Description

Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem versus Santa Claus.

A teenage girl is unhappy about attention given to Santa Claus, attention she believes should be directed to the birth of Jesus. Her family urges her to do something about it.
This drama shows the importance of a committed Christian father carrying the message of God’s love and the responsibility for keeping the real meaning of Christmas alive.
In writing the father ‘s character I looked for a kind of persona who would positively represent Dads. At the time of writing Bill Cosby’s TV character of “Huxtable” seemed to personify the kind of “dad” who could bring that message across. Later, charges were made that put Cosby in a very bad light.
This drama mixes comedy with truth and ends in a manger scene with narration.

Cast:  10 (6 of which are speaking parts, some of which could become m or f)

• Dad, late 30’s or older, a “good father” type character
• Mom, late 30’s or older
• Tracy, older teen, self-confident
• Michela, mid to late teen, committed, dedicated
• Janelle, 8 year old, sweet, spoiled
• Narrator (likely, not necessarily, Tracy) Narrator may be on or off stage
• Several people for nativity scene
• (Note that the actors in Scene I may also be in Scene II as well, depending on available actors. We recommend that if Scene I actors are used in Scene II that their identity be as much as possible hidden).

Bible Reference:   Luke 2

Set:

• Scene I living room with table and chairs
• Scene II (nativity scene) is blank stage

Lighting:    floodlights to control the action in Scene II

  Sound:  wireless mics if available

Song:   none

SFX: none
Costumes:   standard clothing in Scene I, biblical costuming in Scene II

Props:  various hand props for nativity scene

Special Instructions: none

  Time: 45

Sample of script:

SCENE I – Living Room
Mom and Dad are on stage, sitting at table, drinking coffee, Janelle comes on stage

Dad: Hey baby girl, what’s happening?

Janelle: Zeeeeroh!

Mom: What’s wrong precious?

Janelle: There’s nothing to do around here!

Dad: How about go play with Tessa?

Janelle: Tessa’s dumb.

Dad: I thought Tessa was your best friend.

Janelle: Was. . .

Dad: Was?

Janelle: Was. . . . Tessa was a friend before she got stupid.

Mom, annoyed: Janelle Louise Marshall! . . Now that is no way for an eight year old lady to talk!

Janelle: And stupid is no way for an eight year old friend to be.

Dad: What happened with Tessa that made her a “was”?

Janelle, sarcastic: Marlessa happened, that`s what!

Mom: And Marlessa is. . . ?

Janelle, sarcastic: Marlessa Joy Jenkins is who . . . Thinks she is like . . Queen Marlessa . . . And since Queen Marlessa moved next door to Tessa, now no one else is good enough to play with Stupid Tessa!

Mom: Janelle, that is enough! . . Now no matter what is happening between you and your friend . . .

Janelle: Used to be friend, try!

Mom: Regardless, that is no way for a young lady to speak, and as your parents we won’t permit it!

Dad, smiles: And besides it`s almost Christmas and . . . (secretive) . . . Santa Claus might be listening!

Janelle, annoyed: Daddy we all know that Grampa is Santa. . . (coy) . . . And when it comes to my Grampa, . . . what I want is what I get, cause like my Grampa says, . . (cute pose) . . I am waaaay cute!

Michela and Tracy come on stage

Dad: You know Grampa also says that he is just Santa’s helper in the malls at Christmas. . . The real Santa could be listening.

Michela: The whole Santa Claus thing is just so wrong! . . . Christmas is Jesus Christ, . . nothing more, nothing less.

Tracy, tease: Chill little sister. . . . Besides, Jesus doesn’t bring gifts.

Michela: Tracy that is sick!

Dad: Kids! . . . That’s quite enough.

Mom: I will not have this constant bickering with you children over every little thing, now stop it.

Tracy: Yah, if we are gonna bicker let’s make it a big thing . . (picks up cake pan) . . like who gets this last piece of Mom’s yummy chocolate cake . . (gets down on knees, looks up lovingly into Mom’s eyes) . . You know how much I love you Mom, and after all, you know I am your favourite child, . . I am sure you want me to have this last lonely piece of chocolate cake, right dearest mother of mine, huh?

Mom, smiles, shakes head: You are such a clown Tracy! . . Yes, go on boy . . . have the last piece of cake.

Dad: Did anyone request the opinion of he who is the head of this home? . . . Perhaps the head of this home might want to partake of the last piece of cake, do you think?

Mom: Well . . may I remind, “the head of this home” . . . that in his recent check-up with his doctor he was told that “the head of this home” needed to lose 10 pounds.

Dad: That is unfair . . . the scales in that doctors office are old, rusty and badly out of calibration, and likely record in some foreign metric kind of language.

Janelle: This is getting more boringer by the minute! . . I’m gonna go watch TV.
Janelle leaves the stage

Michela: Can’t anyone be serious for a minute? Everybody seems to think that everything is just one big yuck! . . I am serious, we have no right to put anyone other than Jesus at the center of Christmas.

Tracy: Like I said Michela, chill out!