Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: https://read.jwpepper.com/i/979664
17 NARRATOR 1: Now call me naïve, but I think it's smarmy To get what you want with a conquering army. NARRATOR 2: When Judah was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, He looted the temple and took all the treasure. NARRATOR 1: And what did he say after stealing the wealth? NARRATOR 2: Well, it's time for the king to speak up for himself… KING: (stepping downstage) Has anyone seen my Chief of Staff? Ashpenaz…(calling) Ashpenaz! (ASHPENAZ enters with a clipboard and crosses to the KING.) ASHPENAZ: Right here, Your Highness. KING: Ashey, I want you to pick some of the Judean captives to help me run the country. ASHPENAZ: I'm way ahead of you, Sire. I've already found three people I think are perfect. In fact, they're princes! KING: Excellent! Where are they? ASHPENAZ: They're right there in that crowd, Sire. (The BABYLONIANS, along with SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO turn to create a crowd, ad libbing conversation with each other.) KING: (shouting over the hubbub) Where? All I see are Babylonians. ASHPENAZ: Exactly! (to crowd) Freeze! (The crowd freezes.) You see, Your Highness, I've taught these young foreigners how to look, speak, and act just like the ordinary citizens who were born here. They could fit in anywhere. KING: And clearly they do. ASHPENAZ: But—and here's the best part—they're not actually ordinary. They're exceptional! (calling to the crowd) Will the real Judeans please step forward! (SHADRACH, MESHACH, and ABEDNEGO step out of the crowd as ASHPENAZ picks up three props from behind a box onstage: a military headband or helmet, a golden judge's gavel, and a neck chain with a large gold medallion on it. ASHPENAZ then introduces the three Judeans to the KING, one at a time. Most of his commentary describing the three are delivered as asides to the KING.) This is Meshach… MESHACH: (shaking hands with the KING) Hello, Your Highness. (The KING winces as though the handshake is painful, and after MESHACH releases his hand, he reacts to the strength of MESHACH's grip.) KING: Whoa—that's quite a grip you've got there… MESHACH: Thank you, Sire. For Preview Only