Summary: A group of people are helping a friend who is looking for an elephant. They think they know what they’re looking for, but it becomes obvious that not all large grey things with tough skin are elephants. This play was first performed by a group of young people, speaking to their peers about their vulnerability to the world’s temptations and false representation of truth. Keywords: Truth, deception.
Style: Dramatic. Duration: 5min
Actors: 1N, 4M/F
Scripture: John 14:6
Characters
Narrator
John
Sophie
Amy
Bob
Props: 3 large pictures, all painted with the same grey colour - a hippopotamus, a rhinoceros, a tent. Large sign which says: SOME TIME LATER
Script
(Enter Sophie, who wanders around the front of the stage, looking worried, puzzled, scratching head etc. John, Amy and Bob enter together.)
John: Hi Sophie, what are you doing?
Sophie: I’m looking for an elephant. I’ve been told it’s large and grey with tough skin.
Amy: (excitedly) Hey, I know where there’s one of those. I’ll get it! (exits)
Bob: (hopeful) I heard someone talking about one the other day. I’ll check it out for you. (exits)
John: (business-like) Sounds like they’re onto it, but I’ll keep it in mind too and let you know if I come across anything. (exits)
(Narrator enters with sign which reads: SOME TIME LATER)
(Sophie is still onstage - sitting, waiting. John enters carrying picture of hippopotamus.)
John: (excitedly) Good news Sophie. I’ve found an elephant for you!
(Sophie takes the picture and studies it, hopefully.)
Sophie: Gosh, you’re right. Large, grey, tough skin. Great! Thanks John.
(John exits, and Sophie stands admiring the picture, clapping hands, etc. Enter Amy, carrying a picture of a rhinoceros.)
Amy: (excitedly) Good news Sophie. I’ve found an elephant for you!
(Sophie takes the picture, puts it with the first picture, and studies it.)
Sophie: (hesitantly) Oh…yes. Well, let me see. Large, grey, tough skin. That’s right. Thanks Amy.
(Amy exits. Sophie compares the two pictures, looking slightly puzzled. Bob enters carrying a picture of a grey tent.)
Bob: (excitedly) Good News Sophie. I’ve found an elephant for you!
(Sophie takes the picture and studies it, amazed!)
Sophie: (scratching head, confused now) I see…yes. Large, grey, tough skin. Mmm, thanks Bob.
(Bob exits. Sophie looks at each picture in turn, puzzling over them, comparing them, shaking her head, etc.
Sophie: Gosh, I didn’t realise elephants all looked so different? It’s a good job I did the research. It could have been so easy to have been deceived.
(Sophie exits, carrying pictures, still scratching head…)
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© Copyright Jennie Chappell, all rights reserved. The script may not be reproduced, translated or copied in any medium, including books, CDs and on the Internet, without written permission of the author.
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged. In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed. She may be contacted at: