Vanity
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‘But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.’
I’m pretty excited about this play, mainly because it is based on one of my all time favourite scriptures; Ecclesiastes 12. If you haven’t read that scripture, you need to.
The Past...
This play is narrated by Old Man Martin. He takes us as far back as the garden of Eden as Eve convinces Adam to bite into the fruit.
The Hero....
Jesus enters and is sadden by what Adam and Eve has done....but He knew what needed to be done to save mankind.
We fast forward 2000 years as Martin and his friends are coming from the movies. They are introduced to Jesus by the Town Pastor and all but one accepts salvation.
The Present...
Years later, Martin, now married, and his wife has grown to ignore Jesus because of their busy schedule and it hardly seems that anything will ever change. Martin is embarrassed at a big party he throws with the hope of being promoted in his job, as his friends finds out that he is a Christian and that he Knows Jesus personally.
Complication....
Martin goes through an emotional lapse, blaming Jesus for his mis-fortunes, and eventually he meets someone from his past who pulls him into temptation and leads him away from Jesus for good.
The Purpose....
Vanity highlights the lesser things we sometimes value the most and the important things and people that we often ignore.
Cast: 6 males, 3 females. Plus extras
Audience: Teens and Adults
Genre: Contemporary Drama
Sample Scene
Old Man Martin enters, he walks to CS and stops. He looks out to the audience.
OLD MARTIN: REMEMBER now thy creator, in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when though shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.
He pauses, wipes a tear.
OLD MARTIN: Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, all is vanity…but Let us hear the conclusion of the matter. (Pause) Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
He turns to leave, but stops…He faces the audience again.
OLD MARTIN: I have a story to tell, but you can only fully understand the new story if you are told the old story. (pause) Don’t confuse the PAST with the PRESENT.
He turns and exits.
ADAM enters (Adam and EVE can wear a suit that is almost the same tone as
Their skin color. The lights should dim to allow the suit to blend with their tone
To give the impression that they are naked)
Adam stoops and waters a few plants.
EVE enters, her hands are behind her.
EVE: Adam!
Adam rises and turns to Eve smiling.
ADAM: Eve…my love, where were you?
EVE: Never mind that. I have something for you.
ADAM: (excited): Yes, what is it?
Eve produces the apple! Adam takes it in his hands and examines it.
ADAM: I haven’t seen this fruit before, where did you find it?
EVE: In the other part of the garden.
ADAM: But we have tasted all the fruits in the garden Eve…, except…
With sudden realization, Adam drops the fruit.
ADAM: Eve…What have you done?
Eve picks up the fruit and brushes it off.
EVE: I cannot explain it to you Adam…you will have to taste and see for yourself that it is gooood.
ADAM: Eve…God forbade us to eat from that tree. He told us we could eat from all the other trees but not from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
EVE: Yes! He said that if we eat from it, we would surely die…Adam, look at me…am I not still alive.
ADAM: Yes, but God…
EVE: God knew that if we ate from the tree, we would be just like Him.
Adam looks suspiciously at EVE.
ADAM: Who told you that?
EVE: The serpent!
ADAM: Serpent? Eve, serpents don’t speak.
EVE: This one did. That’s how remarkable the fruit is. I can barely contain the power and knowledge now flowing through my bones.
ADAM: That was no ordinary serpent Eve…that was satan. He has tricked you!
EVE: (defensive) NO, NO, NO! Satan was away. The serpent is my friend.
ADAM: No he’s not. You have allowed yourself to be deceived by the father of lies. You have violated a direct command from God and now you stand to face the judgment of His wrath.
EVE: Adam…I know so much now…more than ever. How could this have been a trick?
ADAM: Eve, what is photosynthesis?
EVE: Photo – what?
ADAM: Photosynthesis!
EVE: I…(Eve thinks hard) I don’t know.
ADAM: Shouldn’t this be included in your ‘increase of knowledge?’
Eve starts to shiver, suddenly realizing her predicament.
EVE: Adam, what have I done?
Adam hugs her.
EVE: What am I going to do Adam? Am I really going to die?
ADAM: I don’t know, my love.
After a beat, Eve pulls out of Adams embrace. She holds the fruit up to him.
EVE: Do you love me Adam?
ADAM: You know I do.
EVE: If I eat alone, God can point to you as proof that the test was easy.
ADAM: But it was! Remember how we laughed when he said He was making the tree a test?
EVE: But we could tell Him it was hard. He might believe us.
Adam considers as he stares into Eve’s eyes. He reaches for the fruit, but
withdraws his hand. Eve brings it closer.
EVE: Please, Adam. Eat it. You’re my only hope. Don’t you love me?
Adam takes the fruit. He walks away.
ADAM: What do I do? Eve has eaten. She is dead while she lives and Adam must live without her. He must see her come to dust and walk the paths of paradise having no one to share its wonders. What is life, if it has to be lived alone?
Adam closes his eyes and bites into the fruit.
They hear a short chorus announcing God’s approach.
EVE: He’s coming!
They run US and stop with their backs turned to the audience.
Jesus enters. He stands at CS and looks gently at His creation.
JESUS: Come to me, my children.
They turn towards God, their hands folded before them, their heads hanging in
shame.
ADAM: We heard you coming, so we went to hide because we were afraid.
Jesus’ eyes well with tears.
JESUS: Who taught you to fear? Have you eaten from the forbidden tree?
They both nod.
JESUS: Oh my precious children. Was it not an easy test? Why did you eat?
ADAM: The woman you gave me made me eat.
JESUS: Eve…
EVE: The serpent you created made me eat.
JESUS: You both should learn to accept responsibility for your actions.
ADAM: Lord, are we really going to die?
JESUS: Yes!
ADAM: There is no other way?
JESUS: Yes there is! I must go now.
Jesus turns to leave.
ADAM: Where are you going?
Jesus stops to address them.
JESUS: Outside the garden…to die in your place.
EVE: You can’t…
JESUS: I must!
Jesus leaves. Adam and Eve starts to weep as…
LIGHTS FADE.
OLD MAN MARTIN (Voice Over): That was over two thousand years ago. (Pause) I can’t say anything has changed much since then.
SCENE 2
LIGHTS UP
Enter Young Martin, Julian, Crystal and Mark.
MARTIN: That movie was good! (Very Excited) We could hang around and watch another one.
JULIAN: Hellooo! I live six blocks from here. I don’t know about you guys, but I need to get home.
CRYSTAL: (teasingly) Mama’s girl!
MARK: Let’s put her on a taxi. Then we can decide what the rest of us, free spirited people, want to do.
JULIAN: Fair enough…(to Crystal)…and don’t call me that!
Pastor REID enters just before they leave. Jesus is with him.
MARTIN: Pastor Reid! What a pleasant surprise.
CRYSTAL: What brings you to ‘Sodom?’
They share a brief chuckle.
PASTOR: That’s real funny, child. Anyway, I have a friend I would like you to meet. (motions to Jesus who steps forward) This is Jesus.
The friends take turn in shaking Jesus’ hand. Mark is a little reluctant.
JULIAN: It’s good to finally meet you.
MARTIN: You’re all the Pastor talks about.
JESUS: He’s a good man.
MARTIN: Yeah.
PASTOR: Jesus died for our sins. He paid the ultimate price that man could have life and have it more abundantly. We were all born in sin and under the sentence of death. (pause) Do you know what death is?
CRYSTAL: Everybody knows what death is, sir. It’s when your breathe leaves your body.
PASTOR: Death is a little more complicated than that. Death is separation from everyone and everything you love. If you die outside of Christ, death is eternal separation from God and everything good.
Mark has heard enough.
MARK: Pastor, listen…I know you are pretty excited about all this religious stuff and all, and we do appreciate you having us meet your friend here, but I am just not interested. I’ve seen what Christianity does to people and frankly…you’re not exactly my favorite kind of people.
JESUS: You’re talking about your parents Mark. They didn’t know me.
MARK: Yeah…Then how come they try to shove you down my throat every single day.
JESUS: If your parents truly knew me Mark, you would have met me long before now.
MARK: Yeah, whatever. I’m outta here. Anyone else coming?
No one else seems interested to leave.
MARK: Oh, we’re all feeling a little Holy, Holy today, huh.
No reply.
MARK: Fine! It’s your choice.
Mark turns to leave, Jesus holds his arm.
JESUS: The spirit of God will not contend with man forever.
MARK: Right. Can you let go now, please.
Jesus releases his arm. Mark leaves. Jesus watches him go.
MARTIN: Tell us what to do.
JESUS: If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, with all your heart, thou shalt be saved.
PASTOR: Vanities of vanity. All else is vanity.
They all exit. Old Man Martin wobbles back to the stage.
OLD MAN MARTIN: That’s where I wish the story would end. But life aint always filled with happy endings, right. (pause) We never saw Mark again. I tried to find him once, but I gave up trying…but there were times when I wondered if we both had actually made different decisions that night…I wonder because to find God and take advantage of Him is worst than not finding Him at all.
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