The Dramatization of Bible Stories Part 7

THE DRAMATIZATION OF _MOSES IN THE BULRUSHES_

The method of presenting the story of _Moses in the Bulrushes_ differed somewhat from that employed with _Joseph._ There was little need to tell the story at the beginning, for every child already knew it in detail. Consequently the leader had the children tell most of it, while she supplemented and directed attention to important parts.

In this case the entire play was planned roughly before any of it was acted. The story was criticized by the children as to its organization and unity, and as a result they made up an ending (Act III) which they felt was needed to make the story complete. Experience with the other plays had led the children to feel the necessity for having a satisfactory ending after the climax.

At the second meeting several girls brought in the scenes as they had written them out. They had tried to embody the points which the children had decided upon as the general plan of the play. The final play varies very little from these scenes thus written by the girls themselves.

There was no difficulty in solving the problem as to what they would do for a baby in the first part of the play. Many dolls were brought in, and the choice fell upon the one that received the largest number of votes because of his likeness to the baby Moses. A woven basket served for the cradle of bulrushes. There were many rehearsals when there was no doll or cradle, but the children never felt the lack. Their imaginations can supply all needs.

A few big Egyptian designs were made for the first and last scenes, which were placed in the king's court. These were fastened on the walls and around the king's seat, as was done in the play of _Joseph._

Before the play was given before parents and friends the children decided to call it _The Childhood of Moses._ An older boy in the church printed programs for the occasion that the audience might better understand the play. They read as follows:

THE CHILDHOOD OF MOSES

Dramatized and Presented by the Children's Dramatic Club of the Hyde Park Church of Disciples

CHARACTERS

PHARAOH King of Egypt PRINCESS Pharaoh's Daughter MOSES A Hebrew Boy HEBREW WOMAN Mother of Moses MIRIAM Sister of Moses AARON Brother of Moses WISE MEN Advisers of Pharaoh Soldiers, Attendants to the Princess, Servants

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES

Act I. Pharaoh orders the killing of Hebrew boys.

Act II, Scene 1. In the home of a Hebrew family.

Scene 2. A Hebrew mother hides her child among the bulrushes.

Scene 3. The child is found by Pharaoh's daughter.

Act III. Moses is brought to Pharaoh's court.

The following is the play as it was given:

THE CHILDHOOD OF MOSES

ACT I

CHARACTERS: King, Wise Man, Chief Adviser, Queen, Maids, and Soldiers.

_King:_ Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come, let us do wisely with them lest they rise up and make war against us.

_Chief Adviser:_ What more can we do than we have already done? We have made their lives bitter with hard service, and we have made them carry our brick and mortar and work in our fields.

_Wise Man:_ O King Pharaoh, I beg thee to let me speak.

_King:_ Speak, Wise Man.

_Wise Man:_ O King, I pray thee to be kind to these people.

When these Hebrews first came down from the land of Canaan, a young man named Joseph saved our land from great famine.

These Israelites are his children's children and we should treat them kindly.

_King:_ Treat them kindly! We have been kind to them long enough; we must destroy them. I will command that every Hebrew boy baby be killed!

[_Exeunt_ KING _and courtiers followed by soldiers._]

_Princess:_ O most gracious father, have mercy upon them.

ACT II

SCENE I

PLACE: The home of a Hebrew family.

CHARACTERS: Moses, Mother of Moses, Miriam, Aaron.

[_The mother is singing to the baby in her lap._ AARON _is playing on the floor._ MIRIAM _runs in._]

_Miriam:_ O mother! The king has commanded that all the boy babies be thrown in the river! How can we save our baby?

_Mother:_ Where shall we take him? I have hidden him for these three months, but he is so big now and his cries are so loud that they will be sure to find him wherever we go.

_Miriam:_ Come quickly, mother; we will go to the river and hide him nearby. Pharaoh cannot find him there, for he will think that he has been thrown in the water.

_Mother:_ O my poor baby!

[_The three run out._]

SCENE II

PLACE: The river bank.

CHARACTERS: Moses, Mother of Moses, Miriam.

[_The mother appears with the baby in her arms._ MIRIAM _follows._]

_Miriam:_ O mother! We can hide him in these tall gra.s.ses!

_Mother:_ But I must have something to put him in. Gather these rushes and I will weave a little cradle for him.

[_They both pick bulrushes and the mother weaves the basket._]

_Mother:_ How can I leave him here alone? My little daughter, will you stay and watch and bring me word quickly if anything happens? We will hide the baby in this basket among the flags, here at the edge of the water.