Here's a fun and unique way to use your puppets with legs. It isn't hard to indentify with the characters as they do what kids are likely to do (and we all used to do when we were kids): hang out.
It's All About God
by Linda Baker
Goal – to remind the audience that God is pre-eminent over everything.
Setting: Drew is sitting on the side of the stage with legs draped over. (or in stage if you do not have puppet legs.) Mailbox and fire hydrant set the atmosphere as curbside. DREW with chin on hand, elbow on knee. Moves head to the side occasionally as he watches cars go by….
KYLE: (With Amber up Stage – looking down) Oh hey Drew, We’ve been looking all over the place for you. What are you doing?
DREW: Well, I’ve been right here all afternoon, indulging in an enriching educational activity. (Kyle and Amber join Drew downstage)
KYLE: Educational activity – it looks like you’re just sitting here on the curb watching cars.
DREW: On the one hand, I can see how you would think that. But you have to look DEEPER my friend. Life is discovered in the DEEPER meaning of things.
AMBER: Uh, just how DEEP are we going to go?
DREW: Wait a minute. Let’s watch for a bumper sticker….see what I mean? That one is exactly right. (as they turn their heads following the car…)
KYLE: It said – THE MORE YOU PLAN, THE MORE YOU CAN. (Sign moves by up stage with the message on it.)
DREW: Yeah, Mom is always telling me that I’ve got to get more organized and plan my day better. It seems like I’m always behind or missing out on something.
AMBER: You too? Mom buys me a new calendar every year so I can plan better.
KYLE: Ok. I see your point. It’s good time management, (as they turn their heads) but what about that one….
DREW: What Would Scooby Do? (Sign moves by upstage with the message on it.)
KYLE: Now DREW, you can’t tell me that that’s a deep philosophical statement.
DREW: Ah, but it is. Just think about it. You and I know that the real standard is Jesus and we should do what Jesus would like us to do. But how do our unsaved friends decide right and wrong? Who do they look to for their example? It’s really sad.
AMBER: Yeah, Scooby would eat the Scooby Snacks.
(They turn their heads.)
AMBER: So, what do you say about that one? (Sign moves by upstage with a smiley on it.)
DREW: Just a smiley face.
KYLE: What, no DEEPER MEANINING?
AMBER: I know! I know! This guy is an eternal optimist. Always looking on the bright side…you know, his cup is never half empty—always half full.
KYLE: (dryly) Or he’s just been to Wal-Mart.
AMBER: That sticker’s on the front… it says (as the puppets lean forward) IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE WAY I DRIVE GET OFF THE (as the puppets fall off the back)
KYLE: Sidewalk. (deadpan as he comes up)
DREW: Man, they actually let him out on the road?
KYLE: Sidewalk. (deadpan)
AMBER: (as they move their heads) My mom would agree with that one.
KYLE: MY KIDS THINK I’M AN ATM.
DREW: Ooo, that doesn’t say much good about you Amber.
AMBER: What do you mean?
DREW: Well, if your mom agrees with that, it must mean that her kids – you – think you can push her buttons and come away with cash. No responsibility, no gratefulness….
AMBER: I’m not like that. My parents work hard and I appreciate all they do for me. I hope Mom and Dad know that I’m grateful.
DREW: Well, you can make sure they do. Tell them tonight.
AMBER: Yeah, I will.
KYLE: You know Drew, I’m really catching your meaning. People’s bumper stickers say a lot about them and what they believe. Mom’s bumper says “Gone Crazy, be back soon.” Not that she’s really crazy. She’s just a fun person.
Head’s turning . . .
KYLE: HAH, now that’s really deep!
AMBER: I PICK MY NOS---DREW INTERRUPTS AT THE CK (Sign moves by upstage with the message – I PICK MY NOSE IN TRAFFIC-- on it.)
DREW: We’re not gonna touch that one!
AMBER: Oooookaaaaay.
AMBER/KYLE/DREW: Look at that car…wow … what a cool car….
KYLE: And a car like that would have a bumper sticker that says …
AMBER: IT’S ALL ABOUT ME.
DREW: It figures.
AMBER: Yeah. We just went nuts over that car. It drew all of our attention and we were so impressed. It was all about the car.
KYLE: So, how does it get DEEPER.
AMBER: You know, many people think that they are the center of everything. They think it’s all about them. That bumper sticker shows that they don’t understand that it’s really all about God. It really shows how selfish they are.
DREW: Yeah, we’re here because God created us. We survive because God takes care of us. We can live in heaven with Him because God made the way. It really is --- All about God.
KYLE: You guys are really good at this bumper sticker philosophy thing.
DREW: Well, it’s about comparing the stickers to what the Word of God says. God has a lot to say about things that are happening today. We just need to think and apply.
AMBER: Like you said, it’s All About God.
CREW GUIDELINES
Setting – we will start out trying it like this: Drew is sitting on the downstage rail (RIGHT) with legs over the side (ALL PUPPETEERS MUST BE CAREFUL THAT ARMS ARE FULLY CONCEALED WITHIN THE SHIRTS). Kyle and Amber enter from downstage (Left).
PROPS: Mailbox/Fire Hydrant/ “Stickers”
Place backdrop during intro music. |
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Drew is sitting. Sound will be of cars zooming past. Drew will have to choose a couple of sounds and turn his head as if following the cars. – Friends Enter |
Crew: Puppets will begin to sit on the rail with Drew – assist them as inconspicuously as possible to get their legs over the rail. |
KYLE: Oh hey Drew, We’ve been looking all over the place for you. What are you doing?
DREW: Well, I’ve been right here all afternoon, indulging in an enriching educational activity.
SOUND – ZOOM – and Drew’s head turns to follow.
KYLE: Educational activity – it looks like you’re just sitting here on the curb watching cars.
SOUND – ZOOM – and Drew’s head turns to follow.
DREW: On the one hand, I can see how you would think that. But you have to look DEEPER my friend. Life is discovered in the DEEPER meaning of things.
SOUND – ZOOM – and all puppet heads turns to follow.
AMBER: Uh, just how DEEP are we going to go?
DREW: Wait a minute. Let’s watch for a bumper sticker….
SOUNT – ZOOM 1 (heads turn) ZOOM 2 (heads turn) Zoom 3 (heads turn)
See what I mean? That one is exactly right. (as they turn their heads following the car…) |
Crew: put up the sticker on downstage – Left.
Crew: walk out and down (left) |
KYLE: It said – THE MORE YOU PLAN, THE MORE YOU CAN.
DREW: Yeah, Mom is always telling me that I’ve got to get more organized and plan my day better. It seems like I’m always behind or missing out on something.
AMBER: You too? Mom buys me a new calendar every year so I can plan better. |
Crew: put up Scooby
Crew: walk out and down (left) |
KYLE: Ok. I see your point. It’s good time management,
ZOOM-they turn their heads
But what about that one….
DREW: What Would Scooby Do?
KYLE: Now DREW, you can’t tell me that that’s a deep philosophical statement.
DREW: Ah, but it is. Just think about it. You and I know that the real standard is Jesus and we should do what Jesus would like us to do. But how do our unsaved friends decide right and wrong? Who do they look to for their example? It’s really sad.
AMBER: Yeah, Scooby would eat the Scooby Snacks. |
Crew: put up smiley
Crew: walk out and down (left) |
ZOOM-they turn their heads
AMBER: So, what do you say about that one?
DREW: Just a smiley face.
KYLE: What, no DEEPER MEANINING?
AMBER: Well, I think I have this one figured out…this guy is an eternal optimist. Always looking on the bright side…you know, his cup is never half empty—always half full.
KYLE: Or he’s just been to Wal-Mart. |
Crew: assist puppets to the position they prefer. |
AMBER: That sticker’s on the front… it says
as the puppets lean forward
IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE WAY I DRIVE GET OFF THE ZOOM
the puppets fall off the back
Throw arms back up over and stick up heads
KYLE: Sidewalk. (deadpan)
Puppets dust themselves off
DREW: Man, they actually let him out on the road?
Either kneel or sit back down on sidewalk.
KYLE: Sidewalk. (deadpan) |
Crew: put up my kids think
Crew: walk out and down (left) |
ZOOM – all heads turn
AMBER: My mom would agree with that one.
KYLE: MY KIDS THINK I’M AN ATM.
DREW: Ooo, that doesn’t say much good about you Amber.
AMBER: What do you mean?
DREW: Well, if your mom agrees with that, it must mean that her kids – you – think you can push her buttons and come away with cash. No responsibility, no gratefulness….
AMBER: I’m not like that. My parents work hard and I appreciate all they do for me. I hope Mom and Dad know that I’m grateful.
DREW: Well, you can make sure they do. Tell them tonight.
AMBER: Yeah, I will.
KYLE: You know Drew, I’m really catching your meaning. People’s bumper stickers say a lot about them and what they believe. Mom’s bumper says “Gone Crazy, be back soon.” Not that she’s really crazy. She’s just a fun person. |
Crew: put up pick
Crew: walk out and down (left) |
ZOOM-Head’s turning
KYLE: HAH, now that’s really deep!
AMBER: I PI CK MY NOS---
DREW INTERRUPTS AT THE CK
DREW: We’re not gonna touch that one!
AMBER: Oooookaaaaay. |
Crew: put up all about
Crew: walk out and down (left) |
ZOOM –heads turn
AMBER/KYLE/DREW: Look at that car…wow … what a cool car….
KYLE: And a car like that would have a bumper sticker that says …
AMBER: IT’S ALL ABOUT ME.
DREW: It figures.
AMBER: Yeah. We just went nuts over that car. It drew all of our attention and we were so impressed. It was all about the car.
KYLE: So, how does it get DEEPER.
AMBER: Let me try this one Drew. Well, so many people think that they are the center of all activity and attention. They think it’s all about them. That bumper sticker shows that they don’t understand that it’s really all about God. It really shows how selfish they are.
DREW: Yeah, we’re here because God created us. We survive because God takes care of us. We can live in heaven with Him because God made the way. It really is --- All about God. |
Crew assist as needed. |
KYLE: You guys are really good at this bumper sticker philosophy thing.
Puppets get up and prepare to leave.
DREW: Well, it’s about comparing the stickers to what the Word of God says. God has a lot to say about things that are happening today. We just need to think and apply.
AMBER: Like you said, it’s All About God.
Puppets exit to left and down. |
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