Title: Shorter Bible Plays
Author: Rita Benton
Release date: July 26, 2014 [eBook #46419]
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Charlene Taylor, Martin Mayer, Fox in the
Stars, TIA American Library and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
The Abingdon Religious Education Texts
David G. Downey, General Editor
GEORGE HERBERT BETTS, Associate Editor
BY
RITA BENTON
THE ABINGDON PRESS
NEW YORK CINCINNATI
Copyright, 1922, by
RITA BENTON
All Rights Reserved
The right to produce these plays for religious and educational purposes (without personal profit), is freely granted.
All professional acting rights and moving picture rights are fully protected by copyright, and any individual or company desiring to produce these plays for profit must make application to the author and pay a royalty as agreed upon.
Printed in the United States of America
Copyrighted, 1922, by Rita Benton
To the kindness of Edward D. Waters we are indebted for the use of many of these photographs.
Increasingly the church is coming again to use religious pageantry and plays for instruction and worship. In the earlier history of religion the dramatic expression of religious aspiration and feeling was almost universal. The dramatic impulse is deeply grounded in human nature, and may be made to appeal to the highest attributes of reverence and devotion.
Children should usually themselves be the actors and not mere spectators. In acting Bible stories they learn how intimately the past is linked to the present, and how the struggles of to-day after truth, courage, love, are like the struggles of the patriarchs and prophets. The stories become more vivid, their charm grows, as we study them in action—our own action. And when we have finished the production of a Bible play a portion of the most beautiful of all literature is ours forever.
In a portion of the plays they act out, the children should, under wise leadership, devise and prepare their own parts and lines. Along with these spontaneously planned representations, however, should come a fair proportion of carefully prepared simple artistic plays adapted to the age and understanding of the child and calculated to teach the lesson desired. Besides teaching their own particular lessons, such plays will serve as a model and standard for the children in preparing their own presentations.
It is the purpose of the present volume to offer a collection of shorter Bible plays of high standard, great beauty, simplicity, and careful adaptation. All of these plays have been used many times over with groups of children in church schools, and their value thoroughly proved. The editors offer the book to the church public believing it will be a helpful factor in the field of religious education.
The costumes used in these Bible plays have been largely copied from Tissot's illustrations of the Bible.
A straight piece of bleached or unbleached muslin, seamed at the sides up to arm-hole, with a slit for the neck, has been found the simplest foundation costume.
Variations on this are:
A girdle.
Sleeves.
Fringes.
A cloak of contrasting color, of the same pattern as the slip, but open in front.
Several yards of material of contrasting color, thrown over the head or shoulders, or draped.
Strips of cloth, four to six inches wide, sewed the length of the costume. Black strips against white make an effective costume.
For the head use a square of white cloth bound round with a thick, dark cord.
For women the cloth may be lighter. They may wear two girdles instead of one, with the material puffed out between the girdles. Their veils also should be of lighter material; over these a heavy mantle may hang, if desired.
Barefoot sandals or Japanese sandals will do for the feet, if antique sandals cannot be made. In many cases it is preferable that the actors go barefoot.
For bracelets, crowns, scepters, fans, buy sheet copper or brass, tin shears, and cut as desired. These will last forever.
For soldier costumes, make brilliant, short tunics. Belt these in with a twelve-inch strip of brown buckram, which, in turn, is tied on with a bright cord. Use cone-shaped caps.
Egyptian costumes may always be indicated by a belt with a broad flap in the center, reaching from waist to hem. For headdresses, use striped cloth; draw the two front ends under the cloth and pin at the back of the head.
For Babylonian costumes, take several yards of material; sew fringe to the ends and one side; pin one end of the goods at the back of model; wind goods about waist of model so as to form a skirt, and pin to end of goods; carry the rest of the goods around, under right arm, over left shoulder, about neck, over right arm; tuck in and hold in place by a three-inch belt. For head-gear use tall caps rather resembling a sugar loaf. Use heavy white canvas; this may be painted or fringed.
Try to use strong, bright colors, with white and black and brown. Avoid navy blue, turkey red, baby blue or pink. Try to use the same color-values.
A sea-blue curtain is the one essential.
(The number and kind of animals must be left to the costumer. Where the animals mentioned in the play are left out, mention of them must be omitted.)
The Ark may be built on a framework of wood, covered with cloth to represent a child's toy. Bright colors are preferable, such as gray and scarlet. Or the Ark may be cut out of wall board. A door on hinges must be cut in the side, also a window. A gangplank may lead up to door. If the play is given indoors, a blue back-drop may be used against which colored lights may be thrown, to indicate storm. If given out of doors, a blue, smiling sky is always desirable.
Thin tarlatan may be cut in the shape, and painted to represent the rainbow, and stretched on a curved bit of wire.
Trees, such as are seen in a child's Noah's Ark, may be cut out of wood and painted a vivid green. These will aid the picture.
(Taken in large measure from the play by Ranulf Higden of Saint Werburg's, Chester. A. D. 1299-1364.)
(The three Sons of Noah enter and work upon the ark with hammer and nails, or any building tools. Occasionally comes a distant cry of, "Ho, ho! Ark-builders!" They look up impatiently. Presently some impish Children run in.)
First Child (jeeringly): Ark-builders, ark-builders, where is your wit?
Second Child: Ark-builders, ark-builders, when do you flit?
(Shem and Ham drop their tools and chase the children out, following them. Japheth continues his work at the door. Presently the children reappear, entering from the other side.)
Children (laughing merrily and pointing at ark): Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!
(Japheth goes inside and slams the door.)
Third Child: Ark-builder, ark-builder, come out again.
Children: Ark-builder, ark-builder, where is your rain? (They run out.)
(Noah comes out of the door and looks anxiously up at the sky. The Messenger enters; Noah bends prostrate.)
Messenger:
(The Messenger goes.)
Noah (rising and raising arms to heaven):
(Calls.)
(Japheth enters from within ark; Shem and Ham enter shaking their fists angrily at Idolaters without, who mock and jeer.)
Idolaters (without): Ho, ho! Ark-builders! Ark-builders, ho, ho!
Shem:
Noah:
Japheth: But, father, art thou sure?
Noah (sternly): Well? Sure of what?
Japheth (hastily): Nay, nay, I see I'm wrong; I question not.
Noah:
(All work busily. The Wives enter carrying pitchers and platters of fruits. Noah's Wife enters leisurely, carrying a distaff, or a plate of fruit.)
Noah's Wife:
Noah: I do believe it.
Noah's Wife:
Noah:
Noah's Wife:
Noah: Peace, woman, go within. (Points sternly.)
Noah's Wife: I will not go.
Noah:
Ham (sullenly):
Noah:
(Music. Enter the Idolaters carrying an idol of gold. They sing and dance about it.)
(One Idolater pours out a libation of wine. Noah strides forward and knocks over idol. The Idolaters huddle back.)
Noah: Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination to the Lord!
Idolaters: Sacrilege!
Noah: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the stall! Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out!
Sons (loudly): Amen!
Idolaters: Woe! Woe! Woe! (They surge forward.)
First Idolater: Upon them!
Second Idolater: Scatter them!
Third Idolater: Destroy them!
Fourth Idolater: No! (He pushes others back.)
A Maiden (holding out her hand to Japheth):
(The Idolaters start out, Japheth following.)
Noah's Wife: My son, and dost thou leave me?
Noah:
First Idolater (pointing upward mockingly):
All the Idolaters (laughing): Get into the ark lest it wet your toes. (They dance out with Japheth.)
Noah (arms upraised):
(Turns to other sons.)
(Shem and Ham go out. Noah turns his back and laments):
Noah's Wife (mocking):
Noah (turning):
Ham (returns):
(Loud roarings heard outside.)
(Enter Shem with procession of animals. Ham aids him drive the animals. First of all enters a solitary Dragon.)
Noah: Where is your mate, good Dragon? Tell me—where?
Dragon (with a mournful flap of his claw):
Noah: My sons, their wives and me.
Dragon: I cannot add.
Noah: In all there will be eight.
Dragon (mournfully):
Wives (to Noah, with horror in their faces): O father!
Dragon:
(Crawls out.)
Shem (bringing other animals up):
(Goes out.)
(The Bear sits down facing audience, and scratches his nose. The Monkey runs away; he is brought back. The other Monkey climbs on roof of ark and pulls the ear of Giraffe as that beast looks out of window. They drag the Elephant in with great difficulty. Noah counts off the animals as they enter.)
Noah:
Rabbit (one of a group of little white rabbits): O sir, I only brought my family. (Weeps.)
Noah: Where are the lions? (One Lion stalks in; Wives flee.) Thou art late; turn ye, O Lion; seek your mate.
(Whereupon the Lion shall turn to audience and roar
until his mate shall run to him, and both shall enter the ark together.)
(If so be that any child shall cry or whimper when he heareth the lion roar, then shall the lion remove his mask and say, "Good child, be not afraid.")
Noah:
(Japheth enters running.)
Japheth (kneeling):
Noah (embracing him):
(The waters begin to rise. This may be shown by a painted curtain, by folds of green tarlatan or in any way the wisdom of the producer may suggest. Noah's Wife begins to look uneasy and regards the sky.)
Noah: Good wife, wilt thou enter now?
Noah's Wife (hastily): Yes, good Noah, yes, I trow!
(She runs up gang-plank.)
Noah (to sons):
(They draw up plank; then Shem points to distance. Two Tortoises enter, panting. With grins, the sons shove out the plank and Tortoises enter ark. They close the door and window. Enter a Woman of the Idolaters. carrying a baby. She enters between the flood-curtain and the ark.)
Woman (cries):
Noah (looking out of window):
Woman (holding up baby): Yet save my child!
Noah's Wife (at the window):
Noah:
(He closes the window; she sinks with her child behind the waves. The water rises; those within the ark chant a psalm.)
Noah (chanting):
All (chanting):
Enter the Messenger. (If the play is given in-doors, this may be omitted.)
Messenger:
(Messenger goes.)
(Noah opens window; there is a loud roaring.)
Noah:
Cries Within Ark: The dove! The dove!