DRAMA—HOLY TRINITY (1 PENTECOST), YEAR B
Bible reference: John 3:1-17
BORN AGAIN
CHARACTERS: Three clowns. Clown 3 is dressed in flowing red, orange and yellow.
PROPS: Sign saying 'Kingdom of heaven', two dirty hearts, two clean hearts, wash-tub, watering-can or bucket, box of assorted cleaning agents, large handkerchief, cross to fit in tub.
(Sign saying 'Kingdom of heaven' is standing to one side of the stage area. Clown enters from opposite side)
Clown 1 enters and walks confidently across stage area to sign. Stops to read sign, pointing at each word as it is read. Goes to walk past sign and is stopped by an imaginary brick wall. Clown steps back rubbing sore nose and tries again, but comes up against the wall again. Keeps trying to break through wall, getting more and more desperate, until at last clown goes as far away as possible to get a good run up and attempts to charge at the wall. Clown hits the wall and comes to a dead stop and falls over backwards. Sits up rubbing head, looking very sad.
Clown 2 enters whistling or humming happily, notices Clown 1 and mimes asking 'What's wrong?' Clown 1 points to sign, then demonstrates running into wall, falling over and hurting head again. Clown 2 helps Clown 1 up. Clown 1 beckons Clown 2 closer and looks around guiltily to see if anyone is watching. Clown 2 looks around too. Clown 1 opens part of costume to reveal a very dirty heart inside. Clown 2 looks shocked while Clown 1 looks even sadder.
Clown 2 paces backward and forward thinking, then suddenly has an idea. Runs off and brings back a wash-tub and large watering-can or bucket. Gets Clown 1 to take out heart and place it in the wash-tub. Clown 2 shows audience the watering-can or bucket, mimes pouring water in, and swirls the water around in the tub. They both look excitedly into the tub, but nothing happens. Clown 1 holds up the still dirty heart. Both clowns sigh and look sad.
Clown 2 has another bright idea and rushes off to get a box. Clown 1 looks interested. Clown 2 takes heart and puts it back in tub, then adds a bar of soap from the box, but nothing happens. Clown 2 tries detergent, laundry powder, bleach, floor cleaner, spot remover etc, throwing the whole containers into the tub, but nothing works. Clown 1 gets out enormous handkerchief and starts to cry, blowing nose noisily.
Clown 3 enters carrying cross, dressed in flowing red, orange and yellow. He/she dances around the clowns with the cross. Points at the cross then points into the wash-tub. Other clowns laugh hilariously at Clown 3 who puts the cross into the tub, then they look totally amazed. Clown 1 reaches into tub to bring out a spotlessly clean heart, and dances around happily with Clown 3.
Clown 2 looks in amazement at them and at the cross in the tub, then surreptitiously pulls his/her own dirty heart out of the inside of the clown costume and puts it in tub. Holds up a spotlessly clean heart. Other clowns notice and come over to see. They congratulate Clown 2 and dance round, then, arm in arm, with Clown 3 in the centre, they walk happily past the 'Kingdom of heaven' sign and exit.
© Verena Johnson 1999
Permission is given for the owner of this disk to produce sufficient copies of this script for their group or congregation, for rehearsal and performance purposes only.
|