The Dramatization of Bible Stories Part 2

The children decided that it would take a great many scenes in order to act out the story adequately. At first they mentioned seven or eight.

One child was asked to describe the first scene as he thought it ought to be, and several others added to the description. Volunteers were then called upon to act it out then and there.

The first scene was placed in front of Jacob's tent. Jacob is anxiously awaiting the return of his ten sons with the flocks. He becomes worried because they do not come, so he sends Joseph to seek his brothers.

Joseph accepts the command and leaves the tent.

This scene was acted very naturally and spontaneously by several groups of children. Each time it was changed, for no two groups of children interpreted the action or words alike.

The children who were not acting were made to feel their responsibility also, for they were asked to make note of the best parts. A general discussion was held at the end of each presentation, in which the good points were emphasized and suggestions were given as to improvement.

The criticism in all of this work comes for the most part from the children; the leader in charge directs it, but keeps from imposing her opinions.

As the meetings of this dramatic club last but one hour, nothing more could be done than work out one scene at this first time. The children were asked to think the story over and to come the next Sunday prepared to suggest the second and third scenes in detail.

At the next meeting the second and third scenes were worked out in the same manner as the first.

The second scene places Joseph at Shechem. Here he meets the man who tells him that his brothers have gone to Dothan.

In the third scene the brothers are seated on the ground eating and resting, with their shepherd staffs beside them; they begin to talk about Joseph and to tell of his dream and their hatred of him. Just at this point Joseph runs in and gives his father's message. He also tells of his experience in Shechem in not finding them there. Then the brothers take him and bind him and throw him into the pit. The caravan comes along and Joseph is sold and taken away. After the brothers depart, Reuben, not knowing that Joseph has been sold, comes back to the pit, hoping to help him out. When he finds the boy gone, he weeps and goes sorrowfully away. (A doorway which leads off from the stage at the back was used for the pit. There were no camels in the caravan; the men walked by.)

During the next hour scenes which describe Joseph's life in Egypt were roughly blocked out. The children made up their words as they acted the parts. The language at this stage was very modern, but for the time being the emphasis was placed upon the thought expressed and upon the action.

Several of the older girls volunteered to write out the first few scenes in order to bring the language into better form. At the fourth meeting these were brought in and discussed by the children. The following is a version of the first scene just as it was written by a girl of twelve years. It is given here that the contrast may be seen between this as a piece of work which may be made better and the final play at the end of the chapter.

SCENE I

_Jacob:_ It is time my sons are returning with their flocks.

See if thou canst see them coming.

[_Exit servant._]

_First Lady:_ Yes, they have been gone a long time. We have only Joseph and Benjamin with us.

[_Enter servant._]

_Jacob:_ What didst thou see?

_Servant:_ Master, I saw nothing of your sons.

_Jacob:_ I shall send Joseph after them. Bring Joseph hither. [_Turns to another servant._] Bring a bag of food for him to take with him on his journey.

[_Servants leave._ JACOB _looks away, hoping to see his sons._]

_Jacob:_ I do not see them. What can be the matter?

[_Enter_ JOSEPH _with servant._]

_Second Lady:_ Joseph will be sure to find them.

_Jacob:_ Joseph, my son, I am sending thee after thy brethren. Take this food to Shechem and bring thy brethren back to me.

_Joseph:_ I will do as thou bidst.

[JACOB _stands and puts his hand on Joseph._]

_Jacob:_ May the Lord go with thee.

END

The third scene was written by a girl of eleven years and was as follows:

SCENE III

[_All brothers look down the road._]

_All Brothers:_ What shall we do with him?

_Seventh Brother:_ I know; let's kill him!

_All except Reuben:_ Yea! Yea!

_Reuben:_ Nay, do not kill him; let's put him in a deep pit.

_Tenth Brother:_ Well, all right.

[JOSEPH _appears; exit_ REUBEN.]

_Joseph:_ Ah, I have found ye at last, my brethren.

[_All grab_ JOSEPH.]

_Joseph:_ What have I done to deserve this?

_Fourth Brother:_ Get some rope!

[_Exit sixth brother and brings some rope back with him.

Eighth and ninth brothers bind_ JOSEPH _with ropes. All take hold of him and push him into the pit._]

_Tenth Brother:_ But what shall we tell our father?

_Eighth Brother:_ Let's tell him that Joseph was killed by a wild beast.

_Ninth Brother:_ We will take his coat of many colors, which our father gave him, and dip it in the blood of a goat.

_All:_ Yea! Yea!

[_Seventh brother sees some merchants._]