Well, I know I'm getting kind of a late start, but Christmas being our busiest time of the year, it couldn't be helped. I am aiming toward having this play and soundtrack finished by the middle of February if possible, by the end at least.
While it's true I do have some plays on the site that can be used for Easter, such as "Jerusalem's Most Wanted," and several others, I have never written one specifically focusing on the events of the cross. There are many plays out there that recount the events of Good Friday and Easter in very accurate ways, and many churches do the traditional re-enactments. What could I do that would add to that? I wanted to do one that was like some of my others, in our unique "Play/Act" format, which has all the narration, music and sound effects on the soundtrack CD, meaning that there were no lines to learn. These kind on our site are very popular for Christmas... but writing one for Easter was problematic. The Nativity is much easier to depict than the crucifixion. Many smaller churches have less people and room on stage than is needed for a large-scale production of the events of the cross, which can be difficult to pull off.
This means that if I did do a narrated CD for the events, that many smaller churches would not be able to do it. If they could do it, chances are they have already done so or are planning on it, and another script would not be needed. I struggled with a way to do a meaningful and moving play based on Easter events that could be done by smaller churches as well, with the CD making it easier to learn. After much thought and prayer, I believe I have come up with a workable yet dramatic idea that revolves around the action surrounding the Lord's suffering and triumph, that allows for a narrated soundtrack, and a smaller cast and stage. This is done by having the audience see only the reactions of the main character, as he witnesses several parts of the Biblical events. We, as the audience, only hear the sounds of the scourging and crucifixion, as the young man sees it happening in front of him, looking toward the audience.
The scenes he sees are brought to life by the narration, music and effects, and we see the impact it has on him and the Biblical characters with him as they watch, the action they see "offstage" in the direction of the audience watching them. Make sense? What they are seeing is happening in the direction of the audience, so the audience sees up close the character's reactions to it. The soundtrack will make it sound real, and it will be brought to life in their imaginations. The story is more about the impact the events have on the young man, than an actual re-enactment on stage. This is similar to the way older movies used to portray the Lord; we never saw His face, only the people around Him listening and reacting to Him.
Here is the plot, in general since the details are still being worked out as I write: A young man is returning home to visit his recently-widowed mother. We see her preparing his old room for his stay, and as she does, she prays for him to be saved. He knows all about the Lord's death and resurrection, but she asks the Lord to make it real to him and to let him feel the Lord's love for him in a personal way. The son comes into the room, and she talks to him about it, but he is too tired after the trip to think much about it. She gives him a CD that dramatizes the story, and asks him to promise to listen to it. He promises, and after she leaves he puts it on as he relaxes before dinner.
As he listens to the narrator begin to tell the story, he falls asleep. However, he begins to dream and becomes a part of the action. He seems to be awake, and sees people from the story, and becomes a part of it. He sees the betrayal by Judas, Peter's denial, then watches the Lord's scourging and carrying of the cross from his vantage point with Mary and John. They see Him crucified, and hear his words from the cross before dying. (The events are compressed in time as the narrative covers the hours on the cross.)
After witnessing the extent that the Lord went to in order to pay for his salvation, the main character wakes and wishes to recieve Jesus as his own saviour. His mother confirms the events that he saw depicted in his dreams from the scriptures, and explains the salvation plan, and leads him in the sinner's prayer.
More happens than this, of course, since this is only a synopsis, and the soundtrack will have much movie-quality dramatic music, and very realistic sound effects. The play will be relatively short, also... I am shooting for a half-hour or under. So any church could do it! If you are familiar with my "Play/Act" script format and the effectiveness of the accompanying soundtracks, you will know it can be powerful and very moving. If you are interested in performing this play, come back by the middle of February at least to check on the progress, and script samples from this as-yet un-named drama. The script will be posted when ready and the CD for sale when it is ready shortly after.
Oh, by the way, the present-day part of the play itself will not refer to any particular time-period that it takes place during. Although the scenes in the dream are from the events of the crucifixion, the play can be done any time, and would work equally well as a Mother's Day drama, since the mother's prayers are primarily responsible for the conviction the son experiences, and the joy that the mother expresses over his salvation is true to life. It will also speak to sons and daughters of praying mothers. So, it could work equally well for Easter, Mother's Day or any time!
While it's true I do have some plays on the site that can be used for Easter, such as "Jerusalem's Most Wanted," and several others, I have never written one specifically focusing on the events of the cross. There are many plays out there that recount the events of Good Friday and Easter in very accurate ways, and many churches do the traditional re-enactments. What could I do that would add to that? I wanted to do one that was like some of my others, in our unique "Play/Act" format, which has all the narration, music and sound effects on the soundtrack CD, meaning that there were no lines to learn. These kind on our site are very popular for Christmas... but writing one for Easter was problematic. The Nativity is much easier to depict than the crucifixion. Many smaller churches have less people and room on stage than is needed for a large-scale production of the events of the cross, which can be difficult to pull off.
This means that if I did do a narrated CD for the events, that many smaller churches would not be able to do it. If they could do it, chances are they have already done so or are planning on it, and another script would not be needed. I struggled with a way to do a meaningful and moving play based on Easter events that could be done by smaller churches as well, with the CD making it easier to learn. After much thought and prayer, I believe I have come up with a workable yet dramatic idea that revolves around the action surrounding the Lord's suffering and triumph, that allows for a narrated soundtrack, and a smaller cast and stage. This is done by having the audience see only the reactions of the main character, as he witnesses several parts of the Biblical events. We, as the audience, only hear the sounds of the scourging and crucifixion, as the young man sees it happening in front of him, looking toward the audience.
The scenes he sees are brought to life by the narration, music and effects, and we see the impact it has on him and the Biblical characters with him as they watch, the action they see "offstage" in the direction of the audience watching them. Make sense? What they are seeing is happening in the direction of the audience, so the audience sees up close the character's reactions to it. The soundtrack will make it sound real, and it will be brought to life in their imaginations. The story is more about the impact the events have on the young man, than an actual re-enactment on stage. This is similar to the way older movies used to portray the Lord; we never saw His face, only the people around Him listening and reacting to Him.
Here is the plot, in general since the details are still being worked out as I write: A young man is returning home to visit his recently-widowed mother. We see her preparing his old room for his stay, and as she does, she prays for him to be saved. He knows all about the Lord's death and resurrection, but she asks the Lord to make it real to him and to let him feel the Lord's love for him in a personal way. The son comes into the room, and she talks to him about it, but he is too tired after the trip to think much about it. She gives him a CD that dramatizes the story, and asks him to promise to listen to it. He promises, and after she leaves he puts it on as he relaxes before dinner.
As he listens to the narrator begin to tell the story, he falls asleep. However, he begins to dream and becomes a part of the action. He seems to be awake, and sees people from the story, and becomes a part of it. He sees the betrayal by Judas, Peter's denial, then watches the Lord's scourging and carrying of the cross from his vantage point with Mary and John. They see Him crucified, and hear his words from the cross before dying. (The events are compressed in time as the narrative covers the hours on the cross.)
After witnessing the extent that the Lord went to in order to pay for his salvation, the main character wakes and wishes to recieve Jesus as his own saviour. His mother confirms the events that he saw depicted in his dreams from the scriptures, and explains the salvation plan, and leads him in the sinner's prayer.
More happens than this, of course, since this is only a synopsis, and the soundtrack will have much movie-quality dramatic music, and very realistic sound effects. The play will be relatively short, also... I am shooting for a half-hour or under. So any church could do it! If you are familiar with my "Play/Act" script format and the effectiveness of the accompanying soundtracks, you will know it can be powerful and very moving. If you are interested in performing this play, come back by the middle of February at least to check on the progress, and script samples from this as-yet un-named drama. The script will be posted when ready and the CD for sale when it is ready shortly after.
Oh, by the way, the present-day part of the play itself will not refer to any particular time-period that it takes place during. Although the scenes in the dream are from the events of the crucifixion, the play can be done any time, and would work equally well as a Mother's Day drama, since the mother's prayers are primarily responsible for the conviction the son experiences, and the joy that the mother expresses over his salvation is true to life. It will also speak to sons and daughters of praying mothers. So, it could work equally well for Easter, Mother's Day or any time!
Posts
