OPEN MY EYES LORD 61085
by Rick Clark


GENRE: Movement piece with monologues
TIME: 7 minutes
CAST BREAKDOWN: 5F, 5M, 1 role of either gender
THEME: Compassion; Serving the Poor; Kindness
CHURCH YEAR SEASON: Any
SUGGESTED USE: Missions (especially local and urban); Youth Group, Worship Service

CHARACTERS:
GIRL WITH FRAMED PICTURE
PREGNANT GIRL
GUY WITH MIRROR
GUY WITH PISTOL
GIRL WITH PILLOW
MAN WOMAN AND GIRL
GUY HOLDING PLATE
HOMELESS PERSON
JESUS

SYNOPSIS: Ordinary people are wrapped up in their own concerns and do not see the needs around them until JESUS opens their eyes and brings them together with "the least of these."

PROPS: Garbage can, 4 pairs of sunglasses, framed picture of boyfriend, mirror, pistol, pillow, plate of food

COSTUMES: Contemporary for 10 characters. Pregnancy stuffing, homeless clothing. The JESUS character needs a mantle or stole, and may wear a robe instead of contemporary clothes.

SOUND: 4 cordless microphones, recorded or live music. Musical underscoring is necessary for this piece. One recurring theme should be used when each of the silent characters-in-need enters. It was written for use with "Open My Eyes, Lord," but other music could work as well.

SETTING: Open space with 5 areas

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: Matthew 25:31–46; Ephesians 4:32

DIRECTOR'S TIP: Let the characters-in-need try out several strategies to get the attention of the character they seek to reach. Possibilities include: eye contact, smiling, waving, starting to speak and then stopping, revealing something shocking or personal. Or, try one after another for 5–10 minutes, then select the most appropriate ones. Your actors will be more connected and your scene will have more variety if there are unique strategies for each encounter, as well as a real, specific motivation for each appeal.

 

GIRL WITH PICTURE: (Wearing sunglasses) Of all the nerve! Bobby knows that I really like Travis. I think the whole school knows…except for Travis. And today, I had the chance of a lifetime. I'm sure Travis was going to ask me to the dance this weekend…that is until Bobby stepped in and opened his big mouth. There we all were…in the hallway at school. Travis was walking towards me when Bobby yelled, "Hey Jenny, there's your future husband! Go get him!" I was so embarrassed. Travis will probably never look at me again. And as long as Bobby is around, I'll never have a boyfriend. I'll probably never get married. I'll never have a family and people will think there's something wrong with me. Guys!

PREGNANT GIRL: (Enters with music. She enters opposite stage of where the GIRL WITH PICTURE is seated. She walks up to GIRL WITH PICTURE trying to get her attention and trying to get her to see her obvious problem. GIRL WITH PICTURE acknowledges her presence but not her problem because she is too wrapped up in her own problem. PREGNANT GIRL goes to center stage, gets on her knees, rubbing her belly and rocks back and forth slowly. She freezes when the next scene begins.)

GUY WITH MIRROR: (Wearing sunglasses) Zits! Of all the things God made, why did He have to make zits? And why did He have to give them to me? I should really be enjoying my life. I should have a steady girlfriend…but nooooo! Not with Mount Everest sitting right here between my eyes! This thing looks like a volcano getting ready to erupt at any time! My friends make fun of me and the girls treat me like I have leprosy. After all, who needs a guy with zits!

GUY WITH PISTOL: (Enters opposite side, with music underscoring, carrying a pistol. He walks to GUY WITH MIRROR and tries to get his attention. GUY WITH MIRROR acknowledges his presence but is too wrapped up in his mirror to even notice the gun. GUY WITH PISTOL walks to center stage, drops to his knees and stares at the pistol. He puts the pistol to his head and then takes it away and stares at it again. He bows his head to the floor and freezes as the next scene begins.)

GIRL WITH PILLOW: (Wearing sunglasses) Life is sooo boring! Mom and dad think I'm their personal servant. "Wash the dishes…run the vacuum…and don't forget to clean your room. Do this. Do that." My life consists of school work and house work. And my hometown…what a drag! There is nothing to do here. Nothing! I guess I'll spend my high school years totally bored out of my mind. When I turn eighteen, I'm outta here!

MAN, WOMAN AND GIRL: (Musical underscoring begins again as they enter arm in arm with girl in middle. They walk to center stage…GIRL is all smiles but MAN and WOMAN show tension on their faces. MAN and WOMAN begin an argument. MAN responds by turning his back and folding his arms. WOMAN responds by turning her back and folding her arms. GIRL tries to get the man to turn around…but he refuses. GIRL tries to get WOMAN to turn around and she refuses. MAN walks off the stage in a huff. WOMAN walks off the stage in a huff. GIRL is distraught and begins sobbing. She goes to GIRL WITH PILLOW and tries to explain what just happened. GIRL WITH PILLOW acknowledges her presence but is too bored to see the problem. GIRL returns to center stage where she drops to her knees crying, her face buried in her hands. She freezes and music ends as the next scene unfolds.)

GUY WITH PLATE: (Wearing sunglasses) Brussel sprouts, beets and meatloaf! This is worse than school food! Mom says it will make me strong. The only thing this food will do is make me sick! Who in the world would eat this junk? I'd rather starve than even look at this stuff. God is great…God is good…and we thank Him for our food? Yeah right.

GUY DRESSED IN RAGS: (Enters opposite side of guy with plate as Open Our Eyes Lord plays. He walks to GUY WITH PLATE expressing his hunger. GUY WITH PLATE doesn't acknowledge his presence, but walks over to the trash can and scrapes the food into the trash can while the homeless man watches. GUY WITH PLATE returns to his place and the homeless man walks over to the trash can and scrounges for food. Once he finds a bit of food, he sits down by the trash can and eats. Then he freezes as the JESUS character enters. Music stops. Everything now is done in complete silence.)

JESUS enters to center stage. He goes to PREGNANT GIRL and helps her to her feet and hugs her. He then walks to the GIRL WITH PICTURE frame, removes her sunglasses and points her towards PREGNANT GIRL. The girl drops the picture frame and hurries to PREGNANT GIRL showing obvious compassion and then they exit off the stage together.

JESUS goes to the guy with a pistol, helps him to his feet and hugs him. He then goes to the guy with the mirror, removes his sunglasses and points him in the direction of GUY WITH PISTOL. The guy sets down his mirror and hurries to GUY WITH PISTOL showing obvious compassion and asking for the guy to hand over the pistol. The guy slowly hands it over, they hug and exit together.

JESUS goes to the girl who is crying and helps her to her feet and hugs her. He then goes to GIRL WITH PILLOW, removes her sunglasses and points her in the direction of the crying girl. She drops her pillow and hurries over to the crying girl. They immediately embrace and both begin crying. As they exit together, GIRL WITH PILLOW wipes the tears from the eyes of GIRL who is crying.

JESUS goes to the homeless guy, helps him to his feet and hugs him. He then walks over to GUY WITH PLATE, removes his sunglasses and points him towards the homeless guy. The guy looks at the homeless guy by the trash can. He sets the plate down and takes a step towards the homeless guy as the homeless guy smiles and holds out his arms for an embrace. GUY WITH PLATE then steps back to JESUS, takes the sunglasses and puts them back on. He puts his hands in his pockets and walks off stage.

As the guy walks off stage, the homeless guy starts scrounging in the trash again and then sits down by the can. JESUS walks over to the guy and sits down beside him. JESUS takes a part of his garment and puts it on the shoulder of the homeless guy as if to help keep him warm. The homeless guy places his head on the shoulder of JESUS and JESUS cradles him in His arm.

Lights Fade.

Performance and photocopying rights:
Your purchase of this script grants your church unlimited use of these sketches within your programs and worship services. You may photocopy the script for each cast member in your church. Scripts and performance rights are not transferable between churches and cannot be resold. You may not use the sketches for any commercial or fundraising purpose, and usage rights do not extend to video, radio, television or film.

Copyright © 2002 by Rick Clark