Director's Notes:
Some of my dramas feature characters that are a bit over the top. In fact, they carry a particular subject to the extreme. The Attic is one of those dramas - no one really has a box of 'miracle stuff' but it's these extremes that provide an awesome contrast to the real answer: If we want miracles to happen, we need to pray. James 5:16 tells us the the 'effective prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much.' Indeed.
Cast:
John: Needs a miracle
Katie: John's wife
Props:
A number of cardboard boxes
A baseball cap
A bag of sticks
A scarf
Setting:
The family's attic
(LIGHTS UP CENTER STAGE where John is rummaging through a box.)
Katie: John? John? Where are you?
John: I’m up here, honey.
Katie: In the attic?
John: Yeah.
Katie: (comes in) What are you doing up here? It’s so hot! Don’t tell me you’re getting the Christmas stuff down already!
John: Hmm? Oh, no, no. It's only the beginning of September... I still have a couple of weeks for that.
Katie: Well, what are you looking for?
John: My miracle stuff.
Katie: Miracle stuff?
John: Yeah. You know, my m i r a c l e s t u f f….(pronounces it slowly)
Katie: I know what you said. I just don’t know why you said it. What in the world is miracle stuff?
John: You’re kidding right? Do you mean to tell me that you don’t own a box of miracle stuff?
Katie: Uh, no.
John: Wow. Well, for you unfortunate souls, miracle stuff is stuff that makes miracles.
Katie: (sarcastically) Oh, now it’s so clear to me.
John: Good. (buries his head back in the box)
Katie: John. I am your wife. Tell me right now what’s in that…
John: AHA! Here’s the first piece. (takes out a baseball cap, turns it upside down and puts it on his head)
Katie: What are you…?
John: Hold on! …. (closes eyes) Wait for it…. Hmmmm….
Katie: What are you doing?
John: Waiting for a miracle.
Katie: Really.
John: Yeah, you see, we’re having big-time financial problems so I had to find my miracle stuff.
Katie: Hence the hat, eh?
John: Yeah, it’s kinda like a rally cap. You see this hat? I had this on when I was in Minneapolis 4 years ago when the Pope visited. (Holds it up high) This hat got run over by the Pope mobile... It’s sacred.
Katie: I see. Well, the sacred rally cap isn’t working.
John: No problem. I have more miracle stuff.
Katie: I can’t wait.
John: AHA! (takes out a bag of sticks) I knew these were here!
Katie: What are they?
John: These? Well, these are my divining sticks. I bought these at the Biblical Gardens Campground in Wisconsin when I was a kid. I was told they were made from a fossilized tree from the garden of Gethsemane. I just throw them on the ground and they’ll spell out the answer to our problems. (He throws them.)
Katie: (pause) Well. What do they spell?
John: Jello.
Katie: Jello?
John: Jello.
Katie: ah.
John: Hmmm. (goes back to the box) I’ve got to have something else in here!
Katie: John? John? JOHN?! (pulls him out!)
John: What?
Katie: Did it ever occur to you that you should pray about it?
John: Pray?
Katie: Yeah, you know, quit worrying about it and pray.
John: (long pause) Yeah, sure. Now, where’s the rest of that stuff? (goes back to the box)
Katie: Argh! (storms off stage)
John: AHA! Honey? Honey!
Here it is! (he throws it around his neck as he shouts after her) The Scarf of Turan!!!
(LIGHTS OUT FAST)
END
(c) 1999 Dave Marsh
Experiencing Worship, The Study