By John McNeil
Consumerism fights back!
Narrator
Other characters mime parts as desired.
As desired
NARRATOR:
Once upon a time there was an idea. It was strikingly beautiful in its simplicity. It involved a young woman and a baby ... some angels ... a few shepherds, with their animals ... and three wise men.
It came from the Father, who looked at the state men had got themselves into, and said: "I will send my Son to bring light into their lives. He will free them from the chains they have wrapped themselves in through their greed and their pride. He will be their King, and they will be his people."
In time, the child grew to a man, and the Father offered His gift to the world.
He went to the church, and said: "I have chosen you to take this joyful news to the world." And the church said, "But you must have pageantry, and tradition, and a proper way of doing things."
He went to the Government, and said, "I have chosen you to lead this people according to the light of my word." And the Government said, "But you must have taxes, and bureaucrats, and forms in triplicate, and rules of celebration."
He went to the merchants, and said, "Here is the spirit in which I have given everything I have to the world." But the merchants hired an advertising agency, and said, "You must promote this for the good of the economy." And the bankers raised their interest rates 2 per cent.
The Father went to the philosophers, and said, "Here is the way I share love. Go and do the same." And the philosophers said, "It is a nice idea. but it is not really practical." And they gathered together the common experience of man ... the results of his greed and pride ... and said, 'The goodness of man will triumph in the end.' And they went and did likewise.
And in time, they all reduced the image to a lifeless corpse. And the Father wept.
But they did not realise that all they had done was kill the meaning they had created for themselves of the Father's gift, while the real Son had become king behind their backs. He had risen, leaving behind the lifeless grave clothes of man's ideas. But his promise is to return, to establish his true reign as king.
© John McNeil 1978
All rights reserved
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged.
In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed.
He may be contacted at: soul.communication@outlook.com
Or at: 36B Stourbridge St, Christchurch 8024, New Zealand.