PROPS
empty paper towel roll for a telescope
scroll
crown
chair
sign that reads, “HEROD is a BAD GUY”
CHARACTERS
Mel
Balty
Gaspar
Herod
Priests
SCENE ONE: GASPAR and MEL have a conversation outside.
Gaspar: Hey, Mel! Whatcha lookin’ at?
Mel: Gaspar! You’ll never believe it! A big… no, huge… no, enormous star just appeared in the sky!
Gaspar: (GASPAR takes telescope.) Let me see! Wow!
Balty: (BALTY enters and rubs his eyes.) Hey, guys. What’s up?
Gaspar: It’s an enormous… no, massive… no, colossal star!
Balty: Why does all the good stuff happen while I am sleeping? (BALTY takes telescope.)
Gaspar: Don’t you mean all the good stuff happens while you’re snoring? (GASPAR and MEL laugh.)
Balty: (BALTY looks through telescope.) Wow! Someone really important must have been born.
Mel: I wonder who it is.
Balty: (BALTY raises hand and jumps up and down.) Ooh, ooh, ooh! I know.
Mel and Gaspar: Who???
Balty: Um, I forgot.
Mel: (MEL opens scroll.) It says in the ancient Hebrew Scriptures that a king will be born.
Balty: That’s an important person.
Gaspar: (GASPAR takes scroll.) And the king will be God!
Balty: An even more important person!
Mel: We must hurry and go see this King. (MEL, GASPAR and BALTY begin running, get tangled up and fall down.)
Mel: This isn’t working. Gaspar, get the camels. Balty, get the food. I’ll get the presents!
SCENE TWO: MEL, GASPAR and BALTY walk in place facing the audience. They hold hands up as if leading camels.
Balty: Are we there yet?
Mel: No.
Balty: (pause) Now?
Gaspar: No.
Balty: (pause) How about now?
Mel and Gaspar: No!!!
Balty: I can’t wait to see the new King!
Gaspar: We’re running low on food, Mel. (BALTY yawns and curls up in sleeping position at back of stage. Starts snoring and sucking thumb.)
Mel: (Still walking.) If my calculations are correct, Gaspar, we should reach Jerusalem in a few days.
Gaspar: At least we travel at night when it’s cool.
Mel: The star is beautiful tonight. Isn’t it, Balty? (MEL notices BALTY is missing.) Balty?
Mel and Gaspar: Balty!!!
Balty: (BALTY awakes.) Mommy? Oh! Wait up, guys! (BALTY catches up as MEL and GASPAR exit.) Are we there yet?
SCENE THREE: MEL, GASPAR and BALTY talk to HEROD in his throne room. Two PRIESTS stand by. HEROD wears crown and sits on chair.
Mel: O King, we have traveled for many days, many weeks, many months!
Gaspar: (GASPAR looks at watch.) One year, five months, two weeks, four days, 21 hours, five minutes and 52 seconds to be exact.
Mel: But who’s counting?
Balty: The camels are hungry.
Herod: How can I help you?
Mel: We are searching for someone.
Gaspar: A King.
Herod: A king? I’m the only king. Aren’t I the only king? (HEROD looks at PRIESTS, who nod their heads.)
Gaspar: It is a new King we seek.
Balty: Yeah. You’re the old king. Well, not old… I guess you’d have gray hair if you were old.
Herod: Silence! (Sweetly.) Tell me about this King.
Mel: He is born King of the Jews.
Herod: Got that.
Gaspar: We saw His star in the East, and we have come to worship Him.
Balty: We have presents!
Herod: Just one moment, gentlemen. (HEROD whispers loudly to PRIESTS.) Where is this King supposed to be born?
Priests: (PRIESTS look at scroll.) Bethlehem.
Herod: Tell me exactly when you saw this star.
Gaspar: One year, five months, two weeks, four days—
Herod: Whoa, stop! I get the idea. (Sweetly.) Go to Bethlehem. See this King. And when you have visited Him—
Balty: And given Him presents!
Herod: Come back and tell me exactly where He is, so I can worship Him, too.
Balty: Do you hate babies?
Herod: Of course not! Why do you ask?
Balty: You have a grumpy face. Like this. (BALTY makes a grumpy face at the audience.)
Herod: That’s only because I wish the delightful little King were here right now. Boy, do I. (HEROD pounds fist on palm.)
Mel: Well, we should be going. Thanks for the directions! (MEL, GASPAR and BALTY exit.)
Herod: Any time. Don’t forget to come back so I can crush… I mean, cuddle the little King!
SCENE FOUR: MEL and GASPAR prepare to go home.
Mel: Jesus was so wonderful, Gaspar!
Gaspar: Yes, He was!
Mel: And to think we got to see Him! How can Balty sleep at a time like this?
Gaspar: Let’s pack up and go tell Herod where he can find Jesus.
Balty: (BALTY runs on stage.) Stop! Wait! No!!!
Mel: What’s wrong, Balty? (After trying to speak, out-of-breath BALTY holds up a sign: HEROD is a BAD GUY.)
Gaspar: How do you know?
Balty: I had a dream. Herod wants to kill the new King. We have to go home another way.
Mel: (MEL slaps BALTY on back.) Finally, all your snoozing came in handy, friend.
Balty: Will Jesus be OK?
Gaspar: I have a feeling He will be just fine. God has a special plan for this little King. He will save many people.
Balty: Jesus is an important person.
Gaspar: The most important person.
Mel: Let’s go home, boys.
