Church Plays

© Wendy Noble 2000.

CHARACTERS: Bob [angel 1],  Marvin or Maureen [angel 2], Gabriel.

Two angels enter stage left, walking briskly and clutching sheets of music, or hymnals or harps.   They stop when they reach the center of stage.

BOB  (Anxiously) I can't imagine where the others are.  Don't tell me we're late!

MARVIN Don’t worry, Bob.

BOB  Well where are they?

MARVIN They'll be here. Maybe we’re early.

BOB  It's such a special occasion;  I guess I'm a little nervous.

MARVIN Yeah, me too.  I can't remember the last time I was involved in an actual appearance.  Can you?

BOB  Mine was ages ago; that ladder thing for Jacob. It was fun, but my legs were killing me by the time it was over.  Up the ladder, down the ladder, up the ladder, down the ladder.  I haven't done a choir job before, tho'.  Have you?

MARVIN Not really....unless you count the time we all sang and shouted at the creation.

BOB Well that was really just a party for us, wasn't it? This time we'll have an audience.  Any news on who it will be?

MARVIN Old Gabe hasn't said anything yet, but I've got my hunches.

BOB  It'd have to be someone important. I mean it's not every day the Boss's Son is incarnated, is it?

MARVIN Eh?  Incarnated? I thought he was being born. You know, descending to earth in human flesh.

BOB  You're not just a pretty face, are you!

MARVIN (Shyly) Well thank you!  Nice of you to say so.

BOB  So, where do you think it’ll be?

MARVIN Well, I think we'll be singing at Herod's palace. 

BOB  Really?! I would have thought we'd be going to Rome.  After all it's really a world event.

MARVIN   That’s true! If America was invented by now, we'd be on CNN... or Oprah.  We're making history, Bob!

BOB  I know!  I'm so excited, and I just love the piece we're singing.

MARVIN   Oh yes, it's divine! Great words…

BOTH "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is well pleased."    (They both sigh in an exaggerated manner.)

Gabriel enters stage right.  Carries a trumpet and looks worried.  Sees first two.

BOB & MARVIN (They salute)  Hail Gabriel.

GABRIEL  There you are! I've been looking for you.

BOB  I can't think where the others are captain.  We've been waiting for ages.

GABRIEL  They're in the main hall, where I told everyone to meet. What are you doing here?  You could have made us very late.

BOB & MARVIN (Embarrassed) Sorry, captain.

GABRIEL (Annoyed)  Well it's a delicate balancing act you know, timing our appearance to just when the audience is in place and ready to see and hear. This is a very important occasion!

MARVIN Yes, captain. We're so excited I guess we got confused.  Please tell us, who's the audience?  Herod? Caesar?

GABRIEL  A group of shepherds, watching their flocks, outside Bethlehem.

Bob and Marvin hear this with their mouths open, then they laugh. They clutch each other, overcome with merriment.

BOB  Oh very good, you nearly had us there. (they laugh some more ) Seriously though, who is it?

GABRIEL  (More deliberately)  A group of shepherds, watching their flocks, outside Bethlehem.

BOB  Well who's crazy idea was that?  No one will know we've even been! All that practice, for a bunch of nobodies? What’s the point?

MARVIN Yeah, and who’d believe them?  This should go down in history!   There should be important people there:   dignitaries, the Press. Not a bunch of smelly old shepherds!

GABRIEL  (With authority)   In His grace and mercy Almighty God has said it will be so.

BOB & MARVIN (Talking rapidly at the same time) [Bob] Oh, it’s a good idea.  I can see it all now.  [Marvin] Excellent choice. You can’t go wrong with shepherds.

GABRIEL He’s not just interested in the rich and famous down there, you know.  He loves all of them.  And He’s making sure they know that.  Now come along, we have a schedule to keep. (As he is leaving, he declares triumphantly)   This night the Son of God is being incarnated!

As they follow him, Bob smiles very smugly at Marvin who says, in a puzzled manner,

MARVIN I was sure he was being born.

THE END

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