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The Heights of Defeat

The Heights of Defeat

$25.00 (USD)

The crucifixion and resurrection This drama can be as elaborate or as simple as required. Two scenes are depicted. One is the temple, the other the crucifiction/resurrection. It opens up as Jesus is carrying the cross at Golgotha. During the crucifixion, Judas runs to the temple to try to explain his mistake. Then lights switch back to the tomb.

Louisa Baptist Church in Virginia are one of the many who have very successfully performed this drama for Easter and “everyone loved it.” They added 5 songs, had 21 actors and 28 off-stage involved.

Sample of script:

Jesus, centurion and soldiers enter from the back of sanctuary, led down the aisle to the front of the church, being flogged, thrown to the ground. There are a group of people following among whom are a majority of women, the women are crying and wailing, (be careful that the sounds do not overpower any spoken lines)
Simon of Cyrene is on stage with crowd of people, watching as Jesus is brought down aisle
Flavius: Move along oh kingly one!
Jesus: Women of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me! Cry for yourselves and for your children. Someday people will say, “Women who never had children are really fortunate!” At that time everyone will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” They will say to the hills, “Hide us!” If this can happen when the wood is green, what do you think will happen when it is dry?
Fortunatus: Enough of the oratory! Just move along, we have a duty to do.
Praneius: Yes, not that much farther and the real fun begins!
Jesus: If any man would follow me he must take up his cross and follow me.
Praneius: If there are any volunteers to have their own private cross we can certainly find one somewhere I am sure! (Jesus stumbles) Oh, is this crossbeam too heavy for your highness? Perhaps this will make your load lighter!
Praneius presses down hard on the cross to make it dig into Jesus’ back more deeply, forcing Jesus to stumble, cry out
Flavius, laughs, mocking: Or this may make for a lighter step!
Flavius lays whip to Jesus’ back, causing him to cry out
Praneius: Oh, your highness! Was there no miracle at hand to keep the lash from biting your flesh?
Flavius: Perhaps you who have turned the water into wine could turn this crucifixion into your coronation, oh king of all the Jewish nation!
Flavius and Praneius laugh and mock
Fortunatus: Perhaps you two soldiers might try to enjoy your duties less?
Flavius: Centurion Fortunatus, he is only a Jew!
Praneius: Yes, and a deranged one at that!
Fortunatus: That does not prevent him from being a human being. Do your jobs, but don’t entirely trample on his humanity.
Praneius: Allow us some sport, there is precious little in the way of enjoyment for a Roman soldier stationed in this dog pile!
Fortunatus: Regardless, just get it done!
Jesus trips and falls
Flavius: Oh the poor monarch has fallen! (angry, speaks to Jesus) Get up and move to your death, you dog!
Fortunatus: He has fallen and can’t get up. (looks at the crowd) You . . . you . . (points at Simon) Come here, pick up his cross!
Simon looks around himself among the crowd, looking to see who the centurion is speaking with, mimes “me?” shows confusion
Fortunatus: Yes, you! Over here, carry His cross!
Simon: Me? You expect me to carry His cross? Why would I want to carry His cross? I am I’ll have you know that though I am from another country, Cyrenaica, I am a Jew, here for the purpose of observance of the Holy days.
Fortunatus: You will do as you are told!
Simon: I tell you I do not wish to carry His cross! Ask one of His friends. The whole countryside seemed to be rallying behind Him just days ago when He made His triumphal entry riding that silly colt. Yes, I was there. I had nothing pressing, I went. I watched with some amusement as the locals were literally falling out of trees, desperate to catch a glimpse of Him. Calling out to the “Messiah”. Hardly my style. Look, I barely know anything about Him. Roots in Nazareth I’m told. Although not particularly a provincialist by nature, I can see some justification for those who said, “what good can come out of Nazareth?” Insignificant, meaningless little town in an insignificant, meaningless setting.
Flavius: Perhaps you missed it, the centurion didn’t ask, he demanded that you carry the cross!

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  • Cast Number: 17
  • Run Time: 45
SKU: the-heights-of-defeat-390 Categories: , , Tag:

Description

The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are depicted through 2 acting locations:

moving from the temple/on the way to Golgotha and at the crucifixion/resurrection, these changes set out by spotlights down and songs of the directors choice as simple set or backdrop changes can be made.
Louisa Baptist Church in Virginia are one of the many who have very successfully performed this drama for Easter and “everyone loved it.” They added 5 songs, had 21 actors and 28 off-stage involved.

Cast:    19 plus crowd and singers

  • Jesus
  • Flavius, soldier
  • Praneius, soldier
  • Fortunatus, centurion
  • Judas, teen to middle age
  • Guard, any age
  • OSV offstage voices of Annas
  • OSV Caiaphas, others
  • Simon of Cyrene, likely middle age Person in crowd
  • Person in crowd 2
  • Person in crowd 3
  • Joseph of Arimethea
  • Mary, middle age
  • John, teen to middle age
  • Herod, middle age
  • Mary, teen to middle age
  • Mary Magdalene, teen to middle age
  • Salome, middle age
  • other OSV
  • crowd (as available)
  • singers

Bible Reference:    various

Set:      2 acting locations: moving from the temple/on the way to Golgotha and at the crucifixion/resurrection, these changes set out by spotlights down and songs of the directors choice as simple set or backdrop changes can be made.

Lighting:        spotlights

  Sound:     wireless mics

Song:    as director chooses

SFX: 

  • earthquake, crowd noises.
  • sound of hammer hitting nails
  • If using strobe lights ensure bulletins and announcements very clearly indicate this

Costumes:      traditional with guards dressed appropriately

Props:     indicated in script

Special Instructions:   none

  Time:

Sample of script:

Jesus, centurion and soldiers enter from the back of sanctuary, led down the aisle to the front of the church, being flogged, thrown to the ground. There are a group of people following among whom are a majority of women, the women are crying and wailing, (be careful that the sounds do not overpower any spoken lines)

Simon of Cyrene is on stage with crowd of people, watching as Jesus is brought down aisle

Flavius: Move along oh kingly one!

Jesus: Women of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me! Cry for yourselves and for your children. Someday people will say, “Women who never had children are really fortunate!” At that time everyone will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” They will say to the hills, “Hide us!” If this can happen when the wood is green, what do you think will happen when it is dry?

Fortunatus: Enough of the oratory! Just move along, we have a duty to do.

Praneius: Yes, not that much farther and the real fun begins!

Jesus: If any man would follow me he must take up his cross and follow me.

Praneius: If there are any volunteers to have their own private cross we can certainly find one somewhere I am sure! (Jesus stumbles) Oh, is this crossbeam too heavy for your highness? Perhaps this will make your load lighter!

Praneius presses down hard on the cross to make it dig into Jesus’ back more deeply, forcing Jesus to stumble, cry out

Flavius, laughs, mocking: Or this may make for a lighter step!

Flavius lays whip to Jesus’ back, causing him to cry out

Praneius: Oh, your highness! Was there no miracle at hand to keep the lash from biting your flesh?

Flavius: Perhaps you who have turned the water into wine could turn this crucifixion into your coronation, oh king of all the Jewish nation!

Flavius and Praneius laugh and mock

Fortunatus: Perhaps you two soldiers might try to enjoy your duties less?

Flavius: Centurion Fortunatus, he is only a Jew!

Praneius: Yes, and a deranged one at that!

Fortunatus: That does not prevent him from being a human being. Do your jobs, but don’t entirely trample on his humanity.

Praneius: Allow us some sport, there is precious little in the way of enjoyment for a Roman soldier stationed in this dog pile!

Fortunatus: Regardless, just get it done!

Jesus trips and falls

Flavius: Oh the poor monarch has fallen! (angry, speaks to Jesus) Get up and move to your death, you dog!

Fortunatus: He has fallen and can’t get up. (looks at the crowd) You . . . you . . (points at Simon) Come here, pick up his cross!

Simon looks around himself among the crowd, looking to see who the centurion is speaking with, mimes “me?” shows confusion

Fortunatus: Yes, you! Over here, carry His cross!

Simon: Me? You expect me to carry His cross? Why would I want to carry His cross? I am I’ll have you know that though I am from another country, Cyrenaica, I am a Jew, here for the purpose of observance of the Holy days.

Fortunatus: You will do as you are told!

Simon: I tell you I do not wish to carry His cross! Ask one of His friends. The whole countryside seemed to be rallying behind Him just days ago when He made His triumphal entry riding that silly colt. Yes, I was there. I had nothing pressing, I went. I watched with some amusement as the locals were literally falling out of trees, desperate to catch a glimpse of Him. Calling out to the “Messiah”. Hardly my style. Look, I barely know anything about Him. Roots in Nazareth I’m told. Although not particularly a provincialist by nature, I can see some justification for those who said, “what good can come out of Nazareth?” Insignificant, meaningless little town in an insignificant, meaningless setting.

Flavius: Perhaps you missed it, the centurion didn’t ask, he demanded that you carry the cross!

Simon: Why do you insist that I carry His cross? Why me? There are half a million people here in this town. What would cause you to choose me? See, there is a man double my size, muscular, ask him. I see he even has tears in his eyes, a follower perhaps, a fisherman I would guess. I’m sure the fisherman would be anxious to carry this cross. Yes, ask the fisherman.
Or him, the one in the priestly robes, why not ask him? I’m a common man, a business man, I have no interest and no time for politics, no concern over those who the Sanhedrin do, or do not, support. Yes, yes, the priest, he would most capably handle this detail much more competently than I. Yes, the priest, a good choice.

Flavius grasps Simon’s shoulder, pulls him toward Jesus

Simon: Take you hands off me. Can’t you see, I do not wish to be involved! Were it not that I just happened by, made curious by the shouts of the crowd, I would not even be here. I am not like those who take great delight in public executions, they do nothing for me. Choose another. Why should it mean anything to me that He stumbles under the weight of His cross? I’m sure that He is likely guilty of whatever crime has been tacked there at the top of His cross. What does it say? Ummmm, “King of the Jews”? Guilty of madness, more like!

His face, His whole manner disturbs me. Choose another for this task. Normally those who are condemned to die on the cross will beg, will plead for their lives. He appears not to be begging. He is mumbling . . .He is praying. I beg you, choose another to carry this man’s cross.
He can’t go on any further. His beaten, spent body unable to go one step further. Someone ought to help Him. Someone . . .
Here, someone help Him, He has fallen under the load of His cross. He has obviously lost much blood. The cruel hard splinters of the cross heartlessly digging into his scourged back, dislodging raw flesh which hangs like shredded mutton in the marketplace. Won’t someone help? Please?
Someone, please. He is looking at me. Looking up into my face.
Not a request for assistance, more an invitation. As though He holding out an offer, “Will you carry my cross?” Why me Lord? Why me?
Did you not hear me, I am a devout Jew, you have no reason to expect this ofme. Iam…devout…. .
I have better things to do…I am a devout Jew . . .

Fortunatus: Do as you are told, devout Jew!

Simon very apprehensively lifts the cross from Jesus’ back, reacts to blood on his hands, wipes it on his clothing. Simon takes a couple of steps, looks back, sees that Jesus can not continue, Simon holds out his hand to Jesus, they look deeply in each other’s eyes, then they start walking toward the cross.

Praneius, stops Simon, takes cross from him: I will take over from here! (smiles wickedly) This is the part I love!

Simon is pushed back into the crowd, Simon, (while walking slowly backwards into crowd), holds his hand out to Jesus as though not wanting to go. Others in the crowd react to the sight of the blood on Simon’s hands, clothing.
Praneius and Flavius take Jesus, lay him down on the cross, “hammer” the nails into his hands and feet. Have it appear that Fortunatus is, one by one, holding Jesus’ hands and feet while they are being nailed to the cross, in order that Fortunatus, (and also Praneius and Flavius if necessary), move to each position in such a way that he is positioned in such a way as to disallow the audience to see Jesus’ hands and feet. This way Praneius will be able to strike the nail with the hammer making the look very realistic.
The nails will be made from an actual large spike with the head showing and then a “U” channel welded to the nail into which Jesus’ hands will fit, and this welded to the shaft of the spike, making it look very realistic but also giving adequate area for the actor to grasp for support.

SFX: sound of hammer hitting nails

Jesus and the cross are raised upright, all actors including crowd freeze

Judas comes in from back of sanctuary, runs down the aisle, up on stage to bottom of stage, on opposite side from crucifixion scene. While running he screams at the top of his voice.

Judas: Please! Listen to me! I must talk to you. There has been a terrible mistake!

The complete script, plus all 2,000 other DramaShare scripts, are available at no charge to DramaShare members, non-members may purchase the individual script.


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