Theme:       Four of the women who were disciples of Jesus prepare the upper room for the celebration of the Passover. Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Mary and Martha the sisters of Lazarus speak their feelings of hopefulness for the days ahead, along with nagging concerns of what might lie ahead. And Martha challenges herself, and us, to prepare hearts and minds for the good part.
Bible Reference:     Matthew 26:19

 

Cast:         4 women
Mary the mother of Jesus
Mary Magdalene
Mary the sister of Lazarus
Martha the sister of Lazarus

 

Set:         blank set

 

Lighting, Sound:      standard

 

Costumes:    likely but not necessarily traditional

 

Props:       broom, dust cloth, items of trash

 

Time:       8

 

Sample of script:

 

Mary comes on stage

 

Mary:        Where are they?
As usual I am the only one here.
Amazing!
The great throngs of people attending the triumphal entry into the city, shouting:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest!”
But that was then and this is now.
And not one has seen fit to spend time to prepare the Passover table!
Just look around here . . . It is dusty . . .
(picks up a broom, sweeps at some dirt)
Those who attended the last celebration here have long since departed.
(picks up litter)
Too bad they hadn’t the decency to clean up their leavings.
It’s the way of this next generation . . that’s what it is!
Birthed into privilege, grown up believing the world owes them a living, and that idleness is their birthright!
(looks up at the sun)
It will soon be mid-afternoon, and the Teacher will be coming with his disciples, expecting to find preparations complete for the Passover feast.

 

a noise offstage takes Mary’s attention, Mary Magdalene comes on stage

 

Magdalene:   Mother Mary, are you here alone?

 

Mary:        Look around you, do you see anyone else here about?
And I am not your mother.

 

Magdalene:   No, you are not my mother, but you are the mother of my Saviour.

 

Mary:        Yes I was that, however I now serve as a disciple and therefore am fine with being referred to simply as Mary the disciple.

 

Magdalene:   That is practical but also problematic. Among the many women who serve as the Teacher’s disciples there are several who carry the name of Mary. . . Example, Mary the sister of Lazarus.

 

Mary:        Yes and. . .Mary the mother of James. . .

 

Magdalene:   Mary Salome.

 

Mary:        And yourself . .  Mary of Magdala. . . . And each can be identified in that manner. So there is no problem.

 

Magdalene:   Except in your case. . .  And that is why it seems appropriate that you be referred to as Mother Mary.

 

Mary:        I was the mother of the Christ child. . . That was in the past. . . I am now, as are you and many others, a disciple, meaning a learner, a student, of the Teacher, Jesus Christ, the son of God. . . And so it is that I am, and will continue to be, Mary, the disciple.
But of more importance, we stand here debating matters unimportant and neglecting the fact that preparations for the Passover feast will not be accomplished without our efforts.

 

Magdalene:   Is there only the two of us?

 

Mary:        Look about you. . . Do you see others coming to our assistance?

 

Mary and Martha of Bethany hurry on stage

 

Magdalene:   Yes, Mary, actually I do. Welcome Martha and Mary of Bethany!

 

Mary:        Finally! . . . Now then, you are all aware of the hour, and of the work to be done . . .Perhaps we might all work toward making this upper room appropriately prepared?

 

Mary moves to an upstage location where she quietly cleans and dusts

 

MaryBeth:    The mother of Jesus seems distressed.

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