Description
Enjoying, appreciating life and its gifts, doing little things, making a difference.
A reading sometimes attributed to many people including Brother Jeremiah is used in this drama. Looking back on the important things in life, family, friends, doing silly things along the way.
Cast: 7
- Grampa, (could be Gramma)
- Young girl (or boy) pre-teen to teen
- others as available
- a more or less steady stream of people pass by in front of Grampa, could be:
- a boy and girl walk by hand in hand
- two boys walk by, throwing ball back and forth
- young parents walk by with baby in a baby carriage
- father with child on his shoulders
- older couple hand in hand
- friends, (m or f), in silent conversation
Bible Reference: Ecclesiastes 8:15
Set:
- Park area with park bench at centerstage
- entire set is meant to be a park area with the bench at a somewhat elevated level at upstage center. Across the downstage is a park walk where the other actors will stroll by in front of Grampa as he observes their strolling and reflects on his memories.
Lighting: standard
Sound: wireless mics if available
Song: none
SFX: none
Costumes: standard
Props:
- cane
- baby carriage
- ball
Special Instructions:
- Lines could be prerecorded with actors miming actions
- It is important that lines be delivered with great feeling and that the acting on stage be very outgoing and emotional.
- actors wholly engrossed in their own activity and pay no attention whatsoever to the audience or to Grampa. Also they must be entirely silent, miming interactions.
- Grampa will pre-tape the first lines. He must speak slowly, with great emotion and leave space between the lines or main thoughts so that his lines appear to be ramblings and remembrances. Occasionally Grampa may chuckle as though he is recalling a particular pleasant memory or as though chiding himself on what he has or has not done.
Time: 4
Sample of script
Grampa comes on stage,sits on park bench, speaks, pre-recorded
If I had my life to live over again, . . . I’d try to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax.
I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I know of very few things that I would take as seriously.
I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers and watch more sunsets.
I would do more walking and looking.
I would eat more ice cream and fewer beans.