I wrote a Christmas pageant.
Dec. 4th, 2010 08:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rivkaI wrote a Christmas pageant this year, as I have done before. If you have an appetite for what is, by nature, a schmaltzy genre, take a look under the cut.
The Most Important Thing
A Christmas Pageant by Rebecca Wald
Cast:
Deborah, a shepherd who always tries to do the right thing.
Leah, a shepherd who is looking for bigger and better things.
Miriam, a shepherd who is a bit on the stubborn side.
The Angel of the Lord.
Angels.
Kaspar, a Wise Person.
Two other Wise People.
Jesus.
Mary.
Joseph.
Innkeeper.
Scene: a hillside in Bethlehem. Leah and Miriam are sitting together; Deborah joins them.
Deborah: Hey, girls. What's happening tonight?
Leah: Are you kidding me? The same thing happens every night. We sit out on this hillside, freezing our behinds off, watching over the flocks, who never do anything interesting.
Miriam: I think Levi is getting sick.
Leah: A sick sheep is not interesting. Interesting is going somewhere different, seeing something different, having something new to talk about. Look: our parents are sitting over there, doing the same thing we are. And our grandparents are sitting over there, doing the same thing our parents are. We have a whole lifetime of this to look forward to - the same thing, every night.
Angels appear.
Angel of the Lord: Fear not! I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
Angels sing:
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Angels disappear. There is a brief silence.
Deborah: Well. THAT was different.
Miriam: A Savior? What does that even mean?
Leah: I'll tell you what it means! It means that something completely new is happening here at last. Those angels showed up to lead me right out of my old life and into a world where I can do things that really matter. No more hanging out on a boring hillside, watching boring sheep. I'm heading to Bethlehem. Whatever big things happen next, I want to be a part of them.
Miriam: I think I'd better stay behind. Levi really isn't looking well. If I stay with him, I can keep him warm and give him water. He might even be able to eat a little of my porridge.
Leah: Miriam, Levi is a sheep. There are dozens of them.
Miriam: I know that.
Leah: Look, this is our chance! We'll be remembered forever: we're the ones the angels talked to. But if that's going to happen, we've got to get down to the city and tell everyone about it.
Deborah: The angel told us we should go see the baby. An angel, Miriam! She had wings and a crown! She was sent to us by the Almighty. Are you saying that you know better than an angel? You're just a shepherd.
Miriam: Right. And a shepherd is supposed to take care of sheep.
Leah: Leave her alone, Deborah. If she wants to miss out on the most important thing - no, make that the only important thing - that's ever happened around here, that's her business.
Leah exits down the aisle. Deborah and Miriam sit in silence for a few moments.
Deborah: I really wish you would come to Bethlehem.
Miriam: Why don't you go without me?
Deborah: This is just like the time that Mother said we shouldn't go to the well because there were bandits around. And what did you decide to do? Miriam the Stubborn doesn't listen to anyone. She makes up her own mind. So you set out by yourself, and what happened?
Miriam: I almost got caught and had to run all the way home.
Deborah: And you broke the really pretty pitcher with the blue stripe. Now we have to use the grey one. Didn't you learn anything from that?
Miriam: I learned to be more careful about bandits.
Deborah: You were supposed to learn to listen to what other people tell you to do!
Miriam: Does Levi look any better to you? I don't think his color is so good.
Deborah: How can you even tell? He's sheep-colored.
Three Wise People enter, dressed in rich robes and carrying gifts.
Kaspar: Young woman! Is there a town or city to the west of here?
Deborah: Who on earth are you?
Kaspar: We are astrologers from far-off lands. We study the secrets of the heavens. The stars carry messages about important events on earth, you know. We've been following this particularly bright one. We've heard that it will lead us to a newborn king - a king like no one has ever seen before.
Miriam: Bethlehem is right over the next hill.
Wise People exit down the aisle, singing:
Star of wonder, star of night.
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Deborah: Look at them, Miriam. I've never seen such splendor and magnificence in my life. First an angel, and now these wise ones. Doesn't that tell you how important this must be?
Miriam: Go ahead, Deborah. I know you want to. I'll stay here.
Deborah shakes her head and leaves, following the Wise People. Miriam spoons some porridge into Levi's mouth.
Miriam: I don't know, Levi. I know I must be missing out on a lot. But it just doesn't seem right to leave you when you need me.
Enter Jesus, in a white robe.
Jesus: You're not missing that much. I can tell you about it, if you like. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to pay their taxes. It was a hard trip, because Mary was expecting a baby - and when they got there, they found out that there was no room at the inn. She had her baby in a stable out back. It wasn't what you would call comfortable, but at least with the animals there, it was warm.
Mary, Joseph, and the innkeeper act out the story as Jesus tells it: Mary and Joseph walk up the aisle and are turned away by the innkeeper, who gestures them towards the stable instead.
Jesus: Your friends showed up. So did the wise ones from foreign lands.
Leah, Deborah, and the three Wise People enter and kneel at the stable.
Jesus: Not a bad turnout for my first birthday.
Miriam: Wait, your birthday? You're already grown up.
Jesus: I know. It's even hard for me to understand this stuff sometimes. Listen, Miriam -
Miriam: How do you know my name?
Jesus: I know a lot of things. I came here tonight to tell you something important. That baby's going to grow up and say it in about thirty years, but I figured that you can't wait.
Miriam: Do you really turn out to be a Savior?
Jesus: Some people think so. They'll still be celebrating my birthday two thousand years from now, which is pretty cool. But it's much more important that people listen to what I have to say, which is this: whatever you do for the least of my brothers - say, Levi the sheep, for example - it's the same as if you were doing it for me.
Miriam: So, the most important thing that's ever happened around here...
Jesus: ...Could be what you’re doing right now. Right.
Miriam: I'm dreaming this part, aren't I?
Jesus: Probably. Does it matter?
Miriam: Maybe not. Levi's looking a lot better.
Whole cast gathers at midstage, Miriam in the center and still holding the sheep. The cast sings:
The first Nowell the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell
Born in a manger in Israel.
The Most Important Thing
A Christmas Pageant by Rebecca Wald
Cast:
Deborah, a shepherd who always tries to do the right thing.
Leah, a shepherd who is looking for bigger and better things.
Miriam, a shepherd who is a bit on the stubborn side.
The Angel of the Lord.
Angels.
Kaspar, a Wise Person.
Two other Wise People.
Jesus.
Mary.
Joseph.
Innkeeper.
Scene: a hillside in Bethlehem. Leah and Miriam are sitting together; Deborah joins them.
Deborah: Hey, girls. What's happening tonight?
Leah: Are you kidding me? The same thing happens every night. We sit out on this hillside, freezing our behinds off, watching over the flocks, who never do anything interesting.
Miriam: I think Levi is getting sick.
Leah: A sick sheep is not interesting. Interesting is going somewhere different, seeing something different, having something new to talk about. Look: our parents are sitting over there, doing the same thing we are. And our grandparents are sitting over there, doing the same thing our parents are. We have a whole lifetime of this to look forward to - the same thing, every night.
Angels appear.
Angel of the Lord: Fear not! I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
Angels sing:
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Angels disappear. There is a brief silence.
Deborah: Well. THAT was different.
Miriam: A Savior? What does that even mean?
Leah: I'll tell you what it means! It means that something completely new is happening here at last. Those angels showed up to lead me right out of my old life and into a world where I can do things that really matter. No more hanging out on a boring hillside, watching boring sheep. I'm heading to Bethlehem. Whatever big things happen next, I want to be a part of them.
Miriam: I think I'd better stay behind. Levi really isn't looking well. If I stay with him, I can keep him warm and give him water. He might even be able to eat a little of my porridge.
Leah: Miriam, Levi is a sheep. There are dozens of them.
Miriam: I know that.
Leah: Look, this is our chance! We'll be remembered forever: we're the ones the angels talked to. But if that's going to happen, we've got to get down to the city and tell everyone about it.
Deborah: The angel told us we should go see the baby. An angel, Miriam! She had wings and a crown! She was sent to us by the Almighty. Are you saying that you know better than an angel? You're just a shepherd.
Miriam: Right. And a shepherd is supposed to take care of sheep.
Leah: Leave her alone, Deborah. If she wants to miss out on the most important thing - no, make that the only important thing - that's ever happened around here, that's her business.
Leah exits down the aisle. Deborah and Miriam sit in silence for a few moments.
Deborah: I really wish you would come to Bethlehem.
Miriam: Why don't you go without me?
Deborah: This is just like the time that Mother said we shouldn't go to the well because there were bandits around. And what did you decide to do? Miriam the Stubborn doesn't listen to anyone. She makes up her own mind. So you set out by yourself, and what happened?
Miriam: I almost got caught and had to run all the way home.
Deborah: And you broke the really pretty pitcher with the blue stripe. Now we have to use the grey one. Didn't you learn anything from that?
Miriam: I learned to be more careful about bandits.
Deborah: You were supposed to learn to listen to what other people tell you to do!
Miriam: Does Levi look any better to you? I don't think his color is so good.
Deborah: How can you even tell? He's sheep-colored.
Three Wise People enter, dressed in rich robes and carrying gifts.
Kaspar: Young woman! Is there a town or city to the west of here?
Deborah: Who on earth are you?
Kaspar: We are astrologers from far-off lands. We study the secrets of the heavens. The stars carry messages about important events on earth, you know. We've been following this particularly bright one. We've heard that it will lead us to a newborn king - a king like no one has ever seen before.
Miriam: Bethlehem is right over the next hill.
Wise People exit down the aisle, singing:
Star of wonder, star of night.
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Deborah: Look at them, Miriam. I've never seen such splendor and magnificence in my life. First an angel, and now these wise ones. Doesn't that tell you how important this must be?
Miriam: Go ahead, Deborah. I know you want to. I'll stay here.
Deborah shakes her head and leaves, following the Wise People. Miriam spoons some porridge into Levi's mouth.
Miriam: I don't know, Levi. I know I must be missing out on a lot. But it just doesn't seem right to leave you when you need me.
Enter Jesus, in a white robe.
Jesus: You're not missing that much. I can tell you about it, if you like. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to pay their taxes. It was a hard trip, because Mary was expecting a baby - and when they got there, they found out that there was no room at the inn. She had her baby in a stable out back. It wasn't what you would call comfortable, but at least with the animals there, it was warm.
Mary, Joseph, and the innkeeper act out the story as Jesus tells it: Mary and Joseph walk up the aisle and are turned away by the innkeeper, who gestures them towards the stable instead.
Jesus: Your friends showed up. So did the wise ones from foreign lands.
Leah, Deborah, and the three Wise People enter and kneel at the stable.
Jesus: Not a bad turnout for my first birthday.
Miriam: Wait, your birthday? You're already grown up.
Jesus: I know. It's even hard for me to understand this stuff sometimes. Listen, Miriam -
Miriam: How do you know my name?
Jesus: I know a lot of things. I came here tonight to tell you something important. That baby's going to grow up and say it in about thirty years, but I figured that you can't wait.
Miriam: Do you really turn out to be a Savior?
Jesus: Some people think so. They'll still be celebrating my birthday two thousand years from now, which is pretty cool. But it's much more important that people listen to what I have to say, which is this: whatever you do for the least of my brothers - say, Levi the sheep, for example - it's the same as if you were doing it for me.
Miriam: So, the most important thing that's ever happened around here...
Jesus: ...Could be what you’re doing right now. Right.
Miriam: I'm dreaming this part, aren't I?
Jesus: Probably. Does it matter?
Miriam: Maybe not. Levi's looking a lot better.
Whole cast gathers at midstage, Miriam in the center and still holding the sheep. The cast sings:
The first Nowell the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell
Born in a manger in Israel.
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no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 01:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 02:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 03:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 08:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 03:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 04:26 am (UTC)And I know it's all biblical and stuff, but the emphasis on ordinary people doing ordinary things who look for something better and don't always realize that what they're doing is hugely important - it's reminiscent of Christopher Eccleston Doctor Who.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 01:28 pm (UTC)I like how nice and simple the story is - like a nice, plain Shaker table. I've written my share of Christmas plays, and tend to be "clever", or go for the joke over the story. You're not doing that here.
(Oh, and the kids at my church are writing the play this year. I fully expect that somewhere in the middle of the production Chthulu will come rising from the depths of Lake Harriet.)
no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 08:18 pm (UTC)Is there some sort of Unitarian kids' educational material newsletter? Send them this. It's too good to be performed only once.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 09:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-05 11:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-06 12:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-10 12:45 pm (UTC)I love this. Thanks.