Scripts
The Saviour and the Father are One
Music - Extreme - Edit from "God Isn't Dead?" and "Everything Under the Sun" (From the album 3 sides to Every Story)
Content & purpose - Tells the story of the gospel with words and mime. God creates the world and mankind, but they reject Him and go their own way, which leads them into pain and death. Then - the clever bit! - we hear God conceiving the plan that would be necessary to save mankind. He would have to send a sinless man, able to teach and perform miracles, and eventually die on a cross and be resurrected (seen by a ribbon cross). At the end of the sketch, God realises He must step down to earth himself, and we finish with a nativity tableau to show that the "Saviour and the Father are one".
Cast - 6 people (3 men, 2 women, 1 either) - God, Narrator, Man 1, Man 2, Woman 1, Woman 2
Props - Chair, 2 red ribbons tied together in the shape of a cross
Music, Lighting and Actions -
Lighting: Begin in total darkness
God: Begins on stage, on raised platform - have arms outstretched for "and there was light" cue
People: (Woman 1, W2, Man1, M2) - Start offstage, with women on left and men on right.
Music: Start music
Music cue: Winding up of music box; music box begins
Narrator: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Through Him all things were made, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible - without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him all things hold together.
Music cue: Key change in music box tune
Narrator: God said 'Let there be light…'
Music cue: Drums and guitar
Narrator: And there was light
Lighting: Lights up, full, immediately
God: Stands, raised on platform - arms outstretched over empty stage
Music cue: First guitar section
Narrator: God, the Lord of all, laid the foundations of the earth, he ordered the heavens. He gathered the waters into seas and let dry ground appear and produce plants and flowers
God:
- On foundations of the earth, stretch arms our downward, looking downward
- On ordered the heavens, look up and 'cast stars into the heavens', arms outstretched upwards with fingers splayed
- On gathered the waters, make sweeping gesture inwards about rib level, then at dry ground appear, make impression of a peak forming with hands, not quite joining, up to about chin level (waters and dry ground are one fluid motion)
- On produce plants and flowers - do nothing! Hold the dry ground pose
Music: Second guitar section -
Narrator: He said 'Let the water teem with living creatures, let birds fly above the earth, and let there be creatures that move along the ground…and it was so'
God: (Drop hands before starting these gestures)
- On let the water teem through birds fly above the earth, make fluid arc gesture with right hand along 'water level' (down), then sweeping up to the right ('sky level') (watch it).
- While holding right hand up, on creatures that move along the ground, make sweeping gesture outwards (down) with left hand (along 'ground level') (watch it)
- Pause, looking at left hand, with left hand still down and right hand still up
Music cue: Lyrics: 'Dawn wakes the silence…'
Narrator: Finally, God created man in His own image…male and female He created them (Pause as two men and two women enter)
God: On created man, beckon humans on from off stage (both sides), then have arms in 'benevolent' position
People enter, amazed at wonder of surroundings (sniffing flower, drinking from brook, breathing deeply, looking with awe at limbs, etc)
Narrator: God let them rule over all the earth and wanted them to be like Him (pause slightly for action) in righteousness and holiness
M2 and W1 generally cross over; aim to end up in this position by rule over:
W2 M1
M2 W1
People: On like Him, mimic God's 'benevolent' pose, looking towards audience
Music cue: Lyrics: 'Night rests in peace…'
People form into two couples (1's and 2's; W2 and M1 move forward, couples touch hands), still facing audience, then turn (right) to face God, kneel on both knees before God in prayerful posture (hands touching again)
W2 M2 W1 M1
Music cue: Lyrics: 'All's accounted for…'
Narrator: God saw all that He had made, and it was very good, and there was peace between man and God
God: On there was peace, raise hand in blessing over people
Music cue: as music builds up to 'Rise and shine'
Narrator: But then mankind turned against the one who had created him…
People turn on mankind turned, face God, fists up in front of face
Music cue: Lyrics: 'Rise, rise and shine…'
Narrator: Mankind rebelled against God and built up a barrier, a dividing wall of hostility
People build wall between God and man, with the middle two (M2, W1) placing the bottom bricks, then TOC-defining the walls as the outer two continue to build
Music cue: Lyrics: 'Rise, rise in time…'
Narrator: They turned their backs on Him, and His face was hidden from them. By their actions and their evil thoughts they denied God
People: turn away from God, and fold arms in defiance
Music cue: Lyrics: 'And when you see…'
Narrator: People became lovers of themselves, proud and arrogant (brief pause)
People adopt arrogant pose, with men moving forward in 'macho' way and women preening while not moving forward…
W2 W1
M2 M1
Narrator: Full of anger, violence and murder
People commit violence. W2 crosses right to W1, knocks W1 down. M1 crosses left to M2 and knocks him down
W1 (dead) W2
M1 M2 (dead)
Music cue: Lyrics: 'foolish ones…'
Narrator: lovers of money, greed and theft
M1 and W2 riffle the pockets of the dead, look through the money.
Narrator: Lovers of pleasure and immorality
W2 wanders around the front, looking seductive(ish) but not at M1. M1 also crosses around front of M2 to right, meets W2, grabs her by her neck, pulls into 'sex' pose, then throws her away. W2 falls, M1 goes back to left and also sinks down in despair.
Music cue: (fade out in music); Gentle music…Lyrics: 'Ah, look at all the lonely people…'
(Pause with tableau of people in despair)
Music cue: Lyrics: 'Losing faith…'
Narrator: The Lord saw how great men's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of heart was evil all the time (Pause)
Narrator: His heart was filled with pain
God: Makes gesture towards heart, hangs head, looks suitably agonised
Music cue: Lyrics: 'Ah, see the pain in everybody's faces…'
People turn to God, pleading with agony in their faces, reaching up but unable to drag themselves forward or off the ground. They fall again, now lying in a line with their heads towards God
God
M1 M2 W1 W2
Music cue: Lyrics: 'God up in the sky…'
Narrator: God asked himself 'Do I lack the strength to rescue them?, I must show them mercy and redeem them from death
God: Looks with compassion on the people, head hung, then raises head and makes gesture of determination on I must…
Music cue: Music fades…
Narrator: Now listen - this is the plan that God determined for the whole world (finish the phrase as the music fades)
Music cue: First piano tune run through
Narrator: God knew that He must send a chosen one to save the people, sent in the likeness of a man, but sinless and perfect in God's eyes. The people living in darkness would see a great light, and put their hope in him to be saved.
Lighting: If lights have been dimming throughout fall, bring them up again on 'great light'
God: On send a chosen one, God pushes hands towards people in a 'sending forth' gesture
GOD: FROM NOW ON, FOLLOW 'JESUS' AROUND THE STAGE WITH YOUR HANDS IN A 'BLESSING' GESTURE
People: On see a great light, people shield eyes as if protecting from great light - the light should be slightly in front of them (i.e. in the JESUS position).At to be saved, get up.
PEOPLE: ASSUME FROM NOW ON THAT 'JESUS' IS IN YOUR MIDST!
Music cue: Second piano tune run through
Narrator: This man would speak and teach with the authority of God, for on Him would rest God's spirit without limit.
People:
- On speak, M1/M2 talk to each other, as do W1/W2. (Somehow during talking or sitting, M2 and M1 swap places to produce the position:
M2 M1 W1 W2 - On authority, M1 points towards 'Jesus', others turn to listen
- On God's spirit, adopt 'listening' pose, M2 and W2 sit 'Chris style' in front of M1 and W1, who remain standing, all face 'Jesus' in their midst
- After without limit, the standing people then briefly look down at the kneeling and point their fingers at them in a 'now, what Jesus meant was…' pretentious gesture
M1 W1
M2 W2
Narrator: He would teach humility to the people, for even the chosen one himself must come to serve, not to be served. He would teach that the humble be lifted high, and the greatest be least
People:
- On humility, standing/pointing people are startled, lift pointing hands and put them at side, turn to look at 'Jesus' (kneeling people are always looking at him)
- On humble be lifted high, the kneeling people stand
- On greatest be least, the standing two people kneel, still looking at 'Jesus', then turn to 'wash feet' of now standing pair
Narrator: He would teach the people to love God with all their heart and soul and mind, and to love others as they loved themselves, loving their enemies and praying for those who persecuted them
People:
- On love God, all turn to face God back of stage
- On love others, standing pair raise foot-washing pair to standing position, still looking at God
- On loving their enemies, men look at each other and shake hands while women look at each other and do a girly hug-like thing
M2/M1 W1/W2
Narrator: This man must have compassion on the people who were harassed and helpless. He would be able to satisfy the hunger of the people with a word.
People:
- On harassed and helpless, sink in mime hunger, clutching stomach and reaching towards 'Jesus' (women reach with right hand, men with left)
- On satisfy, M1 and W1 (nearest 'Jesus') receive bread in outstretched hands, share it with M2 and W2 respectively
Narrator: The Chosen One would have the fullness of God's power in him. He would be able to heal every disease and sickness among the people - the blind would see, the lame walk, the deaf hear. Even the dead would be raised at his bidding.
People:
- On Chosen One, M1 sinks down in illness/death. M2 kneels on left, W1 on right (take a bit of time assembling this)
- On heal every disease, W2 goes forward to where 'Jesus' is, and beckons him towards M1, bringing him behind/right of M1
- On dead would be raised, M1 jumps up and is generally very happy to be alive
Music cue: Build-up to violin intro
Narrator Even the wind and the waves would obey him
People: Mime waves (with three as waves and one as whirling wind around them?)
Music cue: Violin intro
Narrator: At his command, storms would be stilled
People: are stilled
End up in position:
W2 W1
M2 M1
Narrator: Yet words and signs would not be enough to save people from the consequences of their rebellion.
Music cue: Second violin tune
Narrator: If he was to save the people, he would have to become a sacrifice for their sins, to pay the price for their rebellion against the Lord who created them.
He would have to be betrayed into the hands of men and be found guilty in a court where he would be deprived of justice.
People: on betrayed, create courtroom tableau -
- M1 as judge, with arms crossed
- W1 pointing accusingly at 'Jesus' (now on ground in the midst) and pleading with judge
- M2 and W2 as 'angry mob'
W2 W1
M2 M1
Music cue: First cymbal crash
M1 as judge passes sentence by miming banging of gavel
Music cue: Second cymbal crash - follows on quickly!
Narrator: They would mock him, spit on him and flog him.
M2/W2 come forward, M2 kicks and spits on 'Jesus', then W2 does 'flogging' action. Meanwhile, W1 (accuser) brushes hands in satisfaction and goes to back ofm stage to take up the top part of the cross
Music cue: Sweeping music
Narrator: Finally, the saviour of the world would have to become obedient to death - even death on a cross
Music cue:Third and fourth cymbal crashes
People: Take up ribbon cross with following position
God: Remove hands from 'blessing position', hang head in sorrow
God
W1
(holding to of cross)
W2 M1
(both holding arms of cross)
M2
(kneeling and holding foot of cross)
On cymbal crashes, hammer nails into hands, feet, and INRI sign
Music cue: Music builds to climax
People hold positions around cross, with look of anguish in their faces
Music cue: First run through of quiet piano music…narrator starts before second run through
Narrator: But it would be impossible for death to keep its hold on God's chosen one. For the people to be brought back to God, he must be freed from the agony of death and live for all eternity as judge of the people. So God would raise him from the dead, and triumphantly complete His plan.
People: From freed from agony of death to end of narration, shape of cross is shaken.
Music cue: Triumphant explosion of music
People: Cross falls, and the people fall on the floor, falling to the side (How do we get them to the side of stage?)
Music cue: Buildup to "Can anybody"
Narrator: But God thought 'Who can be my chosen one?'
Music cue: Lyrics: "Who cares…" (2nd time)
Narrator: Only the Lord himself can teach with heavenly authority, still the storms of the sea, heal the people, and raise the dead. Only the Lord himself can be the perfect, sinless sacrifice, able to defeat death and bring peace with mankind. Without the Lord himself, there is no saviour.
Music cue: Lyrics: "Am I ever gonna change…"
Narrator: The Lord saw that there was no-one to intervene, and so he knew that he would have to step down to Earth himself and enact the plan.
God: on step down to Earth, God steps down from the platform/CADS chair
Music cue: Lyrics: "A new day is dawning…"
Narrator: And so the Lord became a child in a manger
On became a child, God crouches in centre, and people form a nativity scene around him, with M1/W1 as Mary and Joseph on right, and M2/W2 as some random adoring shepherd type folk on left
W2 W1
M2 God M1
Music cue: Cuts to music box
Narrator: The Saviour and the Father are one
Sound cue: Sound of baby crying…
Lighting: Fade to black
The END
Notes and Comments - This version is the original script, before the changes for OICCU. Written by CADS Michaelmas 1998
Website by Jonathan Cooper.
This page last updated 22nd Nov, 2003.
