Turning The Other Cheek

By Cherry Grove Baptist Church. From an idea in The Ministry of Clowning compiled by Everett Robertson.

Summary

A bag lady finds a new friend when a tramp shows her the message of the cross.

Scripture

Matthew 5:38-44

Note

Play is silent except for the reader at the conclusion. Using background music and sound effects could be effective.

Characters

Lady - a "bag" lady carrying a grocery bag or pushing a cart of some sort with bags in. She is not dressed warmly. She has a large stick (but one that is easily broken) in her cart and is wearing glasses. Could use a large empty purse to show she has no money.

Tramp - carries a large bible. He is has on a large (best if tattered) coat, a hat, muffler and gloves. He needs to be able to quickly hide her glasses and produce a broken pair. He needs a length of bright red yarn, cloth or string to tie the two sticks into a cross.

Reader - traditional clown garb or street preacher type outfit. Needs a bible to read from.

Setting

Bench in a park on a very cold day

Script

Tramp - enters, looks around and sets on left side of bench. Opens Bible and begins reading silently.

Lady - walks in. She is very cold. If she has a shopping cart or bag, she looks through them for something to put on. She finds nothing. She sits on the bench shivering.

Tramp - looks at lady. Frowns. Reads in Bible. Smiles. Gets up, takes off his coat and holds it out to her.

Lady - stands up to put the coat on and places her glasses on the bench where the tramp was sitting. She is reluctant to take the coat. May want to turn out her pockets or turn her purse upside down to show that she has no money to pay for it. At last accepts coat. Shows that she is warm.

Tramp - takes off his gloves and gives to her. Then his hat and muffler. Lady puts them on and shows gratitude and warmness.

Both - Smiling they both sit down.

Lady begins to look for glasses.

Tramp - starts helping to look.

Both - They find he is sitting on the broken glasses.

Lady - is angry and hits him on the cheek with a stick. Then she sits down looking angry.

Tramp - reads his Bible. Taps woman and points to the other cheek.

Lady - looks surprised.

Tramp - holds Bible over for lady to read.

Lady - reads and shows amazement.

Tramp - takes stick, breaks it in two and forms a cross which he hands to her.

Lady - accepts cross, hugs it and places it in her basket or shopping bag.

Lady - gets up to leave.

Tramp - taps her on the shoulder and hands her his glasses.

Lady - puts glasses on

Both - they sit down together with tramp pointing to Bible and lady appears to read it..

Reader - stands up, walks to them, reaches out hand for Bible, accepts it and reads Matthew 5:38-44 Jesus said, "Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth.' Here's what I propose. 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues you for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes advantage of you, use the occasion to practice servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously."

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© Copyright Cherry Grove Baptist Church
This script may be performed free of charge, provided that you notify the authors at
http://www.beau.org/~vickir/drama/

Author's note: This play may be printed, copied, performed and used to the Glory of God. If you use it in any published collection, (print, on-line, etc.) please include this URL http://www.beau.lib.la.us/~cherrygv/drama along with the information that this and other plays are available at no charge.

Lady -	a "bag" lady carrying a grocery bag or pushing a cart of some sort with bags in. She is not dressed warmly. She has a large stick (but one that is easily broken) in her cart and is wearing glasses. Could use a large empty purse to show she has no money.
Tramp -	carries a large bible. He is has on a large (best if tattered) coat, a hat, muffler and gloves. He needs to be able to quickly hide her glasses and produce a broken pair. He needs a length of bright red yarn, cloth or string to tie the two sticks into a cross.
Reader -	traditional clown garb or street preacher type outfit. Needs a bible to read from.

Tramp -	enters, looks around and sets on left side of bench. Opens Bible and begins reading silently.
Lady -	walks in. She is very cold. If she has a shopping cart or bag, she looks through them for something to put on. She finds nothing. She sits on the bench shivering.
Tramp -	looks at lady. Frowns. Reads in Bible. Smiles. Gets up, takes off his coat and holds it out to her.
Lady -	stands up to put the coat on and places her glasses on the bench where the tramp was sitting. She is reluctant to take the coat. May want to turn out her pockets or turn her purse upside down to show that she has no money to pay for it. At last accepts coat. Shows that she is warm.
Tramp -	takes off his gloves and gives to her. Then his hat and muffler. Lady puts them on and shows gratitude and warmness.
Both -	Smiling they both sit down.
Lady	begins to look for glasses.
Tramp -	starts helping to look.
Both -	They find he is sitting on the broken glasses.
Lady -	is angry and hits him on the cheek with a stick. Then she sits down looking angry.
Tramp -	reads his Bible. Taps woman and points to the other cheek.
Lady -	looks surprised.
Tramp -	holds Bible over for lady to read.
Lady -	reads and shows amazement.
Tramp -	takes stick, breaks it in two and forms a cross which he hands to her.
Lady -	accepts cross, hugs it and places it in her basket or shopping bag.
Lady -	gets up to leave.
Tramp -	taps her on the shoulder and hands her his glasses.
Lady -	puts glasses on
Both -	they sit down together with tramp pointing to Bible and lady appears to read it..
Reader -	stands up, walks to them, reaches out hand for Bible, accepts it and reads Matthew 5:38-44 Jesus said, "Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth.' Here's what I propose. 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues you for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes advantage of you, use the occasion to practice servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously."