DRAMA - EPIPHANY, YEAR C
Bible reference: Ephesians 3:11,12
THE COURT OF THE KING
CHARACTERS: King, King's son, clown, jester, and at least two people of the court
PROPS: Large throne
(The Narrator enters with large story book, opens it and begins to read)
Once upon a time, maybe yesterday, today or perhaps even now, there was a grand and magnificent kingdom where people were always happy. The centre of this wonderful kingdom was a shining gold, absolutely splendiferous castle, where the doors all had precious jewels for handles and were studded with diamonds. And behind the most outstanding and awe-inspiringly most beautiful door was the king's court.
(Prince and people of the court enter, place throne in the centre of the stage area and take up positions around the it, the King's son stands on right hand side of throne)
Now the king's court was so magnificent that it would've been an injustice to even try to describe it. And well, as for the king (King enters waving regally at his subjects, who bow) he was the most kingly of kings that ever there was and he was wiser than the wisest seer and nobler than the noblest knight. And thus in all his splendour, as the pinnacle of the court and kingdom, he reigned upon the throne. (King sits on throne)
One day a rather scruffy looking fellow appeared at the court's door, (Clown enters down centre aisle, pretending to be carrying and balancing precariously a very large and rickety contraption) seeking to see the king. He had brought with him a rather incredible looking structure, which he had made out of 4,308 matches, to be exact. In the hope that with all his painstaking work, or 'art', as he called it, the king might be pleased and invite him in. (Clown reaches stage area, carefully puts 'contraption' down and proudly shows it to King)
But the king wasn't particularly interested to see a rickety contraption of smelly matches. (King turns away, holding nose, the people of the court also turn away, shaking heads and rolling eyes)
So the common little stranger thought he might be able to impress the king with a few handstands and tumble turns. (Clown tries doing handstands and somersaults but does them badly and ends up wrecking his 'contraption'' Sadly picks up some imaginary matchsticks) But the king just yawned (King yawns, people of court look bored) and summoned his court jesters, (King claps his hands and Jester enters) who were experts at handstands and tumble turns. (Jester does perfect handstand and somersault, court people and King applaud)
All the little man could think of to do now was to pull a face in the direction of the king. (Clown pulls funny face at King) And as you can imagine, that didn't go down too well. with the court. (King stands up angrily, points, and Jester and two of the court people grab Clown and drag him out down aisle and throw him out) And the door was closed shut. (Court people close door with sound FX of loud clang and walk back up aisle dusting their hands)
Yet all this time the king's son had been watching the silly little man. (King's son walks down aisle past the two puzzled court people to door) He quietly opened the door again (Opens door and offers hand to Clown, who is in crumpled heap on floor) and picked up the crumpled man from his puddle of frustrated tears. (Helps Clown up and dusts him off) Then he did what the little man had been trying to do for weeks. He took him by the hand (Takes Clown's hand and leads him back down aisle to stage area) and led him into the shining court, right before the very throne of the high king! (Son takes Clown to throne, court people look shocked)
The little fellow now felt littler than ever before, (Clown shrinks down onto the floor and tries to make himself look small) so little in fact that he could not even look at the king. (Clown covers his head with his hands) And he wondered how he could ever have dared to even come to the door, little and insignificant as he now felt.
And what the son did then the little man could hardly understand. He dropped on his hands and knees, (Son falls on his knees in front of the King and begs him to accept the clown into his court) and, weeping, he begged his father the high king to accept the little man into his court.
Why, oh why the favourite son did this for the scruffy little man was beyond his comprehension, but before the little man knew what was happening, the high king himself had beckoned him to the throne. (King smiling beckons clown to come forward) Him! The little scruffy man! (Clown looks around to see who the King is beckoning to)
Him! With the collapsing match contraption, and the funny handstands and tumble turns. (Clown indicates himself and looks surprised when the King nods) Him! And there was the high king calling him to the throne and he hadn't done a thing! (Clown starts shuffling forward on his knees) Not even one perfect handstand. (King indicates that the Clown should rise, Son helps him up and takes him to King)
As the little man gingerly went forward to the high king, brought forward by the rather meek son, the whole court burst into celebration. (People of court smile and applaud, King hugs Clown) That one little man had been accepted by the king, and now everything seemed new and special. (King and Clown face audience, King has his arm around Clown's shoulders) And the man, no longer silly and scruffy, smiled. (Clown smiles and exits with King and Son, rest of court people follow them out)
© Karen Dymke 1993
Permission is given for the owners of this disk to make sufficient copies of this script for their group or congregation, for rehearsal and performance purposes only.
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