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Plot
There are many different ways to please God, to worship Him, and to serve Him. It may be with "sweetness," "light," with a cup of cold water and, "With a Timbrel, Too." This play shows some of these different ways. The opening scene is in a modern family home and the children are gathered around their grandmother. She starts telling stories from the Bible.
Four stories are brought to life by the grandmother's retelling: Miriam and the Daughters of Israel rejoicing that God has brought them safely through the Red Sea and has vanquished their enemies; the story of a virtuous woman organizing her household as illustrated in Proverbs 31; the story of the lonely woman who meets Jesus by the well of Sychar; and ending with the farewell feast in Bethany which has Mary annointing Jesus's feet and drying them with her hair. Grandmother reinforces her teachings as her granddaughters tell her of the different ways each of these women pleased and worshipped God.
Characters
Grandmother
Granddaughter Sally (10 year old, played by
adult)Sally's friend, Julia (10 year old, played
by adult)
CHARACTERS FROM THE BI BLE:
Miriam, the Prophetess, sister of Moses and Aaron (Must have strong solo
voice, dance, use tambourine.)
Twelve Daughters-of-Israel (Must sing and dance. May play other roles,
also.)The Virtuous Woman (Has long soliloquy. Use Daughter #1)
Woman at the Well (Soloist. Use Daughter
#2)Christ Figure (Speaking part in two
scenes.) Lazarus (Short speaking part.)
Martha (Use Daughter #3)
Mary of Bethany (Must have long hair, or wear wig. Use Daughter #4)
Simon the Leper
Thomas, an apostleJudas Iscariot
Ten other Disciples (Daughters #5 and #6 can take two
roles.)
Costuming and Scenery
HOW TO STAGE:
If only a small stage and one curtain are available, set up table for feast scene
behind this curtain. Have other scenes on floor level, using portable screens,
or none at all. Grandmother's Sitting Room can be on stage, in front of the
curtain, or down on the floor to one side. Spotlights should be used to draw
the attention of the audience to a given location, as the Grandmother begins
each new story.
COSTUMES:
Grandmother -- long dress, apron, reading glasses. Have hair balled up on top
of head.
Sally and Julia -- short dresses with pinafores. Have hair tied with
ribbons.
Carry dolls and jump ropes.
Biblical Women -- long dresses in solid pastel colors, with loose head shawls.
Daughters go barefoot. Others wear sandals. Virtuous Woman must be in
purple dress.
Biblical Men -- Wear traditional long robes, with tied down head-dress.
Christ Figure wears white.
PROPS, OTHER MATERIALS:
Rocking chair, table, small rug, Family Bible for
Grandmother13 tambourines, real if possible
Large candleholder and candle, smaller candle, round table, rich cloth and
tapestry for Virtuous Woman
Very long banquet table--15 chairs
Wooden bowl for fruit; large and ornate jar of perfume
Simulated well curbing to look like rocks; shrubs; water jar
Wigs
Piano, or organ