In My Place Claudia:
There is only one thing which He ever expected of us, his followers. That was that we acknowledge Him as God, the Lord and Saviour of the world. I believe that all we are to do now.
(Family kneel together, lights go out)
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