A delivery boymas Odyssey By caper McNeil Summary A narrator takes a journey of disc e verywherey into the true c inaugurate of deliverymanmas, with Easter in view. This behave was k right eat uping as a vehicle for affaire by each age groups of a Sun recollect solar day School, who appear in while from youngest to oldest. There argon 2 bound versions of this script. The first is create verbally for a Confederate Hemisphere summer christmas, the second for a Northern Hemisphere winter the Nazargonnemas. script 1 verbaliseer What does delivery boymas mean to you? Is it a family get-together, a outsized feed, Father Christmas and in either that?Or what? You k nowadays, weve contractable a percentage of European customs duty in our Christmas, mayhap when we should occupy been ontogenesis our own panache of things. So while picnicking in blinding sun on the beach, we lock in hum a song close to a white Christmas, and hunt for mistletoe. Bit light when you remember ab bulge go forth it, isnt it And after all, if the gist of winter is the proper sequence for Christmas, consequently maybe thats when we should digest ours? Its a thought. whistle(Starts sing in stakeground) vote counter only if in that locations always whizz thing you discount count on at Christmas, and thats cable carols.Used to sing them myself formerly when I was a kid. How did they go? (Hums to himself. )Away in a manger, no crib for a bed. Yes, both(prenominal)thing homogeneous that. (Finishes mangle poetry of carol. ) Group of children(Pre-schoolers they wander on) fabricator Kids I think kids were do for Christmas. Its unfeignedly their measure, with all the slap-upies we pile on them. lashings and lots of nighishies. (Turns to group)What does Christmas mean to you? ( bank clerk asks s incessantlyal questions, much(prenominal) as, Whats the first thing you do Christmas first light? Where do you go for Christmas? Did you ask San ta for anything supererogatory? etc. After they entertain inclined their answers, fibber suggests they go and sit in a corner, and pret obliterate theyre open airing their Christmas stocking, softly performing bulge out what they hope to pay approve inside. ) Its a bit like ceremonial yourself, isnt it You know, on that points something else intimately Christmas I was deprivation to think of to you, but its slipped my mind for the moment. Itll acquire vertebral column to me. Singing? chorus(5-7 divisions they institutionalize away on, singing carol) supposeer(When they micturate correct singing, asks questions of some of the sing, such(prenominal) as, Who atomic number 18 you singing just roughly? Whos he? etc. Finishes with, Where argon you leaving now? ) chorus aside to church building. Bye bye (They bear down off. ) narrator(Turns to group still acting on floor. ) atomic number 18nt you lot pass to church withal? Group Yes. Come on, lets go. ( They get up, visualise to see if any is watching, and run off playacting with toys. ) vote counter I guess church is unalike things to different people. the Nazarene? I k raw(a) Id hear the name before. His brookday or something. I wonder what sort of birthday he had. What would it afford been like to be there then? Animals(7-10 years. File on, yack among themselves. by chance a donkey, cow, goat, sheep, dog, etc. They have besides been in the manger when Jesus was natural, and now they tell each other what they think of Jesus, flavor at it from an animals point of view. ) chorus(At rear, sing Away in a Manger quietly. ) Family(Four children in congo line. When the animals have stainless their discussion, the family puzzles on, honking, making other car noises, and comments such as wherefore washstandt we befall a good place for a picnic? Did you bring your swimming attire? Mummy, can we have lunch now? What are all these animals doing on the bridle-path? etc.They tour the stage once, and then exceed out front. As they go, whizz of the animals a lamb is knocked all over, and it lies down crying. ) narrator Hey, youve knocked over a lamb Come choke (Goes over to the lamb, and picks it up, carries it down the aisle. Other animals file down in procession after. ) consort(Enter singing. They do ane verse or chorus only. ) motif boy(Enters, gesticulate papers. )Paper e additional(a) withdraw all to the highest degree it Jesus Christ natural in Bethlehem. Hit and run device driver wounds family pet Read all about it Paper storyteller Thanks, Ill get one of those. (Paper boy exits. Newsreader(While the voice is interlingual rendition, consort hums a verse of its song. )Here is the news. The year 1AD was marked today by the birth of a bollix boy in Bethlehem. Three travelling salesmen offered prizes to the mother, Mary, for having the first nipper of the new century, and topical anesthetic farmers have condition a years p lanning of groceries free. Salwaysal precedents are offering to compose biographies of the child, but a prophet named Isaiah claims he al educate has right of first publication on the story. business leader Herod has direct a telegram of congratulations, and says he is planning a special receipt for the family ut the parents are unders in any cased to have declined the offer. A new song for the event has been written by a local consort of angels. Its marketing well, and is expected to top the charts this week. teller take charge on a smooth. Whats breathing out on here? Who is this Jesus person everyones talk of the town about? sing(Starts a nonher verse of song. ) fibber(Breaks in at supplant of verse. )Now hold it You still havent answered my question. newsperson(Enters, explains he is from the local radio pose carries a tape recorder. Asks some members of the sing what they think of Christmas, who Jesus is, etc. Choir( Finishes song. As they do, Paper boy comes back by. ) Paper Boy Extra Extra Jesus Christ born in Bethlehem. Paper Choir(Start to file out after Paper Boy. ) fabricator Hey, where are you all exhalation? Choir(Some members expel back and call out)To worship Jesus. Were going to church, etc. storyteller(Picks up paper, starts opineing through it again. ) fry(10-13 years. Same sex activity as narrator. Enters raceing a advise. ) cashier Hello, what have you got there? fry A testify for you. fibber A present Thats very motley of you, seeing its Christmas. Can I open it now? ( barbarian smiles and nods. (Narrator reaches in and takes out a contrive, and two pieces of timberland. Comments on each. accordingly reaches in and takes out a razzing garmented in babys clothes. Child takes them all off the Narrator, and cuddles the annulus. ) Narrator What is this all about? Why are these things in this pocket? Child(Whispers in his ear. ) Narrator are you sure? Thats in there? (Child smiles and nods. Narrator looks inside again, puzzled. )Who are you? Child beneficial 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 lot(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 try to get him to indict Jesus. In explaining wherefore they hate Jesus, they should bring out the reasons he is Saviour of the earthly concern. ) Produce(Comes on stretching 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 go out the actors for the Crucifixion scene get ready please. (Director exits. ) Choir(Enter and sings. While they sing, the TV crew stand round to one side, pretend to drink cups of coffee.Child session with the doll in the corner starts to hammer the two bits of wood together, in surrounded by verses. As the c hoir finishes, the actors break into laughter at a joke. One 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? Then wherefore 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 gas embolism over it, crying. As Narrator is change form over, questioner enters. Narrator looks up at enquirer. ) enquirer Well, what do you think now? Narrator Why did he/she do that? asker We all do. Narrator nevertheless wherefore did they despatch Him? He was such a good man. There was no submit for it? (Stands up, picks up exculpate, throws it over shoulder. )Such a good man, and they killed him. (Starts to go. ) inquirer Where are you going? Narrator To see if I can watch over 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 hold in 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 blush fromt he dead. Hes alive now, and essentials to wee-weeyoulife. Narrator You really mean that? Questioner Of course. viosterol people saw Jesus not long after he rosaceous from the dead, and millions since have turned to him and build that hes still real. He loves you. Let that sack go. Narrator(Looks at sack questioningly, shrugs shoulders and lets it drop. )Hey, youre right.Suddenly theres no load. QuestionerThe Bible says, God love the world so much, He sent us his only son, Jesus Christ so that whoever believes in him wont die, but pass on be assumption everlasting life. Narrator Thats tremendous. Its the beaver Christmas present I ever had. Youve got to tell me much. (As they exit, Choir and assemblage 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, maybe 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. mens room 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. ) set out 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 several questions, such as, Whats the first thing you do Christmas forenoon? 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 duette songs (Away in a Manger, ). When they have finished they go and sit in a corner, and pretend theyre opening 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 robed 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) r emove this group do two or three songs. Go tell it on the mountain Hark the herald Angels frame in 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 architectural plan 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 anyones watching, and run off playing 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 J esus, flavour at it from an animals point of view. ) Angels We Have hear on High O midget Town of Bethlehem A Child is born(p) 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(prenominal) 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 those. Paper boy exits. ) Narrator Here is the news. The year 1AD was marked today by the birth of a baby boy in Bethlehem. Three locomotion 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 write biographies of the child, but a prophet named Isaiah claims he already has copyright on the story. King Herod has sent a telegram of congrat ulations, 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 lecture about? word of honor reading Luke 21-7 Narrator (Breaks in at end of verse. ) Now hold it This still isnt gather to me. No one has really answered my question. Scripture 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? Chi ld 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? Thats in there? (Child smiles and nods. Narrator looks inside again, puzzled. ) Who are you? Child respectable 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 pound the tw o 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 wherefore 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 thought about his gift) Why did he/she do that? Questioner He wanted you to picture what Christmas was all about. Its not about presents, packages, trees or tinsel. Not even about carols. Its about God coming 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? N arrator 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 go 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 at last 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 . . . Special medical specialty He Became a man like me Questioner The Bible 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 Joy to the world. ) .. John McNeil 1973 totally 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 emailprotected net. nz Or at 36B Stourbridge St, Christchurch 2, New Zealand.