Theme:
Monologue tells of a young shepherd who looks for the King announced to him by angels, and finds only a tiny baby in a dirty barn. The Christmas story through the uneducated but “opened” eyes of a shepherd boy.
Cast:
1 This drama involves one young adult male actor.
Set:
No special set required.
Costume:
The actor, a shepherd in Biblical times, should be dressed in appropriate clothing.
Time:
7 minutes
Script:
Scene opens as actor enters from stage left. He speaks aloud thoughts to himself throughout the drama. Spotlight is always on him.
Actor: Going? Now? Just like that? Okay, I guess I’ll just keep up with them! They wouldn’t tell me much anyway, being the youngest shepherd out here and all. I guess we do what the angel just said, right? Listen to me – I’m talking like this kind of thing happens everyday! An angel of the Lord appeared to us and told us all that the Son of God has finally come! He has been born to the world! Of course we have to go and see. What an honor! An honor I really didn’t think a grungy old shepherd would have.
Wait up, shepherds! I don’t want to miss this!
Light fades to dark for a brief moment, then comes back up, indicating time has passed.
Actor: I wonder if we’re there yet. It’s strange, you know? Not only are they not talking to me, but they aren’t even talking to each other. It’s as though no words could describe this journey we shepherds are taking.
Well, looks like we’re stopping for the night, it looks like. An old barn. Not the greatest accommodations as usual, but I guess if it’s good enough for the horses and pigs, it’s good enough for a lowly shepherd to lay his head for the night. Oh, looks like this stable has already been claimed by some other weary travelers. Oh well, on to the next stop.
Turns around to go back out but stops to turn back again.
Why aren’t they coming? For once I thought they would want to keep up the pace! Come on, guys, we’ve got a King to see! I’ve never been in a palace before, let’s go! What’s taking them so long in there? (Peering in.) Why are they bowing down?
Slowly goes inside.
Wow! Looks like these travelers found shelter just in time! That’s a brand new baby right there! Poor thing, all they could find for a bed was an eating trough used by animals. Such a shame, for a baby’s soft skin to be poked with all that straw.
Looking up and moving back.
Oh, sorry, ma’am. I sometimes forget how low we shepherds are, and people sure wouldn’t want a grubby ol’ shepherd peering at their kids.
Looks up again.
The lady is smiling at me. I think she wants me to come and see her child. The other guys aren’t pulling at me as usual, so I guess it would be alright.
Moves a few steps closer.
Look at that – hands so small. Hard to believe hands that little could grow and accomplish so much in a lifetime. I wonder what those hands will hold one day?
And look at those feet – oh, they must be cold. There’s an old scrap of cloth barely covering those tiny feet – I guess that’s his first baby blanket. Wonder how many miles those feet will cross? I wonder where those feet will lead him?
His head, so soft and smooth, not a mark on it. I bet his mother will do everything in her power to be sure her baby’s skin remains so pure and untouched.
Looks like he’s got strong shoulders, probably got that from his father. I’ll bet he’ll carry a lot on those shoulders.
Looking around.
Well, this is a nice baby, but we really have to get to the palace to see the new King of Kings, the Lord of Lords that has been sent to save the world from the sin in which we created and now live. Come on!
Looks behind him.
We’d better get going, looks like there are others coming in. (Pauses.) Wait a minute! These people are obviously royalty, look at their clothes! We gotta get out of here or these poor travelers are going to think we came here to rob them! At least, that’s the general feeling when we shepherds are seen in public.
Wait a minute, why are three kings coming into a barn to visit this poor young couple? Who are these people – the parents of this new baby? The woman couldn’t be more than twelve or thirteen and the father would be maybe a few years older than that. They certainly don’t look like they come from any line of royalty, that’s for sure. Why would these kings make such a fuss about coming to visit a baby in a barn?
Baby? Could this baby be the King we were searching for? No, a king is born in a great palace with servants and riches galore! This is a dingy old barn – hardly the place the Son of God should be! Surely this couldn’t really be Him.
What are these thoughts that are swirling around in my mind? I see those hands – and I see mighty hands which will touch and heal many. I see those feet – and I see feet will travel many miles to seek and save the lost. I see that beautiful skin – so soft and pure. I see skin that will be covered with verbal and physical scars that he will bear on behalf of me and all mankind.
This much I know: This is more than a baby, born into such dirty and inhospitable beginnings. This baby will grow to one day impact the world in a way I can’t even begin to understand. This is more than a baby, so much more than a beautiful, precious moment in a manger.
This is more than a baby.
Spotlight fades.
©Copyright DramaShare® 2004, Used by Permission
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