A Modern Day Birth-Drama Skit

A Modern Day Birth-Drama Skit

Themes: Christmas; If Jesus had been born in our world today
Categories: Christmas 
Summary:

How would the Christmas story have been different if Jesus had been born in our world today? That's what Gramps and his granddaughter, Meg, are trying to find out. Meg thinks life may have been easier for Mary if she had more of the "comforts" of today, and "Jesus wouldn't have to be born in a barn with a bunch of smelly animals!"  Using their imaginations, Gramps and Meg begin to think what this "alternate Christmas story" would have been like.  It doesn't take long to discover that it wouldn't be pretty.  The three Wise Men have been replaced by Oprah, Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz; Jerry Springer tries to prove the paternity of the baby Jesus; the Shepherds aren't afraid of the Angel at all and instead want to call Ghosthunters so they can be on tv; and Mary doesn't understand why all her friends are "unfriending" her on Facebook.  As Gramps points out, "That wouldn't be the humble beginnings God had in mind, and the focus wouldn't be where it needed to be: on God's love for us.  In the end, Meg discovers she likes the original Christmas story much better and asks Gramps to tell it to her one more time, allowing the true Christmas story to unfold for the audience. 

 
 
Style: Comedy/Drama

$10.00
Add to cart

Characters: 15 (6 Male, 4 Female, 5 Neutral)
Shepherds, Angel and Reporters can be played by either male or females. The Gramps character may be best played by an adult but it is certainly up to the director to make that call.
Length: 15-20 minutes
 
Excerpt (Sample)

Setting: The stage is divided:  On one side, the stage is bare. On the other side, there should be a small table with two chairs, as you would find in a small kitchen.  On the table sits 2 empty plates, maybe a bag of chips and some fruit and two half glasses of milk or some other beverage.  During the skit, the focus changes from each side of the stage to the other.

As the scene opens, Gramps and Meg are sitting at the kitchen table

Meg:

Thanks for making me lunch Grandpa.  You're the best grilled cheese maker in the whole world!  But don't tell Grandma I said that, okay?

Gramps:

(smiling) It'll be our little secret.  I promise. So Meg, are you looking forward to Christmas this year?

Meg:

(gives him a "duh" face) I'm a kid, Grandpa. Of course I'm excited about Christmas!  It's only the best holiday ever!

Gramps:

'Cause of all the presents, right?

Meg:

Presents are good but I also like it because we get to celebrate Jesus' birth.  It's a pretty important time of year, you know.

Gramps:

Oh, I know.  And I'm very glad to hear you say that.  A lot of kids your age tend to focus on just the presents, and then forget the real reason for the season.  But the birth of that little baby changed the whole world.

Meg:

I never get tired of hearing the Christmas story.  But there's one thing I've never really understood.

Gramps:

What's that, Meg?

Meg:

Why did Jesus have to be born so long ago, and why did he have to be born in a stable with a bunch of smelly animals?  Why couldn't God have sent him to our world now so Jesus could have had a modern day birth?

Gramps:

I imagine the story would be a whole lot different if Jesus were born in our world today.

Meg:

But maybe it would have been a nicer story.  Pregnant women shouldn't have to travel a long way riding on a donkey, and babies should be born in hospitals, not stinky old barns!

Gramps:

There may have been some advantages to Jesus being born in our world today, but there would be some disadvantages too. 

Meg:

Like what?

Gramps:

The media, for one. They would have had a field day with a story like this!  TV reporters would be everywhere, and it would be all over the news, not to mention Facebook and Twitter. It's not quite the humble beginnings God would have had in mind.

Meg:

I don't think it would have been that bad, Grandpa.  I think it could have only made things better. 

Gramps:

Let's talk this through and see.  If Jesus were born today, it may have went something like this...

The scene changes over to the other side of the stage. Joseph and Mary, a young high school couple, enter with backpacks on their backs and cell phones in their hands.

Joseph:

(to Mary, angry) Are you crazy, Mary?  Why would you post something like this on Facebook?

Mary:

Because this is big news, Joseph! It's not every day that someone becomes pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  This is the biggest thing that's ever happened to me and I want to share it with everyone!  Besides (pats her stomach) I'm not going to be able to hide it forever. 

Joseph:

But everyone is going to think I'm the father, and we both know that you and I have never...

Mary:

No one is going to think that, Joseph.  Everyone knows where we stand on that issue: we're waiting for marriage.  Plus,  I specifically say in my post that God is the father, not you. 

Joseph:

(sarcastic) Right, and everyone is going to believe that because it makes way more sense for the Holy Spirit to impregnate  a girl, instead of her high school boyfriend!  No, that doesn't sound crazy at all

Ben, a high school boy, enters

Ben:

(grinning, going to Joseph and playfully punches him in the arm) Joseph, you dog! Congratulations, man!  I didn't know you had it in you, buddy.

Joseph:

I don't!  It wasn't me!

Mary:

The baby isn't his.  It's..

Ben:

(interrupts) Ouch!  (to Mary) That's cold, man. (to Joseph) Sorry dude, I didn't know. 

Mary:

You don't understand.  This baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Ben:

(stares at Mary blankly for a moment, then laughs loudly) The Holy Spirit...that's a good one!  (to Joseph) I'd dump this one if I were you.  She's a little messed up in the head, if you know what I mean.  (pats Joseph on the shoulder) Good luck, bro.  (he exits)

Joseph:

(to Mary) See! 

Mary:

He's just one person.  Not everyone is going to think...

Lori, a high school girl enters

Lori:

(interrupts) What a hypocrite you are, Mary!  What happened to all that talk about waiting until you were married? 

Mary:

I haven't done anything wrong!  This baby belongs to God.

 

 

Lori:

You can forget all that holy-roller stuff, Mary.  It's a little late, don't you think? And by the way, you can forget coming to my birthday party on Saturday.  I wouldn't want anything to happen to you in your delicate condition. 

Mary is shocked - Lori starts to storm off then looks back at Mary

Lori:

(gives her a dirty look) Oh, and I un-friended you on Facebook too! (she storms off, exiting)

Joseph:

So much for just "one" person. 

Mary:

Can you believe her?  (checks her phone)  Oh no!  Five more people just un-friended me.  Make that six.  No, seven!

Joseph:

(checks his cell phone) That's funny.  I seem to be a hero.  Listen to this: (reads off the list)

 

"I knew you two were up to something. Way to go, Joe!" 
"Call me, you big stud-muffin!"
" Awesome job, dude!"

Looks back to Mary

Joseph:

Eight people have already shared your status.  This news is getting around fast.

Mary:

The comments aren't as kind as I hoped they'd be either. 

Joseph:

What did you expect?

Mary:

I don't know but not this. You were right.  I should have never posted this on Facebook.  (worried) Now what are we gonna do? 

The scene switches back to Gramps and Meg, as Mary and Joseph exit

Meg:

Okay, well maybe social media wouldn't be such a good thing in this situation.  But Mary would have  been a lot more comforts while she was pregnant, and she wouldn't have to make that long trip to Bethlehem on a donkey.  They could drive.

Gramps:

 Actually, she wouldn't have to travel at all.

Meg:

Why not? Wouldn't they still have to pay their taxes because of the census?

Gramps:

Yes, but all that can be done through e-mail now.  No need to travel to Bethlehem.  They could have stayed right there in Nazareth. 

Meg:

So Jesus could have been born in a fancy hospital?

Gramps:

Only if the insurance covered it. 

Meg:

Even if it wasn't fancy, anything would have been better than a nasty stable surrounded by dirty animals.

Gramps:

At least the animals were quiet and Jesus came into the world in a peaceful environment. 

Meg:

What do you mean?

Gramps:

An event like this would be big news today.  No way would it be calm and peaceful!

The scene shifts back to the other side of the stage.  Two shepherds enter.

Shepherd 1:

I'm gettin' a little sleepy.  You mind taking the first watch tonight?

Shepherd 2:

Nah.  Go ahead and get some shut-eye.  I'll hold down the fort. 

Shepherd 1 finds a place to lay down, as Shepherd 2 paces the stage.  The scene briefly switches back to Gramps and Meg.

Meg:

Would there still be shepherds in the fields today, Grandpa?

Grandpa:

I'm not sure, but for argument's sake, let's say there is.  

The scene switches back to the Shepherds.  The Angel enters.

Angel:

(to Shepherd 2) Good evening, Sir.

Shepherd 2:

(a bit confused at first) Hey, are you an angel?

Angel:

Do not be afraid. I bring you...

Shepherd 2:

Afraid?  I'm not afraid!  This is awesome!  (goes to Shepherd 1) Dude, wake up!

Shepherd 1:

(slightly angry) What are you doin'?  Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?

Shepherd 2:

Look! (points to Angel)

Angel:

(to Shepherd 1) Do not be afraid.  For I bring...

Shepherd 1:

Afraid?  Who's afraid?  Are you a real angel?

Angel:

Yes, and I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Shepherd 2:

You bet it's going to bring joy to the people!  (to Shepherd 1) Get a picture of her. Otherwise, no one's gonna believe we saw a real, live angel.  This is great!

Shepherd 1 pulls out a cell phone and takes her picture

Angel:

You don't seem understand.  I'm here to announce the birth of someone very special.  You don't have to be afraid of me.

Shepherd 2:

(unphased) We're not.  (to Shepherd 1) Now, get a selfie with both of us.

Both Shepherds stand close to Angel, one on either side. Shepherd 1 puts his cell phone up to take a picture

Shepherd 1:

Say "cheese"!

Shepherd 1 snaps a picture

Angel:

(becoming angry) You're supposed to be AFRAID of me!

Shepherd 1:

You just told us not to be afraid.

Angel:

Well, you could act a little afraid. 

Both Shepherds shudder and act a tiny bit afraid  just a little to humor Angel

Angel:

Don't worry, I'm not here to harm you.

Shepherd 2:

(unphased) Great. (to Shepherd 1) Hey, we should call those Ghosthunter people.

Shepherd 1:

(excited) Yeah! They love all this ghost stuff! 

Shepherd 2:

We could be on tv!

Shepherd 1:

We'll be famous!  I'm gonna call 'em right now.