Star of Wonder
Five dramas for the Season of Advent
Actors: 5 plus 2 non-speaking parts
Each drama 15-20 minutes
Join three scholar/philosophers (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazaar) and a “gentlemen’s gentleman (Sargis) as they follow a marvelous light in the sky in search of the promised messiah. The wise-cracking Sargis is an expert at the card game of Tegwar, The Exciting Game Without Any Rules, and manages to win every hand. This learned servant also joins with the others as they discuss the scriptures and the real meaning of the coming of God’s own Son into a sinful world. After a visit with Herod in Jerusalem, the four travelers follow the Star of Wonder to Bethlehem where they find Mary, Joseph, and the Savior of the World.
1. Caspar and Sargis
2. Caspar, Sargis, and Melchior
3. Caspar, Sargis, Melchior, and Balthazaar
4. Caspar, Sargis, Melchior, Balthazaar, and Herod
5. Caspar, Sargis, Melchior, Balthazaar, Herod, Joseph and Mary
Excerpt From Drama 2 - "Caspar, Sargis, and Melchior"
Cap: (He offers him some food.) Here, have something to eat.
Mel: (He takes the food.) Don’t mind if I do. When did you first see the star?
Cap: Hmmmm. Let’s see, the end of April, beginning of May. You?
Mel: That’s when I saw it. I immediately began to do some research work in my father’s library. You know, someday someone will invent something where you just put in a question and you’ll get all the answers you need. Then I looked at some of the holy scrolls of the Jews.
Cap: So did I! Ninth chapter of Isaiah. The promise of a righteous King. A King who will bring peace and justice to the world. A King who will declare war against the enemies of mankind.
Mel: Do you mean Rome?
Cap: No, Rome is only a symptom of a greater evil.
Mel: (Nodding.) You may be right.
Cap: The enemy of mankind is sin. The greed, the arrogance, the cruelty that comes from expecting and demanding our own selfish ways. Sin separates us one from another, and I think his coming will end that separation once and for all.
Mel: It would be the perfect Kingdom, just like the prophetic picture laid out in the eleventh scroll of Isaiah. Like his ancestor Solomon, he will be wise beyond his years.
Cap: He will have to be wise to rule his people.
Mel: Like his other ancestor David, he will be obedient to God’s will. He will understand that his will is secondary to the will of God, and he will actually take delight in carrying out the will of God.
Cap: What else does it say?
Mel: That he will judge people, not by their appearance or their station in life, but he will judge them by the content of their character and that he will defend the rights of all people. (Stands up.) He will rule with justice and integrity, and he will destroy evil once and for all.
Cap: That is what the world needs for sure.
Mel: I also believe that when he ascends the throne, he will institute a reign of peace such as the world has never seen before. (Sargis returns and listens off to the side.) Nations, people, even animals who have been enemies since the beginning of time will no longer take pleasure in destroying each other, but instead will live together in peace and harmony. The wolf will live with the goat, the lion will lie down with the lamb, the cow and the lion will feed together, and the children shall care for them.
Sargis: Actually, it says “The leopard will lie down with the kid… and a little child shall lead them.”
Mel: Well, not only a servant, but a student of the scrolls as well.
Sargis: (Smiling.) Not just another handsome face. Actually, the reference about the child is two-fold.
Cap: Really?
Sargis: Yes. It refers to Josiah, who assumed the throne of Judah at the age of nine, who was the only king who remained totally faithful to God and who called on the people to return to the covenant they made at Sinai.
Mel: I’m impressed.
Sargis: Of course you are. Josiah was a forerunner, a prototype, of the child we are looking for now. This child, whose coming was heralded by the Star of Wonder, will remain totally faithful to the will of God. In fact, I believe that in some way this child will be the very Word of God in the world. I believe he will be the perfect representative of God.
Cap: (Quietly to Mel.) Sometimes I wonder who the real wise man is around here.
Excerpt From Drama 3 - "Caspar, Sargis, Melchior, and Balthazaar"
Sargis: Well, I must admit I know only one card game. The ancient Assyrian game of Tegwar.
Ball: Hmmm, never heard of it. But I’m sure I could learn.
Sargis: It’s quite easy. A little like Bridge and Texas Hold’em.
Ball: Sounds like fun. Do you play for money?
Sargis: You don’t have to, but a little wagering does make the game a bit more interesting.
Ball: Sounds good.
Sargis: Here, let’s cut for deal. (Ball draws first.)
Ball: A ten. Beat that!
Sargis: (He draws.) A jack. I’m sorry. You start out with a denarii pot. (He throws in a coin and Ball throws in a coin.) I’m sorry I forgot to tell you that when you lose the deal, you have to throw in five deanrii. (With a suspicious look, Ball throws in the extra money. Sargis deals out five cards each.) Now you bid based on how many and how high the cards are that you have in a suit. If you win the bid, your bid becomes the trump.
Ball: I see. Then I bid one club.
Sargis: Oh my. What a bold bid. I don’t know if I have anything here. But just to keep it interesting I will bid five hearts.
Ball: Pass.
Sargis: Your lead.
Ball: (He laughs.) Beat that, the ace of clubs.
Sargis: Five of clubs. But I forgot to tell you that in Tegwar, the first trick goes to the lowest card.
Ball: Ohhhh.
Sargis: (Lays down a card.) Ace of spades.
Ball: (He laughs as he throws down a card.) No spades, I trump you.
Sargis: Ahhhh, in the first hand you can’t trump until the third trick is played.
Ball: Hmmmmmmm. Ok.
Sargis: And at this point we both have to double our antes. (They both throw in their coins. Cap and Mel walk in at this time.)
Ball: Are there any other rules I don’t know about?
Sargis: (Lays down the remaining three cards.) Ace, king, and queen of trump. I believe that’s a winner!
Cap: Sargis! (Sargis jumps but not before grabbing the pot.)
Actors: 5 plus 2 non-speaking parts
Each drama 15-20 minutes
Join three scholar/philosophers (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazaar) and a “gentlemen’s gentleman (Sargis) as they follow a marvelous light in the sky in search of the promised messiah. The wise-cracking Sargis is an expert at the card game of Tegwar, The Exciting Game Without Any Rules, and manages to win every hand. This learned servant also joins with the others as they discuss the scriptures and the real meaning of the coming of God’s own Son into a sinful world. After a visit with Herod in Jerusalem, the four travelers follow the Star of Wonder to Bethlehem where they find Mary, Joseph, and the Savior of the World.
1. Caspar and Sargis
2. Caspar, Sargis, and Melchior
3. Caspar, Sargis, Melchior, and Balthazaar
4. Caspar, Sargis, Melchior, Balthazaar, and Herod
5. Caspar, Sargis, Melchior, Balthazaar, Herod, Joseph and Mary
Excerpt From Drama 2 - "Caspar, Sargis, and Melchior"
Cap: (He offers him some food.) Here, have something to eat.
Mel: (He takes the food.) Don’t mind if I do. When did you first see the star?
Cap: Hmmmm. Let’s see, the end of April, beginning of May. You?
Mel: That’s when I saw it. I immediately began to do some research work in my father’s library. You know, someday someone will invent something where you just put in a question and you’ll get all the answers you need. Then I looked at some of the holy scrolls of the Jews.
Cap: So did I! Ninth chapter of Isaiah. The promise of a righteous King. A King who will bring peace and justice to the world. A King who will declare war against the enemies of mankind.
Mel: Do you mean Rome?
Cap: No, Rome is only a symptom of a greater evil.
Mel: (Nodding.) You may be right.
Cap: The enemy of mankind is sin. The greed, the arrogance, the cruelty that comes from expecting and demanding our own selfish ways. Sin separates us one from another, and I think his coming will end that separation once and for all.
Mel: It would be the perfect Kingdom, just like the prophetic picture laid out in the eleventh scroll of Isaiah. Like his ancestor Solomon, he will be wise beyond his years.
Cap: He will have to be wise to rule his people.
Mel: Like his other ancestor David, he will be obedient to God’s will. He will understand that his will is secondary to the will of God, and he will actually take delight in carrying out the will of God.
Cap: What else does it say?
Mel: That he will judge people, not by their appearance or their station in life, but he will judge them by the content of their character and that he will defend the rights of all people. (Stands up.) He will rule with justice and integrity, and he will destroy evil once and for all.
Cap: That is what the world needs for sure.
Mel: I also believe that when he ascends the throne, he will institute a reign of peace such as the world has never seen before. (Sargis returns and listens off to the side.) Nations, people, even animals who have been enemies since the beginning of time will no longer take pleasure in destroying each other, but instead will live together in peace and harmony. The wolf will live with the goat, the lion will lie down with the lamb, the cow and the lion will feed together, and the children shall care for them.
Sargis: Actually, it says “The leopard will lie down with the kid… and a little child shall lead them.”
Mel: Well, not only a servant, but a student of the scrolls as well.
Sargis: (Smiling.) Not just another handsome face. Actually, the reference about the child is two-fold.
Cap: Really?
Sargis: Yes. It refers to Josiah, who assumed the throne of Judah at the age of nine, who was the only king who remained totally faithful to God and who called on the people to return to the covenant they made at Sinai.
Mel: I’m impressed.
Sargis: Of course you are. Josiah was a forerunner, a prototype, of the child we are looking for now. This child, whose coming was heralded by the Star of Wonder, will remain totally faithful to the will of God. In fact, I believe that in some way this child will be the very Word of God in the world. I believe he will be the perfect representative of God.
Cap: (Quietly to Mel.) Sometimes I wonder who the real wise man is around here.
Excerpt From Drama 3 - "Caspar, Sargis, Melchior, and Balthazaar"
Sargis: Well, I must admit I know only one card game. The ancient Assyrian game of Tegwar.
Ball: Hmmm, never heard of it. But I’m sure I could learn.
Sargis: It’s quite easy. A little like Bridge and Texas Hold’em.
Ball: Sounds like fun. Do you play for money?
Sargis: You don’t have to, but a little wagering does make the game a bit more interesting.
Ball: Sounds good.
Sargis: Here, let’s cut for deal. (Ball draws first.)
Ball: A ten. Beat that!
Sargis: (He draws.) A jack. I’m sorry. You start out with a denarii pot. (He throws in a coin and Ball throws in a coin.) I’m sorry I forgot to tell you that when you lose the deal, you have to throw in five deanrii. (With a suspicious look, Ball throws in the extra money. Sargis deals out five cards each.) Now you bid based on how many and how high the cards are that you have in a suit. If you win the bid, your bid becomes the trump.
Ball: I see. Then I bid one club.
Sargis: Oh my. What a bold bid. I don’t know if I have anything here. But just to keep it interesting I will bid five hearts.
Ball: Pass.
Sargis: Your lead.
Ball: (He laughs.) Beat that, the ace of clubs.
Sargis: Five of clubs. But I forgot to tell you that in Tegwar, the first trick goes to the lowest card.
Ball: Ohhhh.
Sargis: (Lays down a card.) Ace of spades.
Ball: (He laughs as he throws down a card.) No spades, I trump you.
Sargis: Ahhhh, in the first hand you can’t trump until the third trick is played.
Ball: Hmmmmmmm. Ok.
Sargis: And at this point we both have to double our antes. (They both throw in their coins. Cap and Mel walk in at this time.)
Ball: Are there any other rules I don’t know about?
Sargis: (Lays down the remaining three cards.) Ace, king, and queen of trump. I believe that’s a winner!
Cap: Sargis! (Sargis jumps but not before grabbing the pot.)
sales@trunkintheattic.com
