BACK TO BETHLEHEM Book and Lyrics by Keith Dawson Music by Mike Smith ISBN 1 898754 72 1
DRAMATIS PERSONAE Tom - One of three brothers and sisters (The youngest) Julie - The middle one) Sam - (The eldest one. Can be boy or girl) Melchior - One of the three Wisemen Caspar - Balthazar - Apollos - Malachi - Elymas - Ziba - A Soothsayer A Prophet A Magician A Diviner Legion Herod Servants 1-3 Guards 1-4 (only 1 speaking) Priests 1-2 Scribes 1-2 Guests 1-3 Simon A Shepherd Benjamin Jonathon Citizens 1-14 Mary Joseph Chorus 1-9 Page 3
CONTENTS Page Prologue Christmas Day in the childrens house. 5 Song prelude Christmas present, Christmas past 5 Scene 1 A Royal Court in Eastern Israel 7 Song one Christmas present, Christmas past 7 Song two Reprise Song one 9 Song three Virtual Reality 11 Scene 2 Outside Herod s Palace in Jerusalem 13 Song Four Don t go blaming it on the peasants 14 Scene 3 Herod s Palace 17 Song Five Party Time 17 Song Six No king but me! 19 Song Seven Reprise song five 21 Scene 4 On The Road To Bethelehem 22 Song Eight On the road to Bethlehem 24 Song Nine On the road to Bethlehem (Full) 25 Scene 5 Bethlehem 26 Song Ten Lullaby 29 Song Eleven Show me the way 30 Page 4
PROLOGUE Prelude Song One - Christmas Present, Christmas Past (First verse of song one) Long ago in Bethlehem A child was born, lying in a manger. Long ago, in Bethlehem Jesus Christ was born (It is Christmas morning. USR there is a Christmas tree with presents, many still wrapped, underneath. Three excited children [brothers and sisters] are busily opening presents.) (Opening a present) Roller blades! Yeees! Bet you I can go faster on my skates than you can on your blades. No way; blades are the thing. They re cool! I don t think much of the colour. You should have asked for some with psychedelic flashes on them. That s typical of you. Never satisfied are you? You re easily pleased, you mean. (Opening a box containing a cycling helmet) Now that s what I mean. Look at the colours and the pattern. That s cool. It s a skid lid! It saves your ead from injury - although I don t know in your case, I think it s too late - what does it matter what it looks like? Street cred, bro! Street cred! (Opening another box) Yes! SNES. Bless you! Oh shut up. You know what a SNES is... Yeah, rubbish compared to a Sega Mega. No, it s not! Yes it is. That s right, you two stick together as always. Well, I m telling you that SNES is better. The graphics are brilliant, the games are better and faster. And made for littlies! I m not little. And I don t care what you say about the game - it s brilliant. It s naff! It hasn t got 32 bit thingamybob or CD software. Page 5
Neither has the Sega! Has see! Not so! (By now Julie has opened another present. It is a large book and has three pairs of 3D spectacles with it. She has put one pair on.) Shut up, you two. Come and look at this. What is it? It s brilliant, put some specs on. (Putting on a pair of 3D specs) Wow that s fantastic - it s in 3D. This is better than Sega or Nintendo. (Putting on the other pair) What s the book? It s called Back to Bethlehem and it s a 3D voyage with the Wisemen. You really feel as though you re there with them. I want to reach out and touch his cloak. It s so real. How about that star in the sky. It looks as though it s just hanging there. This is just like VR Troopers - you know. Virtual Reality! Hey, that s weird - that one moved then. Which one? Hey, the other guy s moving. This is weird. Hey, what s happening? (The lights fade or the children freeze into statues as the action moves to the main set.) Page 6
SCENE ONE -A ROYAL COURT IN EASTERN ISRAEL (The scene is inside a royal court in the middle east. Through the stone pillars of the external wall upstage can be seen the clear, starlit, night sky. A bright star is evident - low on the horizon. Centre stage, three astrologers are gathered around a large table; they are studying charts. Several other sages, soothsayers and diviners are present. They are all debating the presence of this new star. Members of the chorus dressed in eastern costume are gathered about - eager to hear the outcome of their deliberations.) Song One -Christmas Present, Christmas Past Choir: Choir: Choir: (Chorus, children, solo and choir) Long ago in Bethlehem A child was born, lying in a manger. Long ago, in Bethlehem Jesus Christ was born Lots of lovely presents under the tree Lovely food and drink for me. Hope I get more than I did last Christmas. Long ago, in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ was born. Long ago in Bethlehem A child was born, lying in a manger Long ago, one starry night Jesus Christ was born. Lots of lovely presents under the tree Lovely food and drink for me. Hope I get more than I did last Christmas. Long ago, in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ was born. High above one dark, dark night David s star was burning bright A sign from God that showed the way To Bethlehem. Star of might, that shines so bright, Star of David shine; Star of might shine bright tonight to Guide our way. Star of might, that shines so bright, Star of David shine; Star of might shine bright tonight To Guide our way. To Guide our way. To Guide our way. Page 7
Apollo: Apollo: Apollo: Chorus 2: Chorus 3: Chorus 4: Chorus 2: I tell you that this is a good omen - an excellent sign. The time of waiting is over. This is a bad omen - the end of the world will shortly follow. Surely not? Why do you say this? The daystar burns at night. It is a warning - our world will burn next. Nonsense - the day draws near for the Saviour to be born. That is what is prophesied. The prophets do say that a Saviour will be born, but there is no evidence that this is the time. The heavens themselves foretell the future. See the pattern of the stars. (They move upstage towards the pillars.) I have plotted the path of this new star for sometime now and it has continued to move eastwards. I believe it will shortly come to rest and mark the place where the new king will be born. (Spluttering) Ppprrrrfff! New King! Don t let Herod or any of his lot hear you say that! Did he say the Saviour? A new world is about to dawn! I believe Elymas is right. The daystar burns so bright it must mean that our world will soon end! It is punishment for our sins and our fathers sins! God s wrath is upon us! (Ignoring chorus 4) I tell you that it is not the end of the world. I have studied my books and it is the coming of the king. God s Saviour! The Christ! Can this be? Of course it can. It is foretold in our books. I have read in the scrolls of Isiah, the greatest prophet that ever lived, that the Christ will be born. It is said that a great star will herald his coming and ascend over his birthplace. We must make haste and travel to distant lands. How shall we know the way. You won t! Because there is no way. The end of the world is upon us. See the bright light that burns closes in on us. Page 8
Ziba: Chorus: And I. Ziba: Chorus 2: Chorus 3: Elymas is right. And so is Balthazar on one point. We should keep quiet about this daystar and we should make haste - but not to follow the star but to escape it before it burns us up. (Speaking as a political leader might, increasing in urgency) Nonsense. This new star is described in many of the scrolls - it is the coming of the Saviour; it is the birth of a new time; it is the Christ himself. The Christ! The Saviour! I m going to make the journey and see for myself. Who is with me? I ll travel with you. You re making a great mistake. No, Ziba. it is you that is making the mistake. You re missing the chance to witness the greatest happening of all time - the birth of the Christ. Let s not waste more time. Let s follow this new star. God s peace be with you. Bring us the Good News!...... that the Messiah is born! Song Two - Christmas Present, Christmas Past (Reprise) (Wisemen) Choir: Star of might, that shines so bright, Star of David shine; Star of might shine bright tonight to Guide our way. Star of might, that shines so bright, (Bethlehem) Star of David shine; Star of might shine bright tonight to (On our way to Bethlehem) Guide our way, to Guide our way, to Guide our way. (On our way to Bethlehem!) (At the end of the song the Wisemen prepare to pack their camels and go on their long journey. Three of the chorus have exited to collect various items for the Wisemen.) We shall need plenty of food for the journey ahead. And water, for we must cross the deserts, if my predictions are right. It will be a long journey. (Entering with packs to place on the camels.) He we are Sire, there are provisions here to feed you. Page 9
Chorus 2: Chorus 3: Apollo: (Entering with water bottles etc.) I hope there is sufficient water for you as you cross the deserts. We shall use it wisely and sparingly. (Entering with sackcloth etc.) It will be cold in the desert at night, sires. This sackcloth should help to keep you warm. You must make haste, for the star shines brighter than ever. The new King will soon be with us. Will you travel with us, Elymas? Alas, I cannot, Sire. But I wish God s speed be with you all on your journey. Bring us the news as soon as you can. The news of God s Son. For that is what the star foretells, I know it - it is written in the scriptures. We must take gifts fitting for such a noble birth. But what? He is destined for great things, according to Malachi, here. What do you suggest we take? The scriptures talk of a great king - Immanuel; God s messenger; good news to the poor; a healer, a teacher; a servant of the Lord and yet - a man of sorrows. Born to be king. I will take a gift of gold - a present fit for a king. Frankincense will be my gift. A symbol of his divinity - not just God s Son, but God himself! Incarnate! Born to us! What do the scriptures say of the future, Malachi? You talk of good news to the poor, and this king being God s messenger. You say He will be a servant of God and yet a man of sorrows. Are you talking in riddles? No, my liege. He will be greater than all of the prophets. He will not just prophecy, he will also serve God; teach the way; heal the sick; and suffer! Suffer? The great prophet Isiah says that He will bear the whole burden of our sins which has separated us from God and it will cost Him His life. He will give His life to spare mankind. Fetch me myrrh. That will be my gift. It will represent the suffering ahead by it s bitter perfume. We must make haste, come let us prepare for the greatest journey we have ever undertaken. Page 10