This is a play in two parts. It is
designed to be read as two separate dramas,
with some time between them.
It helps if the story of Gideon is read
as part of the service before the dramas.
It is intended that a sermon based on
the life, exploits or later decisions of Gideon will follow the two dramas.
4 Benjaminites
By Lloyd Carpenter © Thadeus
Productions 1999
Scene: Each actor gets out of his seat
and comes to the front & picks up a
microphone before beginning talking.
Stand in a semi-circle to talk to each other.
A: I’ve
had enough of it all. Everytime I start to prune my roses, some big hairy Midianite rides up on his war
camel, beats me up, pulls out my plants and spits in my coffee.
B: I know what you mean! Just the other
day, I decided to dry some figs in the sun. And along comes the
Midianite boss, rides all over my figs, and I won’t even tell you what his camel did.
C: And me. I started threshing grain – I mean it was a good
day for it, with the right amount of sun and wind.
Then clump, clump, clump, a Midianite patrol rides up, pinches
all my seed, just leaving the husks. And then they tell me that the
husks are a good source of fibre, so it aids digestion!
B: I
didn’t finish my story. And then the Midianite guy goes “Here, what’s that great big lump on your
head?” I says “Wot lump?” and he pointed it out, with a dirty great
club. (motions swinging a baseball bat) Bang! Owww.
D: At
least we’re not like that big pink blouse Gideon.
A: That wimpy gopher? Old worm-man Gideon? Lives in a hole in the ground Gideon?
B: That’s
the loser. At least we’re brave enough to get a thrashing in plain view! Why get beaten up in
private, I say.
C: Those bandages are badges of pride
Belshat. And my bloodstains make me look manly. And it takes your
mind off the hunger, the burnt crops, and the cold coffee.
D: No
bandages on the worm man though. There’s old Gideon threshing wheat in a hole in the
ground. What a wimp. Not a man at all.
A: Nothing will ever come of him, you
mark my words.
B: 10 years from now no-one will even
remember his name or family. But they’ll say mine, Belshat the Fig-picker, with pride.
C: (turns to look at the back left
corner of the hall) Hey, Gideon. Who’s that you’re talking to? Got an imaginary friend?
D: What’s
that glow? Hey, Gideon, ya want to turn that torch off? The Midianites are on patrol, ya wally.
A: That’s
no torch. Whoa! That whole guy Gideon’s talking to
is glowing. Hey pal! Fly over Chernobyl or
something? Hey…( notices that it is an angel)…um, ah, nothing (start heading to seat) it’s OK, no worries… (sits down)
B: Ah, (looking very worried, looking
toward the back left corner of the hall) I think that this is my
signal to mosey on off (nervous laugh) ha ha… (walks off & resumes seat)
C: Glowing men talking to the most
insignificant member of the most insignificant family (shakes his head
as he sits down)
D: Next
thing you’ll be saying is that God is going to
rescue us from the Midianite oppressors. Yeah, right.
(sits down).
A gentle reminder…
This play is provided for your personal or church use,
or for workshop purposes.
It is provided without charge, provided
(1) the copyright and authorship notice are retained and (2) it is not
re-published or in any way sold for profit. Failure to observe these
rules will cause problems for us both.
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