When the kids come in, (at least five of the children have speaking parts) they get involved in several discussions involving big brother and sister plans, food and finally, a telling of the Christmas story. The kids enjoy hearing how Jesus was born and then the gospel is shared and understood by at least one of the children. There is humor mixed in as one of the teen girls is a bit simple minded and goes into her own world and one of the children has an imaginary friend. Another kid just keeps asking for food. Mostly serious as one of the teens discovers she has a heart for orphans.
Cast of 11 (4 males, 7 females) Some of the genders can be changed. There can be extras with no lines. About 25-28 mins.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
BRIANNA: Speaks 1178 words. A teenage girl who discovers she has a heart for orphan children.
AUDREY: Speaks 1067 words. A few years older, college student who enjoys visiting the orphanage at Christmas.
ISAAC: Speaks 435 words. The most outspoken of the orphans.
HARRY: Speaks 404 words. A teen hoping to make a connection with one of the boys.
CALLIE: Speaks 347 words. Teen girl who knows some things.
DEIDRE: Speaks 329 words. Teen girl who lives in her own world, a bit simple minded.
ELLEN: Speaks 303 words. A cynical teen who is quick with remarks and insults.
KATIE: 168 words. Little girl with an imaginary friend
JOSH: 148 words. Orphan boy
LANCE: 118 words. Orphan boy
NITA: 27 words. Orphan who likes to ask for food.
EXTRAS: OSCAR, PHILIP, RACHEL, SAMMY.
A young college student and several high school kids from the church have come to visit the orphanage and bring gifts to the kids. The room is a visiting area at the orphanage and can be set up just about any way you like. No scene changes and all one set and all one scene.
Excerpt:
HARRY
Where are these kids? We’ve been waiting for awhile now!
AUDREY
It hasn’t been that long. Plus, I think we were a little early. I’m sure they have them doing stuff. Maybe they’re in school.
DEIDRE
They go to school?
AUDREY
They might be taught here. Or they might go to a local public school. But this is after school hours, so I would think they are done with that for the day. I’m sure they’ll be here soon.
BRIANNA
I just can’t stop thinking about what you said about them not fitting in very well in the foster homes. I think I know why that is.
CALLIE
Why, Brianna?
BRIANNA
Well…. I bet they spend a lot of time dreaming about the day that they finally get adopted. And the longer they’ve been here, the more they’ve dreamed about it. So, when someone says, “you’re going to a foster home…” they don’t like that because they know it’s only temporary and they want something permanent. Plus… they have this dream of what they think the perfect home is and when they get there, it doesn’t match their dream at all.
AUDREY
That was very interesting. You’re probably right on track with that. And the fact that you already know that ahead of time, it will help you in relating to the kids. You have already put yourself in their place and tried to imagine what it might be like to be them.
DEIDRE
I can’t imagine what it would be like to be them. Since I’m not an orphan. Are any of you orphans?
ELLEN
What do you think, Deedee? Do any of us live in an orphanage?
AUDREY
Well, I think she just meant that some of you could have been adopted.
DEIDRE
Yeah… that’s what I meant. Sometimes I wish I was adopted.
CALLIE
Seriously? Because that makes no sense.
The younger kids begin to enter the stage
AUDREY
Oh! Here they come!
The kids come in and everyone says hello and they greet and sit.
AUDREY
Hey! Merry Christmas, you guys! We brought you some presents!
The older youth pass out gifts to the kids and they open them. The reactions can vary. Some get real excited and some might not be very excited.
BRIANNA
So… how do you like the presents?
NITA
Did you bring any cookies?
BRIANNA
No, we didn’t bring any cookies… sorry. But we brought you all some nice gifts, didn’t we?
KATIE
How come you didn’t bring anything for my friend.
AUDREY
I don’t think we missed anybody. You all have gifts.
KATIE
My friend didn’t get anything.
BRIANNA
Which friend?
KATIE
Her name is Charlotte.
Katie points to an area next to her where there is nobody.
ELLEN
Does she think there is a kid sitting there?
JOSH
She has an imaginary friend. You kinda have to go along with it.
AUDREY
Oh, well, we didn’t know about your friend. What’s your friend’s name?
KATIE
I’m Katie and my friend is Charlotte.
AUDREY
Well, since we didn’t bring anything for Charlotte, do you think you could share your present with her?
KATIE
I’ll try… but she doesn’t like to share.
DEIDRE
I have a question. Does anybody here have the name, “Anne?”
NITA
I’m Nita
JOSH
I’m Josh
LANCE
I’m Lance.
ISAAC
I’m Isaac, and that’s Oscar, Philip, Rachel and Sammy.
AUDREY
Wow… thanks Isaac for introducing everybody.
NITA
Did you bring cake?
BRIANNA
No, sorry… we didn’t know you wanted any cake.
DEIDRE
I want some cake.
HARRY
Hey… any of you guys looking for a chance to have a part time brother? You know, someone who you can hang out with and have some real great times together… and maybe even create a great brother moment.
ISAAC
What do you mean? Like what kind of things would you do?
HARRY
Well… have you ever been to the desert?
ISAAC
No. I’ve seen pictures though. Is it hot?
HARRY
Yeah… it can be. Hot and dry. But when you go there, like in the Southwest… it is really cool. I mean, like the greatest place to be.
ISAAC
Really? I’d love to go there, some day.
HARRY
If you go and stand on a ridge and the hot wind blows across the valley and it like, sweeps by you and you feel it and you think… yeah!
ISAAC
(Staring off thinking about the picture in his mind and smiling)
Yeah.
Now they are both staring off and smiling as they think about this vision in their minds.
ISAAC
Wow… I’ll bet if you shared some beef jerky it would just be the ultimate brother moment!
HARRY
That’s it! You’re right! That would be the ultimate brother moment!! The ultimate bond! (Pause) Road trip!!
ISAAC
A road trip?
HARRY
Absolutely! And you have to come because the beef jerky was your idea! Dude! We’ll be brothers forever! High five!
They do a high five together
JOSH
That guy is weird.
BRIANNA
He’s really happy, Harry. I hope you can follow through with that crazy plan of yours.
HARRY
We’ll make it work. You going to get a sister? Katie gets my vote!
BRIANNA
The one with the imaginary friend?
CALLIE
You’d get two for the price of one. And I don’t think you’d have to feed one of them.
NITA
Did you bring ice cream?
DEIDRE
See, I told you we should have brought food… these kids are starving to death!!
AUDREY
I don’t think so… I just think Nita has a sweet tooth.
DEIDRE
Which one?
AUDREY
Which one what?
DEIDRE
Which one of her teeth is sweet? The only time my teeth are sweet is when I’m brushing them.
CALLIE
You’ve never heard that expression?
JOSH
I never heard it before, either. Do only certain people have sweet teeth?
AUDREY
It’s just an expression that means that you like to eat sweet things. Nita asked for cookies and cake and ice cream. All sweet things. So… she has a sweet tooth.
JOSH
I have a sweet tooth, too.
KATIE
Me, too.
NITA
How about pizza? Did you bring pizza?
HARRY
So much for the sweet tooth theory.
KATIE
I like pizza, but my friend, Charlotte doesn’t like pizza.
DEIDRE
Charlotte is crazy…. pizza is the best!
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