They say I can’t act, - Nollaig Shona



NATIVITY

PLAY

Carol: “Mary’s Boy Child”

Announcer:

They say I can’t act,

They say I can’t dance.

They say I can’t sing

But teacher won’t give me a chance.

So I’m in the crowd scene again.

I asked to be a shepherd,

I begged to be a king.

I said that I’d play any part

Any persons, any thing!

But I’m in the crowd scene again.

I wanted to be an angel,

But all of mum’s sheets were blue.

I even asked to be Joseph

But Mary said “Ugh, not you!”

So I’m in the crowd scene again.

I open and close my mouth,

Teacher told me not to sing.

I move from place to place

And I watch and learn everything.

So if ever someone is absent,

I’ll know it all by heart.

That’s when I’ll step from the crowd scene

To play my proper part.

Then teacher told me to be ready,

The announcer felt quite ill.

Today was my turn to perform

And be the top of the bill.

So I’m not in the crowd scene again.

Today I’ll announce the news

That we are to perform a play.

We hope you like it very much

It’s the story of the first Christmas day.

We hope you are all quite ready,

But before we begin I’ll say:

“Thanks for coming to see us

And we hope you enjoy our play”.

Narrator 1: The Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a young woman who was engaged to a man named Joseph.

Gabriel: Hail Mary, the Lord is with you.

Mary: I’m confused. Why is an angel visiting me? What does it all mean?

Gabriel: Do not be afraid Mary, for God is with you. You are to give birth to a baby and you will name him Jesus.

He will be great, he will be good,

He will be God’s son.

He will reign forever and ever

In the kingdom to come.

Mary: But how can this be?

Gabriel: The Holy Spirit will come upon you and God’s great power will overshadow you, for the child to be born will be holy.

Mary: Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord. Let it happen as you have said.

Carol: “How Can This Be?”

Narrator 2: Then the angel appeared to Joseph

Gabriel: Joseph, son of David. Take Mary as your wife and be proud of her. She is expecting a child. This child is a gift of the Holy Spirit. A son will be born, his name will be Jesus, and he’ll save the world from sin.

Joseph: I will marry Mary and take care of her.

Narrator 3: Now Caesar Augustus had decreed that everybody had to return to his old hometown, the place where he was born.

Mary: Joseph! Joseph! We’ve had a letter. Look, we’ve got to go to Bethlehem – isn’t it wonderful?

Joseph: I know. I thought you’d be horrified.

Mary: No, I’m really glad. That means that our son will be born in Bethlehem.

Joseph: I don’t see what’s so good about Bethlehem.

Mary: But I’ve often heard you say that Bethlehem is a great place to come from.

Joseph: Exactly! It’s a wonderful place to come from – and a terrible place to go to!

Mary: Joseph I think it’s wonderful, Jesus being born in the same city as King David.

Joseph: OK! I suppose we’d better start on our long journey then.

Narrator 4: So Joseph and Mary travelled up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, the city of David.

Carol: “Little Donkey”

Narrator 1: Their long tiring journey came to an end as they entered Bethlehem. But where could they stay? The town was full of travellers.

Mary & Joseph: Dia dhuit a dhuine uasal.

Joseph: Tá tuirse is ocras orainn.

Mary: An bhfuil seomra agat dúinn?

Innkeeper 1: Is trua liom é ach níl áit ar bith agamsa díobh.

Mary & Joseph: Dia dhuit a dhuine uasal.

Joseph: Tá tuirse is ocras orainn.

Mary: An bhfuil seomra agat dúinn?

Innkeeper 2: Is trua liom é ach níl áit ar bith agamsa díobh.

Mary & Joseph: Dia dhuit a dhuine uasal.

Joseph: Tá tuirse is ocras orainn.

Mary: An bhfuil seomra agat dúinn?

Innkeeper 3: Is trua liom é ach níl áit ar bith agamsa díobh. Ach tá sean stábla agam thall ansin. Tar liomsa.

Mary & Joseph: Go raibh mile maith agat.

Carol: “Tar a dúirt said liom”

Narrator 2: Near the town, there were shepherds out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And then God’s angels appeared to them, and the light of God’s glory shone around them, and they were filled with fear.

Shepherd 1: It’s not fair making us stay up here on the hill, minding the sheep.

Shepherd 2: I was up here a few times with my father. It’s not too bad when you get used to it.

Shepherd 3: But it’s so cold.

Shepherd 4: Come on, let’s shelter under the rocks, away from the cold wind.

Shepherd 5: There’s a very big crowd in town tonight.

Shepherd 6: Every house is full of strangers.

Shepherd 7: They even have some of them in the sheds.

Shepherd 8: Jacob at the Inn was turning people away when we were passing.

Shepherd 9: Why do so many people have to come at this time?

Shepherd 10: Because it is the law.

Shepherd 11: All the men and women from around here must come to Bethlehem to sign their names.

Shepherd 12: Sign their names for what?

Shepherd 13: So that Herod will know how many people he has in his country.

Shepherd 14: I’m very tired. I think we should sleep for a while.

Angels enter

Carol: “Hey Hey Yoo Hoo Hoo”

Shepherd 15: Listen! Do you all hear a strange sound?

Shepherd 16: Yes, it seems to be coming from the sky.

Shepherd 17: Can you make out the words? Listen!

Angels: Do not be afraid, do not be afraid,

Hear good news of great joy.

Do not be afraid, do not be afraid,

Come see Mary’s baby boy.

Go to the stable not far away

For a saviour has been born on this happy day.

Shepherd 18: Come on everybody let’s follow the star to Bethlehem to see the baby king.

Exit angels and shepherds

Herod and Chorus

Chorus: “It’s Herod!” Herod. Herod. Herod.

(Murmur)

Herod, This is Herod

He is old, and ill ......(laugh)

He rules his country

With a rod of - iron.

He fought hard to be the king

And he’s fighting still.

In the jungle of Judea

He’s a lion.

Hail King of the Jews!

Hail King of the Jews!

Hail King of the Jews!

(Murmur “Jews, Jews”)

He’s not even Jewish.

He’s not even Jewish. (All laugh)

“Rome! Rome declared me King of Judea.”

Rome?

We didn’t ask for you.

We didn’t ask for you.

We didn’t ask for you.

We never ask for you.

We never ask for you.

“Get back!”

(Murmur)

“My People,

Judea is in a precarious position.

The Persian Empire on the one hand,

The Roman Empire on the other.

We sit in the middle in constant danger.

I must keep the peace.

I have done my utmost for you, My People.”

For us? (Whisper)

“For you Solomon’s Temple is being rebuilt.”

For us? (Laugh)

“Ten thousand labourers.”

Slaves!

“Carpenters.”

Slaves!

“Stonemasons.”

Slaves!

“Enclosures paved with exotic coloured stones.”

Waste!

“Dazzling marble columns.”

Waste!

“The temple topped with golden spires.”

Mad - mad - mad - mad - madman!

“I am your King.” (Silence)

“The King of all Jewery.”

King of Fear. (Whisper)

Murderer - murderer - murderer.

Murderer!

Murdered your wife.

And mother-in-law.

And brother-in-law.

And sons.

Murderer - murderer - murderer.

“They opposed me.

They were plotting against me.

I am empowered by Rome to protect the kingdom.

And therefore to protect my person.”

Give up!

Abdicate!

You’re old!

You’re mad!

Old - mad.

Mad - mad - mad.

“Mad am I? Very Well!

You are saying that this baby,

One baby in thousands, in tens of thousands,

This baby which a handful of people believe to be the Messiah,

You think I should agree?

Throw up everything

And simply hand over my crown?”

Yes - why not? - Yes! Yes!

“Do you? Do you believe?

I want to find out where this baby is.

I’ll kill him!

I want to be the only king in the land.

Now, Get out!”

Chorus exit

Enter Three Wise Men

Narrator 3: In a country far away

Three Wise Men went astray

Narrator 4: They were searching in the night

When they saw a gleam of light

Narrator 1: A star appeared from outer space

It brought them to a holy place

Balthasar: You call us Wise Men

But I don’t know

Caspar: Are we wise or foolish

To just pack up and go

Melchior: Which star? Why?

If I was a truly Wise Man

I’d know these things, wouldn’t I?

Kings: We have seen a brand new star arise

A sign of new light on the earth

It leads – we follow its light in the dark

To a place of a new baby’s birth.

Herod: New baby! New birth! New light!

Who dared to make this decision?

This is my country. I say what happens and where.

And no one has asked my permission.

Kings: King Herod, you don’t seem to see

These dazzling lights make you blind

This child, who’ll be born very soon

Brings light of a different kind

Herod: (Aside)What on earth kind of light is this?

Who has power to create new light?

Such a power will threaten my kingdom

We must make ready to fight!

(To the Wise Men) If, when you find this baby –

That’s if you ever do –

Would you call back and tell me his whereabouts?

I’d so love to honour him too.

Narrator 2: The Three Wise Men continued on their journey, following the star.

Carol: “We Have Travelled”

Narrator 3: While Mary and Joseph stayed in the stable, the time came for Mary to give birth to the child. She gave birth to a son and named him Jesus.

Narrator 4: She wrapped him in a warm cloth and laid him in the straw in the manger.

Carol: “Away in a manger”

Procession of Light

This Spells Christmas

C: for Christ the baby King

And for carols children sing.

H: for Hills where watch was kept

By the shepherds while they slept

R: for Roads up hills and down

Trodden by a donkey brown.

I: for Inn no bed was there

And they had no room to spare.

S: for Stable – here was born

Jesus Christ on Christmas Morn.

T: for Three Kings – from afar

Following God’s guiding star.

M: for Mother Mary dear

Holding sleeping Jesus near.

A: for Angels’ songs above

Telling of God’s gift of love.

S: for Stars on Christmas night

Filling all the sky with light.

Carol: “Silent Night – Oíche Chiúin”

Instrumentalists

ALL: We’ve told the story of a boy,

Who came to earth to bring us joy,

And if it’s touched your hearts our task is done.

So there’s only one thing left to say,

Before you travel on your way,

A very Happy Christmas everyone!

Carol:

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