The Way
By Krista Esperat
Summary
This mime (or dance) is about a “seeker” looking in all sorts of places for
the way to true happiness. It is based on a techno song by “Ah-ha” called
"Take on Me".
Scripture
I am the way the truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through
me. (John 14:6)
Characters
We used 11 people, but it can be varied if you make it work with the music.
Fun
Fame & the groupie
Intelligence
Beauty
Sports Star
Love (2 people)
Happy Christian
Seeker
Jesus
Script
(Setup: Everyone but Jesus and Seeker is lined up with their back to the
audience in the order previously mentioned. Fun to the far left, Jesus to
the far right facing sideways towards the opposite end of the stage. Seeker
is in the front center raising her hands in a way as if thinking “What is
the way to find true happiness? I don’t know?”)
As the music begins seeker walks around shrugging, looking all about her.
A voice reads over “Everyone is searching for the way. The way to find TRUE
happiness. But there is only ONE way.”
At the first beat of drums (24 secs in) Fun whips around to center stage
and starts dancing, miming the blow of bubbles and fun. Seeker looks very
interested and shakes her head in approval, smiles a little, enjoying his
presence. Then the song whispers “Take on Me” and a new beat comes and Fun
goes back to his spot and Fame walks out. He snaps his finger and Groupie
comes out frantically shining his shoes and fixing his hair and clothes.
Seeker again agrees in approval and has Fame sign an autograph for her, which
she holds to her heart. At second 48 a symbol is hit and Fame and Groupie
go back to their spot and Intelligence comes out. Glasses are good, and he
is holding a book (not literally) and pointing to interesting things. Seeker
is engaged and looks at the book as if shes thinking “really? wow…look at
that…interesting….” Nodding in agreement, she is also pleased with him. At
the stroke of the 1 min. mark a new beat comes in (the song has obvious clues
as to when the characters are supposed to switch) And beauty grandly walks
out to center stage. She is a supermodel, a princess, she has her head high
and she looks at seeker and shows her how GREAT it is to be her. She flips
her hair, and admires the crowd. Seekers watches Beauty do a pose (anything
you want) and then mimics, trying to get the hang of it. When the sound changes
again at 1 min 12 (1.12) Seeker pushes her hands towards Beauty as if to
say “well…no thanks..” and Beauty pushes her’s towards Seeker and flippantly
walks back to her spot. The music is lower now and quicker- We skip Intelligence
and Fame bounds back out to the center spot. Both Seeker and Fame snap their
fingers high in the air like before, and Groupie comes and shines both of
their shoes and gives Seeker the fame treatment. Seeker does the same hand
gesture to Fame and he repeats Beauty’s push back. As he returns, on beat
1.15 at the symbol crash, Fun pounces out and dances with Seeker- she does
a few jumps but, of course, shrugs and is thinking “well…sorry---no thanks”
Repeat the push and Fun goes back to his spot. NOTE: Seeker and the characters
are not actually TOUCHING eachother with the push- they’re just near eachother.
Then at 1.37 “Take on me” sings melodiously and that’s when Christian whips
around and sees Jesus (who raises his arms now to form a cross) right next
to her. She is overwhelmed with joy- she is worshiping and praising him-
bowing to his feet and coming up again lifting her hands. She sees Seeker
look curiously at her and she motions for her to come. She gestures towards
Jesus with both hands, always smiling, as if saying “Him! Him! HE’S what
you need!” And Seeker looks really unsure…just as Seeker gets really close
the song breaks out -back into fast techno. Christian shrugs in sadness and
turns back to her spot. Now, Sports Star comes out. (We went to Brazil and
did this so she was a soccer player, but you can make the sports star anyone
you want) Sports Star comes out and holds her imaginary ball. She throws
it up in the air and bounces it off her head. She does tricks with it, she’s
kicking it, and pretty much showing how good she is. Seeker is REALLY impressed
thinking “wow youre REALLY good!” on 2.13 a symbol crashes and Sports goes
back as the boy and girl representing Love turn around. They reenact the
relationship of most people. First they meet and he takes her number. Then
they hug and are very happy together. He then gets on one knee and offers
her a ring which she excitedly put on. As she is examining it they turn around
in their own spots (portraying the turn of relationships from all happiness
to fights)- this is on beat 2.25 when it’s whispered “take on me” again-
and they both start arguing with eachother. They throw their hands in anger
and act out a fighting scene. (no physical fighting.) Seeker meanwhile was
watching in complete happiness at the two love birds, then frightened and
surprised that the sudden change in events. Then on 2.36 the Christian’s
music comes back on. Once again she is worshipping Jesus (who again raises
his arms.) She immediately turns to Seeker, who is looking sad and hopeless.
Christian nods her head as if saying “come on…this is right.” She has a face
of sympathy and is very caring. Seeker meanders over to them and immediately
breaks down, sobbing. She falls to her knees and worships and prays to God,
as Christian helps her receive Christ. Christian can be kneeling next to
her, with her right hand on Seekers back and her left raised up to Christ.
On minute 3.00 both look up at eachother, smiling and hugging eachother.
They get up and spin around, raising hands to Jesus and dancing in joy. on
3.24 Seeker stops and looks at Christian as if saying “wait!” and she runs
to Fun and pulls him with her- pointing to Jesus. Fun looks at her with a
face of disgust and returns to his spot. The same things happen with everyone
else. Once in a while a character can actually look interested—hesitating
a few minutes before rejecting. When Seeker gets to the Lovers they yell
at her and she recedes back. (At 3.50 she should have tried everyone so it
needs to be a little bit quick.) She then looks at the Christian and smile
and they again embrace and worship Christ together. After a few moments they
stop –Seeker with her back to the audience and Christian facing the audience
on either side of Jesus. Everyone’s head is bowed and the music fades out
while John 14:6 is read- thus concluding The Way.
..................................
Choreography by Krista Esperat.
If you use this, please let me know. Email: krista_esperat@hotmail.com