My apologies for any typos, errors or inconsistencies. Let me know anything glaring that needs fixing. Thanks!
PROLOGUE
Stage is black. Jesus narrates.
Lights come up on classroom scene. Names of Philosophers are on the blackboard. Students are in positions of boredom. There are six teachers lined shoulder to shoulder USR with their backs to the audience. Teacher 1 turns around and gives the lesson. As she finishes, she turns back around and returns to her position. As the next teacher steps CS to give their lesson, the students shift into a new position of boredom. And so on, and so on…. Until the end when they all sing “Tower of Babble” together when they rant their own lines and pass out pink slips to the students.
Black out. Everyone exits.
Light comes up on the empty classroom. DETENTION 3 PM is written on the blackboard large. John the Baptist wheels his squeaky cart in and starts dry mopping the floor. Students start coming in slowly group by group (Joanne & group, Robin & group, Judas, Sonia & group last), chatting with each other. When Judas comes in, he and John nod/wave to each other and Judas sits by himself DSL.
John wipes the board clean and writes PREPARE YE. Some students notice, most do not. John grabs a sponge, faces front and sings “Prepare Ye…” 3x. Some students notice, most do not. Then he douses one of the students with water on the fourth "Lord!”. They are all surprised and as John continues to sing and douse students with water, they join in singing. Robin’s group grabs some rags and they start sprinkling each other. John moves DS to Joanne’s group and gets them wet. Herb comes to the cart followed by Gilmer, grabs a sponge, sprinkles Gilmer then throws it hard at Jeffrey. Jeffrey, Sonia and the rest of the group move to SR, grabbing water along the way and continue the water fight. [Robin’s group moves tables and chair back] Jesus comes into the room and watches unobserved. After 8x, the song ends with students scattered across stage and John in center, all facing forward, arms down, heads up. Applause, students return to their seats.
Jesus enters room. Puts down his bag on the desk and joins John CS. Students group together in the three groups. As Jesus start “Save the People” he pulls a tub out of his bag and calls Judas over to help him. John brings him two erasers. He opens the box and marks John, then Judas with the chalk dust. Joanne steps forward to be marked, then Peggy, and the rest of that group. As they return to their place DSL, they compare and talk about the marking, laughing a bit. Second group with Robin line up single file to be marked, rolling to the left as the get marked, in rhythm with the music. Sonia grabs the desk chair and puts her foot up on the chair indicating that Jesus mark her thigh. Jesus, uncomfortable, marks her knee sock on the calf instead. Two at a time, Sonia’s group follows to be marked in some unique way and return to SR. Jeffrey is the last and tries to avoid being marked and thinks he has gotten away with it when Jesus marks his back. Students join in singing. Song ends with Jesus arms stretched out, students in groups behind him in various forms of devotion. Applause. Students resume groupings SR & SL, sitting on table, chairs, standing. Judas and John sit on the stools at the back of the room.
Jesus moves to blackboard, erases Prepare Ye and starts lesson. Writes “law” and “prophets” on the board.
At “doctors of the law”, Joanne pops up from SL acting as a self-important person.
Lesson 1: The Widow
“There once was a judge…” Jesus chooses Joanne to play this part. She move CS “…there was a widow” He chooses Robin who is reluctant but he encourages her and she joins Joanne and Jesus CS. After the lesson, Joanne and Robin return to their places.
Lesson 2: The Pharisee and Tax Gatherer
Jesus chooses Sonia from SR, brings her CS, whispers in her ear and she starts the lesson. Jesus sits with group at SL. Gilmer jumps to CS to play the Pharisee [Jesus encourages everyone to boo]. Gilmer motions Herb to join her to play the Tax Gatherer [Jesus encourages everyone to clap enthusiastically]. Herb goes down on one knee as he says “Oh God, have mercy on me”. Gilmer goes down on humbled, Herb jumps up on exalted. Sonia, Gilmer, Herb return to SR. Sonia sits on the desk.
Lesson 3: Gift to the Altar
“Now. What if you are bringing a gift….” Sonia, Herb and Gilmer push the desk toward CS; Joanne steps forward, takes off her shoe and places it on the corner of the desk. At “your brother has a grievance..” Herb sits on the opposite corner of the desk. Act out lesson. At “otherwise” jail grabs mop and broom, moves DSL—Jesus puts Joanne in jail. Jail moves USL, Joanne sits SL. Herb moves desk back with help from Jeffrey and Sonia and Herb sit on the desk together. Jesus grabs Jeffrey for next parable.
Lesson 4: There Once Was a King
Jeffrey narrates CS. Robin jumps up CS to play the king. Joanne crawls to CS to kneel at Robin’s feet. Parable proceeds. At “let’s here is for the master”, Jesus leads everyone in clapping, Joanne gets up, very pleased, moves slightly SL. Judas interjects with “Wait a minute” and moves from the stool upstage to CS. Jesus approves and pushes Herb out to CS to be the fellow servant. At “but he refused..” jail returns. Joanne puts Herb in jail. Lamar pokes her head from behind Robin to deliver her line. After Jesus delivers the lesson, everyone returns to their seats [Herb on the desk with Sonia, Judas on the stool with John, Jeffrey SR with Clare F & Katherine] except Robin who stays CS with Jesus. She looks at him admiringly and as music for “Day By Day” starts everyone freezes until Robin sings first “three things I pray”.
Lesson 5: The Slap
At the end of the song, Robin and Jesus are CS and Jesus turns as he notices Herb giving Sonia a backrub. He interjects himself between them. Herb retreats upstage with Gilmer, she scolds him nonverbally. Judas mimics Jesus by coming between Jesus and Sonia; Jesus puts him in his place, Judas moves CS, disappointed. Jesus moves to CS closer to Judas at “never set yourself…” After slap, great pause and tension, then Judas retreats DSL. Peggy tries to talk to him, but he ignores her. Others whisper quietly. Jesus moves on with the next lesson.
Lesson 6: Give Him Your Coat
Jesus lightens the mood and tries to refocus the students with a short lesson. Here, the group is starting to gel, so the lines are almost in unison. After Jesus turns to the blackboard and starts to erase previous lesson. Herb looks at Gilmer, confused over the “go with him two” line. She holds up two fingers, trying to explain. He sort of gets it. She goes to Jesus, taps him on the shoulder asking permission to lead the next parable.
Lesson 7: The Good Samaritan
Gilmer invites Sonia, Jeffrey, Herb, Clare, Katherine, then Peggy, Robin, Bailey, Judas and Joanne to CS. They huddle as she explains the parable. Gilmer retreats US to watch with Jesus and John and the rest return to SR & SL as Sonia CS begins—reciting the parable slowly [there is a lot going on in a small amount of text]. This is where the small groups start to dissipate and the whole group begins to become one—but not easily. Jeffrey, Clare & Katherine move to SL after their part. Some scuffling takes place with Becca & Meredith & the Emilies. Joanne & Robin move to SR after their part. Some of the girls SR start to whisper about Robin and Joanne. After the final line, Jesus applauds, Herb goes DSL with Judas—they begin to quibble. Peggy and Bailey, behind Judas and Herb. They watch the argument erupt. Jesus, who has moved back to the blackboard, notices the murmuring and negativity. Writes LOVE large on the board.
Lesson 8: Love Your Enemy
Jesus breaks the tension with the love your neighbor lesson. Students make up in an exaggerated, fake way. He corrects them with “but be careful not to…” and they genuinely smile and make up. [Jesus left hand-right hand magic trick?!] The students’ last line, “Reward you!” is in perfect unison. Jesus is pleased.
Lesson 9: Lazarus and the Rich Man
Judas feels good about making up with Herb and crosses to CS, looks to Jesus for encouragement and gets it. Jesus watches US with John. Robin brings two girls from SR to be her servants. Jeffrey steps downstage to play Lazarus. Becca and Meredith take him away to Gilmer, who has move DSL as Abraham. When the rich man dies, two servants retreat US, disgusted and Judas delivers his lines slowly and dramatically as Sonia, Herb and Peggy become the demons at Robin’s feet, tormenting her by grabbing at her clothes, pushing her, etc. Gilmer delivers her last line in a judgy way and players move SL & SR to contemplate this. Jeffrey and Herb stay close to CS.
Gilmer stays DSL. Jesus stands up as if starting a new lesson, music starts for “Learn Your Lessons Well”, everyone freezes for Gilmer’s entire verse. Jesus interrupts the song to start the “echo” bit, joined by Jeffrey, Herb, & others. First sentence, echo is enthusiastic and fun, sort of rap-ish. Second sentence, echo is quick. Third echo is solemn. Gilmer interrupts. After the “I had my eyes shut”, music begins, all freeze. After song, Jesus begins to teach, everyone settles into a seat.
Lesson 10: Oh, Money
Jesus begins, “Now, no servant”. He selects Joanne from SR to be the servant and Lamar and Gilmer to be the masters—all move DCS to act out the lesson. Students murmur after Jesus say “No man can serve God…” Students get it, “Oh, right, money” and begin to talk among themselves about money, Lamar and Gilmer return to their seats.
Joanne stays CS to deliver the lesson with Jesus. Music begins for “O Bless the Lord” everyone freezes then Robin and Peggy jump up to back her up and students move into place to sing and dance. After song, Judas sits with John US. Students sit SL&SR and are totally meshed at this point. Herb does need to be downstage with Sonia. And Jesus CS to deliver next lesson.
Lesson 11: Blessed Are..
Jesus starts lesson with side comments from Herb. Produces flowers and gives them to a young girl who is close to Sonia, as she thinks they are for him. Everyone is mildly amused by Herb’s interjections. As the “blessed are…” start, students stand on chairs as they deliver their lines. Jesus looks at each student approvingly as he responds. Judas moves to CS next to Jesus to deliver his line. He delivers it sadly, but knowingly. Everyone pauses and look to Judas for explanation. They get off their chairs, move them to the sides. Jesus changes the subject and Judas moves DSL. Music for “All for the Best” begins and everyone freezes except Judas and Jesus. Scene unfreezes after “are worse”. Students watch the dance and get up at Jesus’ final “Don’t forget that when you get to heaven, you’ll be blest” and join in the “Yes, it’s all for the best” and continue to listen to Jesus and Judas’ lines and sing “Yes, it’s all for the best”. Judas looks disappointed with himself. As applause ensues, students move back to sitting positions. Jesus stays CS to start the next lesson. Gilmer should be DSR. Meredith and Emily F. should be SR on the steps.
Lesson 12: Sow Some Seeds
As Jesus starts the lesson, Gilmer starts punch line. Jesus then picks Peggy to lead the next parable from CS. She is excited and encourages everyone to come around front and sit and watch. John brings stool DSR and sits to watch. Everyone sits on the stage steps--except Joanne and two tramplers, Sonia, Lamar and Robin are SL .Gilmer, Herb, Judas and Jeffrey are SR. Jesus starts her off. Peggy mimics sowing and Joanne hops up to be the first seeds. Two people trample on Joanne, then retreat. Emily F. and Meredith hop up and fly as birds to take Joanne away SL. Herb is second seed with Caroline N. as the rock. They move SR. Gilmer is the third seed with Judas and Jeffrey as the weeds. They perform and stay CSR. Sonia, Robin and Lamar are good seeds. At hundredfold, others join the good seed dance, talking and laughing. Everyone [but the good seed group who is still talking to each other] start to leave when Jesus continues, they stop to listen [except good seeds who continue to quietly talk together].
Jesus asks everyone to form a circle, including John. Someone brings the other stool from US to CS for Jesus. Everyone gathers in a tight mob around Jesus to listen to a lesson. As the music for “All Good Gifts” starts, scene freezes through her whole verse. Jesus gives lesson and everyone sings the last verse. They are very close now; students have arms around each other as they sing. As song ends, applause, Peggy moves Jesus stool to SR with John’s and sits the two of them down to watch the next parable. Students move SR& SL. Some students sit DSR on floor by Jesus [Becca] and some stand beside him, [Clare, Katherine and Sophie]. Jeffrey is SR with them. Peter and Judas are SL Robin, Sonia, Joanne, Peggy and a few others are SL.
Lesson 13: The Prodigal Son
Herb steps up to take the lead, looking to Jesus for an okay. Jesus gives him a ‘thumbs up’. Peter is “The Man”, Jeffrey is the younger son. After he gets his share, he moves SR and a two girls join him for “squandered it in reckless living” dancing and laughing on either arm. He pulls his empty pockets out at “spent it all”, girls retreat “outa here”, and Jeffrey slumps at the famine line and he shuffles slowly to CS where Judas has positioned himself. Judas point him to “the farm” SL to work with the swine. Sonia, Robin, Joanne, Peggy and others look offended, shrug, then go down on their hands and become pigs. Jeffrey tries to get food from pigs, they snort and close in on him and try to move him away. Then he “came to his senses”, points up like he has a bright idea then steps away from the pigs, pantomimes his plan, and “sets off” walking in place, moving a little CS toward his father. As the fathers calls for this servant, Becca brings robe for Jeffrey, pantomimes ring and shoes and Clare and Katherine get pole from John’s cart and bring Sophie out as the fatted calf. “And the festivities began!” Everyone including Peter goes to SL [except Jesus and John] partying with Jeffrey with fatted calf up front. Herb and Judas are SR. Judas takes up the narration and Herb becomes the older son. Caroline N. is the servant who jumps out from crowd pantomimes “Your brother…” Peter steps out from crowd to meet Herb. Jeffrey come out of the crowd at “But, once this son of yours…” Crowd stops and watches as Peter tries to reconcile the brothers to no avail. Jesus gets up, pushes Herb to Jeffrey. They stare at each other, then hug. Everyone cheers and forms tight mob around Jeffrey SL.
Then all freeze and Jesus delivers his first question. Unfreeze as they answer. At “law and the prophets” and music begins for “Light of the World” crowd moves to CS behind Jeffrey, Jesus and John join in. Crowd is rockin’ out in place behind Jeffrey as they join in the singing, leaning in to listen to Herb when he sings. At “so let your light”, everyone’s arms are up and they step tap and sway arms behind Herb. Drop hands at “we all need help to feel fine”. Herb looks at Jesus at “Let’s have some wine”. Jesus ponders this. Song finishes with everyone’s arms and heads up. Applause. Students resume Prodigal Son party mob—minus the fatted calf. Some students are arms over shoulders as Jesus dismisses everyone for a break. Judas hangs back to try to talk to Jesus—he is busy chatting with John as they straighten up together. Judas stomps off.
Intermission.
