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Scene 1
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In this scene the two narrators are on the left and right of the stage. They are dressed in black. When the narrators speak during the play the actors freeze in their positions.
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The two narrators are talking across the stage. Most of the conversation is good natured, but occasionally there are some disagreements.
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Narrator-1
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As the sages and prophets said long ago, this is where it all started.
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Narrator-2
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The greatest story ever told! (dramatic and cynical - laughs) Oh dear, oh dear ...
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Narrator-1
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Not just a story for Christmas, a story for all time and for the whole world.
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Narrator-2
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I'm not sure that mankind, in the twentieth century, has time to listen
to the true story of Christmas.
*(optional line, depending on the season of the year)
There is so much to do at this busy time of the year.
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Narrator-1
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If it wasn't for this story in the first place they wouldn't be
celebrating Christmas, would they? So maybe it's worth looking at this
story in a new light.
*(optional line, depending on the season of the year).
They can put aside their Christmas preparations for a while and listen.
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Narrator-2
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Al-right, let's begin. As long as you talk about it from a different angle.
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Narrator-1
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OK. Have you heard of the Anarwin?
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Narrator-2
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Weren't they in the "Star Wars" trilogy?
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Narrator-1
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You said you wanted to hear the story from a different perspective! The
Anarwin were a small group of Jews who were viewed with some suspicion
by the rest of the Jews and particularly the Pharisees. It is hard to
translate but the best I have come across is "the quiet in the land".
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Narrator-2
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Tell me more about then.
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Narrator-1
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They had no dreams of violence, did not aspire to power, and they didn't
want to see armies as the answer to the oppression of foreign occupying
forces.
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Narrator-2
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So what did they do they do then?
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Narrator-1
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All their lives they waited patiently for the Lord ........
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Narrator-2
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Is that ALL?!!!
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Narrator-1
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They knew their scriptures, and they had been comforted by the idea that
God's light would shine, and had a very strong expectation that the
Messiah would come soon.
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Narrator-2
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Were Anna and Simeon members of the Anarwin?
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Narrator-1
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Well done! That's very likely. Let's start by introducing our
characters. Simeon - Simeon was no spring chicken. I think the psalmist
put it quite well - 'I have been young and now I am old'.
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Narrator-2
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The bible tells us that Simeon was a devout and upright man who waited,
watched and longed for the restoration of Israel. And then something
very special happened. But, ... let Simeon describe it.
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Simeon
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My name is Simeon, and here I am standing on the temple steps. Behind me
is the magnificent temple built by King Solomon. I come here daily to
pray and to be with my God for I feel close to him in this wonderful
place. It was while I was here that I had a wonderfully uplifting
experience. God filled me with the Holy Spirit. It is hard to describe
what happened to me, but as I left the temple that day I was a changed
person. He also made me a solemn promise that I would not die before I
saw the Son of David. I had often read the passage in Isaiah and
wondered about the Son of David; when would he come?
( moving to a prominent central position on the stage )
Last night whilst praying here, the Lord spoke to me again and told me
that this very day I would see the Consolation of Israel, the Holy One,
and now I wait with expectation.
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Song 1 - Oh Come, Oh Come Emanuel.
by Roger Jones.
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During the song many people come into the temple. Simeon looks and stares at people as they pass through. The situation is made more difficult by the fact that there are many stalls in the area with people buying and selling sacrifices and temple coinage. It is, indeed, a very busy place. Towards the end of verse 1 Simeon spots a couple - a rather shy couple with a young baby. At that point he realises that this is the Messiah spoken to him in a dream. Just before the start of his solo verse (verse 2), Simeon takes the baby in his arms, raises him up and gives thanks and praise. He then passes the baby back to Mary and sings his solo.
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Scene 2
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During this sequence Mary and Joseph are having an animated conversation in mime with Simeon
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Narrator-2
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I suppose that young couple over there with the baby are Mary and Joseph.
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Narrator-1
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I think you could be right. I had better introduce Mary and Joseph, they
are from the North - from Nazareth.
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Narrator-2
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What are they doing here? Aren't they a long way from home?
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Narrator-1
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Ah, you see they had to come down here because of the Roman census.
Listen - why don't we let them tell their own story?
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The actors, who have been talking together, stop and move towards the front of the stage.
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Joseph
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My name is Joseph. I have come from Galilee. I am a building contractor
by occupation, and life has changed a lot over the last few months, I
find myself standing on these temple steps with a very special son. It
all started a few months ago when Mary, my fiancée, had a message from
God.
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Mary
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One night, I was sitting quietly in my home when suddenly I was aware of
a great white light, and within that great white light an angel
appeared.
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One of the characters from the crowd who had been frozen during this scene reveals underneath their costume a white gown and says the following words.
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Angel
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Greetings to you Mary, you are highly thought of. The Lord is with you.
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Mary
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I was taken aback a little by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel put my mind at rest.
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Angel
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Do not be afraid Mary, for God has been gracious to you. You will
conceive and give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus.
He will not be fathered by Joseph, but by God himself. Your son will
become great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God
will give him the throne of his ancestor, David, and he will be king
over Israel for ever and his reign shall never end.
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Mary
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I said 'how can this be, because I am still a virgin'.
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Angel
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The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most high God
will overshadow you, and for that reason this holy child will be called
the Son of God.
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Mary
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I was simply amazed and just stood there for a moment, and eventually
replied 'I am the servant of the Lord. May it be as you have described'.
Then the angel left as suddenly as it had arrived.
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The angel then covers his gown and turns his back to the audience
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Joseph
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Imagine, God with us. Emanuel.
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Song 2 - Why Should I Be So Favoured?
by Roger Jones.
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During the song Mary steps forward and sings her solo with the choir backing. At the end of the song the characters freeze.
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