12 Short Christian
Plays
The Fruits of the Spirit
By
William Kritlow
Galatians 5:22:
But the fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance (Self-control): against such there is no
law.
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 William Kritlow
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Additional Permissions: If you purchase a copy for each cast member each play may be presented at least three times within a year from purchase of the cast member copies. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, email: wkritlow@socal.rr.com
Cover Art by Sally Truong: sally@inkit-printing.com
<<<<<<>>>>>>
Loving
Who
(Love)
When you show up and root
for your kid at a basketball game, does that mean you love them?
Maybe yes, Maybe no.
A
Joy So Deep
(joy)
Can joy exist in
the darkest places - in the valley of the shadow? Can Jesus dwell
within the terror? His is a joy so deep.
See
How it All Works Out
(joy)
The joy of
giving is in the heart, not necessarily in the gift. As if the shock
of giving too much.
Mums
the Word
(joy)
Joy takes great joy in
her rare mums. She’s won prizes with them, but she also gets a lot
of satisfaction working with them in her garden. But what might her
joy be when they’re destroyed?
Peace
Like a Hallway
(peace)
We’re at an
inner city high school and a student has been murdered. Many of the
students know who did it, but they’re afraid they might be next if
they say anything. Will peace ever return to these hallways?
I
Want It Now
(longsuffering - patience)
When
you need an idea, don’t expect it to come from your guardian angel.
He’ll keep you alive, but the rest is between you and God.
A
Gentle Force
(gentleness)
A young
Christian woman from an abusive home has chosen to leave the church
and the Lord and move in with a wealthy, worldly man. Meet the
gentle force who comes to her aid.
Bully
(gentleness)
Lumpy
is a 15-year old terror. He’s a bully is every sense of the word.
Tim, at 13, knows he’s no match for his physically, but maybe he
can beat him spiritually. Or maybe “beat” isn’t the right
word.
Good
for Ramsey
(goodness)
Ramsey Smith is
in prison for armed robbery and assault. Although he’s from a
Christian family, no one visits him until Sybil Towns, a young woman
who just wants to do some good in the world, decides to. When the
visit ends, neither leaves with what they expect.
The
Faith of Toni Snow
(faith)
Raised by
a Christian aunt, Toni Snow takes it hard when her beloved aunt dies.
But while she traverses the grief, she develops a relationship with
her Lord and brings her to a small dock that reaches out into the
Amazon River, a dock where she waits, money running out, for the Lord
to use her.
The
Meek Executor
(meekness)
Max looks up
from his work to find his four older siblings sitting in his office
ready to lynch him. Their father has just died and Max is the
executor of his estate. A key provision of their dad’s trust will
cost of them a $million dollars each. Will Max bend to the threats?
Marcie
and Greg Take A Walk
(Self-control)
Marcie
and Greg have been going out for 6 months. They’re reached that
place in their relationship when they’re mostly just trying to get
to know one another. Marcie, however, wants more, will Greg risk
everything to give it to her?
<<<<<<>>>>>>
Author’s
Introduction
As Christians mature, as the Holy Spirit’s work
within us transforms us from children of the world to Children of
God, we exhibit, with greater consistency, the God calls, the Fruits
of the Sprit. Galatians 5:22 identifies them: as love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law. These twelve short plays explore ways
these fruits may be displayed in a Christian’s life. In the cases
of Joy and Gentleness, I’ve written more than one.
And since Meekness is also one of the Beatitudes, another short play
on Meekness, also appears in my eBook: The
Next 10 Short Christian Plays:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/83908
Of
course, these are just snap shots. But I’ve tried to be thorough,
and while being so, make them unique, interesting, and, above all,
entertaining. If you have comments or suggestions about these or
others of my plays, email me at: wkritlow@socal.rr.com.
<<<<<<>>>>>>
Loving
Who
a short play by William Kritlow
© 2011 Kritlow
Cast:
Queeg - adult
Brad - adult
Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Set: A bench upon which two men can sit. (Or, if casting requires, two adult anythings)
At Rise: Two men, Brad and Queeg, sit. Brad has “program” with him. It’s a crowded stadium, so they are close together. They’re at a basketball game rooting for their two kids - boys, girls, or both - just adjust the names.
Queeg: (to Brad) Gettin’ a little close, there, pal.
Brad: Sorry. Let me slip this in there. (places program between them)
Queeg: That sterile? Just kiddin.’ Name’s Queeg - like in Captain.
Brad: Caine Mutiny - got it. Brad. Which is your kid?
Queeg: The tall one - he’s always been tall. Runs in the family.
Brad: Mine’s the short one.
Queeg: They’re going to kill him out there.
Brad: He loves basketball.
Queeg: My kid will eventually.
Brad: He doesn’t now?
Queeg: (more definite) He will. (incredulous) Your son’s the center.
Brad: He’s got springs on his feet. Not sure where he gets it. I’m an architect - know trig and design. His mom was an interior designer before she and I met. And he jumps like a kangaroo - go figger - doesn’t know an angle from a high rise.
Queeg: Well, he’s jumping against my kid. He’ll know high rises in a second. (excited) There they go! (instant disappointment - shouts to game) You got lead in your tennies? You let that shrimp out jump you? (to Brad) No offense.
Brad: (doesn’t care) Atta way, Mattie. Well played.
Queeg: (disappointed) Come on, Jare. (to Brad) Did you see that? He’s got hands like a bird bath and he can’t catch a cold. (shock) He’s got to jump your kid again? (to Jare) Come on, get your feet off the ground for once. Get in there. Make his life miserable.
Brad: Mattie, take him.
Queeg glances angrily at Brad, then registers frustration as he goes back to the game.
Queeg: (upset) Oh, geez. (to Brad) I work with that kid every weekend. I go to every game he has - as long as it doesn’t conflict with my business - and this is what I get.
Brad: What is your business?
Queeg: Public Relations. “Let Queeg Remake You.” I’m good at it.
Brad: I bet you are.
Queeg: (at game) Jaaaarrrrre! (to Brad) It was a lay up. He jumped a foot above the hoop. He missed. (to Jare) You missed!
Brad: It happens.
Queeg: Always to him, though.
Brad: (to game) Mattie, great rebound! (to Queeg) That’s what you call it, right? A rebound.
Queeg: (to Brad) What? Mattie got a rubberband on that ball? (to game) How could anybody dribble like that?
Brad: Got me. I took him to work with me one day, tried to show him to magic of architecture - I’d never seen so many yawns. Everytime I looked at him I felt I was visiting Mammoth Caves. Tonsil hanging there like a stalactite - or stalagmite -
Queeg: Yeah. I can figure that with being an architect. That’d be like watching grass grow. But sports. That kid’s a natural. He’s tall, built like a brick, has hands like -
Brad: - a bird bath.
Queeg: Yeah, right. He’s a natural.
Brad: But he doesn’t like it.
Queeg: He will.
Brad: (to game) Good steal! Quick reaction, Mattie.
Queeg: Where’d he learn that? He ripped a C. How’d he learn that?
Brad: Ripped a what? Will a chiropractor help?
Queeg: It’s an offensive thing - helps you get away from a defender. Where’d your son learn that? I tried a month ago to teach - oh, it doesn’t matter. But with hands -
Brad: - like a bird bath -
Queeg: Right - he should be able to do that move - (realization) You’re having the mick out on me, aren’t you? Just because you’re kid plays basketball and I wish my kid did, too.
Brad: No, whatever “having the mick” means, I’m not. What’s you son enjoy doing?
Queeg: What’s that got to do with anything?
Brad: Nothing - everything.
Queeg: What’s that supposed to mean?
Brad: (beat where eyes remain on Queeg - then turns to game) Mattie, what a shot! Wow! Great shot! (to Queeg) Did you see that? Yeah, I don’t know where he learns it, either. Not from me. I feed him the ball sometimes in the driveway, but that’s the extent of it. He just soaks it up. We go to as many games as I can afford - saw the Lakers play the Celtics, once. Mostly we go to college games.
Queeg: So you like the game - I wish Jare would try to please me like that.
Brad: Like basketball? I don’t see the point. But he likes it. He sits there and does his best to explain it to me. And I try to learn, I really do. He and I both laugh at how quickly I forget.
Queeg: You laugh? Jare cries. I hate when he cries. What a whoose.
Brad: (another beat looking at Queeg) He’s 14, maybe 15?
Queeg: And it’s time he learned.
Brad: (finally) Do you love your son?
Queeg: Where do you get off asking me that?
Brad: (realization) You’re right. I apologize. Let me say this: I show love to my son by knowing him and helping him know God through Jesus - by knowing what he enjoys, what he’s good at, and where all that comes together - by understanding how I can help him develop his strengths, strengthen his weaknesses, and by comforting him and being there for him through all of it. I try to love him like Jesus loves me. I love being an architect. And the more I surrender to Him, the more God makes sure I become the best architect - slash - Christian I can be. Mattie loves basketball, among other things, and I want to make sure he knows that Jesus and I are on the court with him. That’s how I love my son, and that’s how my son knows I love him. How does Jare know you love him?
Queeg: He knows because I want him to be the best - (attention drawn to the game) Jaaarrrrre! (frustrated) This is basketball. You don’t kick the ball in basketball. (more to self) How can you be so stupid?
Brad: Queeg - for Jare’s sake, I gotta ask - love protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Which of those are you doing right now?
Queeg: Just mind - your - own bees-wax.
Brad: (nods reluctantly and goes back to game - briefly saddened) That’s okay, Mattie. Bounce back. Your Father’s the king.
The End
<<<<<<>>>>>>
A
Joy So Deep
a short play by William Kritlow
© 2011
Kritlow
Cast:
Babs Fuller - adult
Shani -
adult
Abudani - adult
Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Set: A dirty, worn, prison wall separates two prisoners.
At Rise: Missionary-nurse Barbara (Babs) Fuller sits on the floor against the wall stage right. She has been severely treated and is weary and bruised. On the other side of the wall sits Shani, a Muslim woman, also weary and bruised.
Babs: (sings with raspy, weary voice -
for her own comfort - start from appropriate point in song as if it’s
been welling up within her)
When peace like a river
attendeth
my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot
Thou
hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul.
(fades, she stops when there’s a clanking sound of a key on a
steel door)
Abudani enters.
Abu: It is good to see you again Mrs. Barbara Fuller - Miss Babs, I believe you prefer.
Babs: Mr. Abudani, I was just passing the time with my Lord.
Abu: In a little while you’ll be passing time with mine.
Babs: I will tell him about mine.
Abu: He will not be impressed.
Babs: He should be. Mine created . . .
Abu: Yours created noisy women - noisy, headstrong, devious, women. And speaking of devious, are you ready to tell us the truth now?
Babs: I have told you the truth.
Abu: But you haven’t, Miss Babs. You are an agent of the corrupt Christian church and you are here to lead the ignorant and the foolish away from Allah, the one true God. You know the punishment for what you have done?
Babs: I’m a nurse. I came to work in your hospital. It’s because I’m a Christian that I felt the need to help your people.
Abu: So you cling to your deceit.
Babs: I cling to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Abu: Same thing. (ready to go) And you cling with weaker and weaker hands. Some savior you have.
Babs: He is all I need.
Abu: You’ll need nothing soon.
Abudani exits.
Babs: (coughs, and breathes heavily - her
throat hurts severely - she sings with raspy, weary, pained
voice:)
Jesus loves me! loves me still,
When I'm (cough)
very weak and ill;
From His place within my heart,
Comforts me
‘til I depart.
Stops singing. Thump on other side of the wall, then a female voice with middle-eastern accent. This is Shani.
Shani: Your singing provokes them.
Babs: What? Is someone there? Are you on the other side of the wall?
Shani: I’m on the other side of some wall. All I know is I am here. Your singing will make it worse for you.
Babs: (a subdue whimsey etched with pain) It doesn’t matter. I don’t even know I am singing half the time. .
Shani: Keep your lips closed.
Babs: It’s hard for me not to sing with . . . Oh, forgive me. I don’t know your name.
Shani: Shani is easiest.
Babs: Shani.
Shani: You are Miss Babs.
Babs: Babs is fine - there is no formality here.
Beat
Shani: I could never sing in this place.
Babs: (in touch with the wonder at the fact that she has been singing) Something inside me . . . I’m sorry you are here.
Shani: My husband is not. (sniffs tears away) He wishes me dead. You have stopped singing.
Babs: Yes, for now . . . My throat. . . There was - a poker. I was going to pray for a while.
Shani: Your God answers prayer?
Babs: In His time. But sometimes prayer just brings me close to Him, empties myself so I can fill myself with Him. I need that right now.
Shani: There are places I pray I will never be taken again
Babs: In here? Where?
Shani: Downstairs - (memories flood) downstairs.
Babs: Have - you been - downstairs.
Shani: (captures all the horror in a single word) Yes.
Babs: (fear and resolve) I’ll ask God for strength - endurance. For both of us. May I also pray that Jesus reveal Himself to you, Dear Shani, as He comforts and keeps you?
Shani: Please.
Abudani appears before Babs.
Abu: Come, Miss Babs, we have a special place for you to visit.
As Babs rises, Shani whispers:
Shani: Downstairs.
Lights out -
Beat (note from author: at this point the message could be given - the discussion could be had - the program could unfold)
Lights on - Babs leans against the wall. She is severely weakened. She breaths heavily and is in pain. The other side of the wall is vacant.
Babs: (singing - her voice is little more than
groaning - she’s been beaten)
(Amazing Grace)
Through
many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was
Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us
home.
Shani is thrown into her cell and she hears Babs voice. Weakened, also beaten, she approaches the wall and before falling against it, she touches it with her fingertips as if drawing strength.
Babs: (con’t) The Lord has promised good
to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and
portion be...
as long as life endures.
Shani: (voice a husk) Babs. Miss Babs.
Babs: Shani. I’m so glad - your voice.
Shani: Were you down -
Babs: I was with my Lord.
Shani: Your Lord was downstairs.
Babs: He was. With me.
Shani: And you still sing.
Babs: I was singing, wasn’t I?
Shani: How can you still sing - after downstairs?
Babs: (beat - painful breaths) Nails - hands - feet - the cross - a spear in his heart. God knows - loves me. Jesus - loves - me. God! Shared in His suffering; His resurrection.
Shani: You still sing.
Babs: He became my sin. His Father turned His Back on him - for me. I sing from my joy!
Shani: Joy? (beat) Joy? Your prayer has been answered. Joy - through this? I have seen your Jesus. Tell me about Him. Quickly. We may both see Him soon.
The End
<<<<<<>>>>>>
See
How it All Works Out
a short play by William Kritlow
©
2011 Kritlow
Cast:
Parker Wallace - adult (deacon)
Sarah
Wolcott - adult