The Voice Of Despair
Drama
Planting Seeds
A Collection Of Sermon Starter Sketches
Each of us long for a purpose and a meaning to life. We find it in God, but all too often we look to everyone and everything else. This drama illustrates the ways we try to find meaning in life apart from God and the ways we are told our lives are pointless.
Cast
Man -- really hoping there is some purpose to his life, but doubts there is
Voice Of Despair -- (male voice offstage) represents the accusations of Satan as well as the messages from society that our lives have no purpose except the ones we give them
Salesperson -- (woman) animated and shallow
Career Man -- (man) has a plan and is in a hurry
Drunk -- (man) a little obnoxious and clearly drunk
Woman -- subtly seductive (should be seductive in voice rather than in actions or in dress)
Setting And Costumes
The stage is empty except for a large sign that reads "YOU ARE HERE." An arrow on the sign points down.
Man is dressed in slacks, a dress shirt, and tie. Salesperson is dressed in a skirt and jacket. Career Man is dressed in a suit. Drunk is disheveled. Woman is dressed to appear attractive and draw attention to herself, but is not dressed immodestly.
Props
Sign that reads, "YOU ARE HERE" with an arrow pointing down
Spray bottle of cologne
Large gold watch that can be quickly put on
Set of keys
Small shopping bag gift bag
Briefcase
Ladder
Cell phone
Two bottles or cans that appear to be some type of alcohol
(Man enters, stands in front of the sign to read it and then begins his conversation with Voice Of Despair. As he talks he looks out just above the eye level of the audience.)
Man: (looks up at sign and then says to himself) I'm here all right, but what am I here for?
Voice Of Despair: You shouldn't be here. You were an accident.
Man: (looks around a little startled to hear the voice, but decides to have a conversation) I was hoping maybe there was a reason, a purpose.
Voice Of Despair: You're one insignificant person out of billions. How could you have a purpose? Who would give you a purpose anyway?
Man: God?
Voice Of Despair: (laughs) God? Let me tell you something. There's random chance, and there's your own hard work. You take what you get and you work like crazy to make it better ... (with resignation) or you don't. And then you die.
Man: That's it?
Voice Of Despair: That's it.
Man: So what do I do?
Voice Of Despair: Don't ask me. Just do what everyone else does.
Man: (with despair and resignation) Okay.
Salesperson: (Enters carrying a small shopping bag containing a bottle of cologne, a watch, and a set of keys. She carries a suit jacket over her arm. She sprays a sample of cologne on the Man's arm and talks in an animated voice.) You were born to shop. (puts the jacket on him, puts the watch on his arm, and hands him the set of keys) The one who dies with the most toys wins. (exits)
(Man looks at what has just been given him. Looks puzzled, but then pleased.)
Career Man: (Enters. He is in a hurry, carrying a briefcase and a ladder. He sets up ladder, puts down briefcase, and shakes Man's hand.) Your resume looks great!
Man: (pleased) Thank you.
(As they shake hands the Career Man's cell phone rings.)
Career Man: Excuse me. (answers phone) Yes. (pauses) I'll have it for you first thing in the morning. (pauses) I'll ... have it for you tonight then. (quickly puts phone away and hands Man the briefcase) Here, take this. (takes Man's arms and quickly walks him to the ladder) Hurry, if you start climbing now, you can reach the top before you retire. Now hurry ... and good luck. (exits)
(Man begins climbing.)
Drunk: (stumbles in carrying two drinks and walks to ladder) Hey, where you going in such a hurry? Relax! Come down here. Have another drink.
Man: No. I've got to keep working. I already had a drink this morning to help me climb this thing.
Drunk: Oh, come on. You only go around once, you know. You've got to live a little.
(Man climbs down from the ladder and takes a drink from him. At first, Man is hesitant, but quickly warms up to the idea. They sit down beside the ladder. Drunk remains by the ladder until the end.)
Woman: (walks by and talks in a seductive voice to Man) I have what you need. (exits)
Man: (shrugs, stands up and takes a few steps to follow Woman, then stops and looks around at Drunk and the ladder and shakes his head) I was really hoping there was something more.
Cast
Man -- really hoping there is some purpose to his life, but doubts there is
Voice Of Despair -- (male voice offstage) represents the accusations of Satan as well as the messages from society that our lives have no purpose except the ones we give them
Salesperson -- (woman) animated and shallow
Career Man -- (man) has a plan and is in a hurry
Drunk -- (man) a little obnoxious and clearly drunk
Woman -- subtly seductive (should be seductive in voice rather than in actions or in dress)
Setting And Costumes
The stage is empty except for a large sign that reads "YOU ARE HERE." An arrow on the sign points down.
Man is dressed in slacks, a dress shirt, and tie. Salesperson is dressed in a skirt and jacket. Career Man is dressed in a suit. Drunk is disheveled. Woman is dressed to appear attractive and draw attention to herself, but is not dressed immodestly.
Props
Sign that reads, "YOU ARE HERE" with an arrow pointing down
Spray bottle of cologne
Large gold watch that can be quickly put on
Set of keys
Small shopping bag gift bag
Briefcase
Ladder
Cell phone
Two bottles or cans that appear to be some type of alcohol
(Man enters, stands in front of the sign to read it and then begins his conversation with Voice Of Despair. As he talks he looks out just above the eye level of the audience.)
Man: (looks up at sign and then says to himself) I'm here all right, but what am I here for?
Voice Of Despair: You shouldn't be here. You were an accident.
Man: (looks around a little startled to hear the voice, but decides to have a conversation) I was hoping maybe there was a reason, a purpose.
Voice Of Despair: You're one insignificant person out of billions. How could you have a purpose? Who would give you a purpose anyway?
Man: God?
Voice Of Despair: (laughs) God? Let me tell you something. There's random chance, and there's your own hard work. You take what you get and you work like crazy to make it better ... (with resignation) or you don't. And then you die.
Man: That's it?
Voice Of Despair: That's it.
Man: So what do I do?
Voice Of Despair: Don't ask me. Just do what everyone else does.
Man: (with despair and resignation) Okay.
Salesperson: (Enters carrying a small shopping bag containing a bottle of cologne, a watch, and a set of keys. She carries a suit jacket over her arm. She sprays a sample of cologne on the Man's arm and talks in an animated voice.) You were born to shop. (puts the jacket on him, puts the watch on his arm, and hands him the set of keys) The one who dies with the most toys wins. (exits)
(Man looks at what has just been given him. Looks puzzled, but then pleased.)
Career Man: (Enters. He is in a hurry, carrying a briefcase and a ladder. He sets up ladder, puts down briefcase, and shakes Man's hand.) Your resume looks great!
Man: (pleased) Thank you.
(As they shake hands the Career Man's cell phone rings.)
Career Man: Excuse me. (answers phone) Yes. (pauses) I'll have it for you first thing in the morning. (pauses) I'll ... have it for you tonight then. (quickly puts phone away and hands Man the briefcase) Here, take this. (takes Man's arms and quickly walks him to the ladder) Hurry, if you start climbing now, you can reach the top before you retire. Now hurry ... and good luck. (exits)
(Man begins climbing.)
Drunk: (stumbles in carrying two drinks and walks to ladder) Hey, where you going in such a hurry? Relax! Come down here. Have another drink.
Man: No. I've got to keep working. I already had a drink this morning to help me climb this thing.
Drunk: Oh, come on. You only go around once, you know. You've got to live a little.
(Man climbs down from the ladder and takes a drink from him. At first, Man is hesitant, but quickly warms up to the idea. They sit down beside the ladder. Drunk remains by the ladder until the end.)
Woman: (walks by and talks in a seductive voice to Man) I have what you need. (exits)
Man: (shrugs, stands up and takes a few steps to follow Woman, then stops and looks around at Drunk and the ladder and shakes his head) I was really hoping there was something more.
