. all rights belong to Tanis Harms –
. refer to www.church-skits.com
THE FINAL HUMILITY – NOTES - written by Tanis Harms
PREMISE: The late 1700s. Marcus Stealthbury,
. a rich young man, squanders away
. his father’s entire fortune and finds
. himself destitute. The only one who will
. take in him and his sister – is their cook –
. whom he had mistreated under his employ.
. Having to actually work to live,
. Marcus now finds satisfaction in life.
. But more than that is the strength and joy
. he finds through his spiritual journey
. from “poverty” to “riches”.
STYLE: drama/musical
TOPIC: finding God, and choosing a wise lifestyle
SCRIPTURE: Ps.37, Prov.24:1-6, 27:23–24, 28:19–20,
. 2Cor.6:14, Col.3:23
LEAD ROLES: Marcus Stealthbury
. (aristocrat, young, fun-loving man who
. sees life as a game of wit in order to
. entertain himself and those around him)
. Adriana Stealthbury
. (sister to Marcus & “partner-in-crime”,
. they feed off each other, feeling safe
. enough around him to occasionally drop
. the “proper” façade to express herself)
. Lily
. (the hardworking, trustworthy cook,
. who grew up as a minister’s daughter,
. having a strong Christian faith,
. she is still worldly-wise and feisty)
. Elizabeth Walters
. (aristocrat, but compassionate Christian
. neighbor with a real heart for the lost,
. yet still wary of the worldly trappings)
. Bernard Walters
. (aristocrat, cousin to Elizabeth, talks
. the Christian talk, but is a skeptic)
. Mr. Walters
. (aristocrat, father to Elizabeth, a pious
. Christian with societal prejudices)
. Mrs. Walters
. (mother to Elizabeth, same as husband)
. 2
EXTRAS: Carol (aristocrat friend)
. Charles (aristocrat friend)
. Becky (aristocrat friend)
. Steward (poor, servant of Marcus)
. Servant (poor, servant of Marcus)
. Maid (poor, servant of ADRIANA)
. Rich man 1 (aristocrat)
. Big men 1, 2 (just lower than gentry)
. Administrator (gentry, male)
. Realtor (gentry, male)
. Woman (poor, selling bread)
. HELEN (poor, selling tarts)
. GENTLEMAN (gentry with bad breath)
. HUSBAND 1 (gentry)
. WIFE 1 (gentry)
. HUSBAND 2 (gentry)
. WIFE 2 (gentry)
. LADY 1, 2 (aristocrats)
. BRICE (poor, beggar kid)
. TINA (poor, beggar kid)
. Beggar kids (poor)
. RICH LADY 1, 2 (aristocrats)
. Servant 1, 2, 3 (poor, Elizabeth’s)
. Tinsmith (poor, male)
. OFFICERS 1, 2 (male)
. GENTRY 1, 2 + (gentry, male)
. LADY GENTRY 1 + (gentry, female)
. GUS (poor, male)
. Pastor (gentry, male)
. AUDREY (gentry couple)
. JOHN (gentry couple)
. Henry Madison (cunning aristocrat man)
NOTE: BIT PARTS are part of the EXTRAS
. EXTRAS (aristocrats, gentry & poor)
Costumes: 1700s Romance era clothing ideas for:
. ARISTOCRAT WOMEN: fans, parasols, jewelry,
. high wigs (can make with grey/white yarn)
. ARISTOCRAT MEN: jewelry, perukes/wigs
. (can make with grey/white yarn)
. GENTRY:
. – top hats for men
. - bonnets/hats, fans for women
. – clothing not as extravagant
. SERVANTS: black & white pants or dresses
. POOR: old simple drab clothing
. 3
SET: (link to OVERALL DESIGN/floor plan EXAMPLE)
Stage right: (NOTE: side-stage is best, which could have
. it’s own curtain; furniture is crudely made)
. side table, table, chair, stool, box,
. cot/bench
Center stage: only need slides for back drops if you want
. (here are some examples that you may use)
. - CITY SQUARE
. - RESIDENTIAL STREET (with lawns)
. - STEALTHBURY’S OPULENT HOUSE
. – WALTERS’ EXTRAVAGANT HOUSE
. - CHURCH
PROPS: tray, silverware, 5 Bibles, chocolate box,
. candlesticks, pocket watch, jewelry, tiara,
. luggage, 2 small trunks, basket, carpetbag,
. blanket bundle, papers, keys, pot, pitcher,
. cup, 3 plates, stirring spoon, white rags,
. straw, lantern/s, bucket, bread, carrots,
. baskets, vendor-trays with shoulder straps,
. pail, purse, coins, tarts, handkerchief,
. leather apron, quill, paper, ink well,
. flour sack, tiny table, 2 chairs, trinket,
. fancy basket, stitch work, tomatoes
SONG and SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT NOTES:
- taken from old hymns to which you should have access
- and from various compositions of Mozart
(all excerpts can all be found in one book:
“MOZART – 14 of his easiest pieces for the piano”
Alfred Masterwork Edition, Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.)
- it is up to you to get the proper permission if needed.
- I give permission to write original music to my words.
- I have re-written the words to most of the songs/hymns.
. (Sing each syllable where there is a syllable found
. in the original. If I have written some words
. that need to be sung all on one note/word/syllable
. of the original, it’ll be in [parenthesis].)
- ALSO, to match with the scene, match the style of how
. the song is played, which will disguise the song a bit
. if you do not want it to be recognizable. Simplest is
. to use a digital piano with options of harpsichord,
. strings, etc. as this drama takes place in the 1700s...
. or you could go bigger than that with an orchestra.
- SCENE CHANGE EXCERPTS are to be used to make smoother
. scene transitions for both audience as well as
. to give prop people and actors time to get ready.
. 4
SONG LIST:
SONG 1: “Come What May”
Sung to “May the Grace of Christ, Our Savior”
. Text-John Newton, Music-Ludwig van Beethoven
. Also “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise”
. Text-Charles Wesley,
. Music/Welsh Hymn melody-John Roberts
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 1:
Mozart’s Minuet in C Major
pick up at the 1st or last 8 bars, trill 2nd last note
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 2:
Mozart’s Sonata No.4 Minuet 1
pick up at 1st 10 bars, end on 1st note of 10th bar
SONG 2: “It’s a New Day”
Sung to “A Charge to Keep I Have”
. Text-Charles Wesley, Music-Lowell Mason
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 3:
Mozart’s Minuet in F Major
1st 8 bars,repeat & play 4 more bars, trill 2nd last note
SONG 3: “Another Day”
Sung to “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name”
. Text-Ignace Franz, based on Te Deum
. Translation-Clarence A. Walworth
. Music-Katholisches Gesangbuch, Vienna, c.1774;
. descant-Ken Barker (1986 Word Music)
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 4:
Mozart’s Minuet in F Major
8 bars after 1st repeat (bars 9-16), retard the ending
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 5:
Mozart’s Contradance in G Major;
with pick up, and first 8 bars
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 6:
Mozart’s Aria from “The Marriage of Figaro”
pick up at bar 13, bars 14-20 (end before repeat)
SONG 4: “We Struggle On” 5
Sung to “Thine Is the Glory”
. Text-Edmund L.Budry, translated-Richard B.Hoyle
. Music-George Frederick Handel
. Words-Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs.
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 7:
Mozart’s Aria from “The Marriage of Figaro”; last 7 bars
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 8:
Mozart’s Minuet and Trio in G Major (in C major)
pick up at bar 16, bars 17-24, end before repeat
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 9:
Mozart’s Minuet and Trio in G Major
pick up, bars 1-8, trill second last note
SONG 5: “You Have Choices”
Sung to “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”
. Text-Charles Wesley, Music-Joseph Parry
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 10:
Mozart’s Minuet and Trio in G Major
pick up at bar 8, bars 9-16
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 11:
Mozart’s Minuet and Trio in G Major
pick up at bar 24, bars 25-32
SONG 6: “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”
. (I only slightly altered the first phrase)
. Text-Paul Gerhardt, based on Medieval Latin poem
. Music-Hans Leo Hassler, harmonized-J.S. Bach
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 12:
Mozart’s Contradance in G Major
pick up at bar 24, fourth set of 8 bars, bars 25-32
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 13:
Mozart’s Contradance in G Major
pick up at bar 16, third set of 8 bars (bars 17-24)
SCENE CHANGE EXCERPT 14:
Mozart’s Andante in C Major; pick up, bars 1-8
SONG 7: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
. Text-Henry van Dyke, Music-Ludwig van Beethoven