Posted by Graham Sorenson on April 10, 1999 at 06:17:07:
In Reply to: Does anyone have some Baha'i theatre play scripts? posted by Charles Stevens on February 10, 1999 at 11:18:17:
: Need scripts of theatre plays, which could be performed by a
: few people. To be used for Baha'i proclamation and teaching activities.
: Can anyone give me some suggestions of sources for scripts?
: Charles Stevens
The following is a script by a young Baha'i Ben Roskams, a 12 year old
from Cardiff, Wales, UK. It was the first prize in his schools drama
competition and was performed, with Ben as Holmes, in front of his school
and visitors.
This play is given to the Baha'is of the World, (and Sherlock The ONLY requirement is that Ben is told of its use and of You can E-Mail to:- graham@fragrant.demon.co.uk and I will pass Ben Roskams, Ben Roskams 8M DR. WATSON MRS. HUDSON MR. SEEKER, a sailor BOATMAN, from India NATIVES MORIARTY MORIARTY'S NIECE NARRATOR: The characters in this play are completely fictional, but the SCENE 1 Victorian Study. Two men seated. Holmes stands and looks out of the window. HOLMES: Ah Watson. What do you make of him? [Points at man in WATSON: Well... Middle aged man, sailor. Nothing else springs to mind. HOLMES: Bravo Watson! He is a sailor on leave, a widower with two WATSON: Look Holmes. He's coming this way. Doorbell rings. Footsteps on stairs and Mrs Hudson shows the gentleman in. MRS. HUDSON: Mr. Seeker to see you sir. MR SEEKER: Mr Sherlock Holmes? MR HOLMES: Yes, how can I be of assistance? [Sits down and lights pipe.] MR SEEKER: I have heard that you are the single most accomplished HOLMES: From my experience, I have never once chanced upon such WATSON: Mr Holmes is a very busy man but he will see to your needs HOLMES: Come Watson pack your trunk, we shall be leaving from A boat is situated centre stage. The various destinations visited From side of boat. Holmes is holding a telescope and watching WATSON: What do you see, Holmes? HOLMES: Natives. WATSON: What is your interest in them? HOLMES: They are arguing over some matter. Boatman, can you translate? BOATMAN: Yes, sir, yes, I would be most happy to do so. HOLMES: That is plain enough. What I need to know is what they are BOATMAN: Well they are arguing about many things...but they are HOLMES: So tell me boatman, what do these Gods teach? BOATMAN: The same thing really. And that is that we must love one HOLMES: [Writing in his notebook] Interesting, interesting, WATSON: Yes, I suppose. HOLMES: Let us continue on our way. Carry on boatman. Lights down, stage left and up stage right. A study. One man is seated and counting his money. A young lady enters. HOLMES: [From boat] My God, Watson, do you see that man there? LADY: Good morning uncle. I have been visiting the mission again. MORIARTY: What have you been down there for? LADY: I have been talking to all the poor people. How they are MORIARTY: [Still counting his money]. You... you want to be in LADY: [To audience]. All I have ever been taught is what clothes Stage left and right is in darkness. The boat is lit up centre stage. WATSON: Really Holmes, this is a difficult one. HOLMES: Maybe not as difficult as it seems. Tell me Watson, WATSON: Well, their skin varies a great deal and their medical HOLMES: And the West? WATSON: Very scientific and organised. HOLMES: [Thinking]...I have it! WATSON: Have what, Holmes? HOLMES: All in good time, all in good time my boy. I have SCENE FOUR Holmes' Study Mrs. Hudson shows Mr. Seeker into the study. Holmes is sitting in MRS. HUDSON: Mr. Seeker to see you sir. HOLMES: Ah, Mr. Seeker, I have part of your solution but it is far WATSON: So we need a language that everyone can understand without HOLMES: Yes Watson, but I shall continue. One tribe was attacking WATSON: But that's in the Bible! HOLMES: Thank you Watson. [To Mr. Seeker] My Biblical knowledge WATSON: Well done Holmes! From this you are saying that all religions HOLMES: Yes Watson, you are correct, but there are a few more factors WATSON: And these are? HOLMES: If you remember, we chanced by one of Moriarty's many houses WATSON: Do you realise what you are saying, Holmes? You are suggesting HOLMES: Not only the vote, dear Watson, but they will need to be WATSON: [ Puzzled]. So what you are saying is that women should be HOLMES: Yes, Watson, yes. Now Mr. Seeker, this should help to answer MR. SEEKER: Thank you Mr. Holmes, I am greatly indebted to you for HOLMES: You may use my note-book for reference as you record this >>END<<
Holmes fans
peoples reactions to it.
on the reports etc. Or snail mail to:-
14 Alfreda Road,
Whitchurch,
Cardiff,
CF4 2EH
Wales, U.K.
THE SAILORS' PROBLEM
THE CHARACTORS
SHERLOCK HOLMES
Prisoner of Akka is real. He lived between 1817 and 1892.
street below. Watson joins him.]
young children. You see, the tattoo on his hand immediately denotes a sailor. He's on leave because his boots have not been cleaned recently and he carries shopping and presents, for a married man would not do his own shopping. The presents are for young people.
detective in all of London. My problem is a simple one. You see,
I have travelled the world and have witnessed so much poverty,
fighting, greed, and hatred. What we need is peace and unity,
not wars and starvation. My request is that you go out into the
world to find the solution.
a most singular case...[pausing to think]...Thank you Mr. Seeker
but I have other matters to attend to.
as soon as possible. [Holds door open for Mr Seeker and sees him out.]
Waterloo at ten o'clock tomorrow morning.
SCENE TWO
alternate from left stage to right stage.
natives arguing.
They are arguing.
arguing about.
arguing in two different languages so that they cannot understand
each other. One is saying "let us work together to get our crops in
before the rainy season" but the other thinks he is attacking their
God and is saying that his God is better than theirs which is very
strange, I think, because both their Gods teach the same thing.
another. They are wasting a lot of time.
don't you find, Watson?
SCENE THREE
He is unmistakeably Moriarty.
treated is really unfair. I wish I were in a position to change
that. [Thinking] I know...I should be a politician. I am sure
that if women ran the country there would be less poverty and
less war. They don't want to see their sons killed!
a place of power? That's impossible...You can't even spell politician
let alone vote. If you want to be in a place of power, go to the kitchen!
to wear and how to cook and sew. Women have not been given the
chance. All we want is justice for everyone, not power.
what would you say is the main difference between the peoples
of the East and the West?
practices seem to me to be a whole lot of superstition and hocus-pocus.
solved the case. Back to England, boatman.
his chair playing the violin. Watson is looking out of the window
smoking a pipe.
from simple. While I was on my travels, I observed several scenes
which gave some clues. While in the far East I witnessed the peoples
arguing and fighting and this is what I deduced. They fought because
they misunderstood each other. This would not have happened had they
spoken a language in common.
losing one's national identity.
the others' God. I recalled the boatman who told us that both their
Gods say we should treat each other as we would expect to be treated.
is a trifle rusty but I remembered that this is the foundation of
most other faiths. Because of this I concluded that the teachings
of all these faiths must have come from the same source.
also come from the same God and that we must therefore all be connected
... rather like a large family.
yet to come.
in which his niece wanted to be a politician. I observed that Moriarty's
niece was displaying boundless compassion and a total lack of greed.
I also realised that women are the primary teachers for the next
generation. Upon consideration I deduced that not only do women
need to be educated but also that the world's problems can only
be resolved when there are more women in key positions.
that women could eventually get the vote?
treated equally to men. Indeed all people deserve the opportunity
for a good education and this brings me to my next point. This
education would help diminish the gap of extremes of poverty and
wealth and through the independent investigation of truth should
lead to the reduction in prejudice which is also necessary if we
are to solve Mr. Seekers problem. In fact you, my dear Watson,
saved me a great deal of time when you mentioned the scientific
and superstitious elements of the East and West, for religion
without science is merely superstition and science without religion
could be very dangerous. You can see, then, how they should be in balance.
able to vote and should strive to work alongside men, that everyone
should have a good education and that we should try to share our wealth
more justly. We should investigate the truth for ourselves, which, of
course, you need no help in Holmes, and we should work at eliminating
prejudice. It seems to me that the differences between East and West,
men and women, and the rich and the poor are not as great as I first
thought. What we are talking about is unity!!
your question but on my travels I heard of one in the prison city of
Akka who holds the key. I would highly recommend that you visit him
as he has much to teach.
your help in this matter. [ Leaves]
adventure. [Picks up violin and plays theme tune].
this topic is closed - post at bahai-library.com/forum