Church Invitational
(A drama about inviting folks to Easter)

Director's Notes:
This drama is a good example of how to take a drama that is already done and alter it for a completely different use. I took the drama "Christianity 500m" and kept the Olympics theme but changed the focus to be on inviting folks to an Easter service.

I'm telling you, the response to this drama was very good. People loved watching what was going on on stage while listening to the announcers talk about how to invite someone to church.

Be sure to have 2 announcers somewhere off stage and play the Olympics theme (I found a theme to play HERE and burned it to a CD.)

Cast:
Crystal: A woman who wants to invite a friend to the Easter Service
Jim: An announcer (off stage)
Kenny: An Announcer (off stage)

Props:
Couch
Lamp
Phone
Invite Card
Olympics theme

Setting:
The family room

(LIGHTS UP CENTER STAGE where Crystal comes home from school and is in the family room. Play Olympic theme and put up a slide with the Olympic rings and says "2006 Winter Games" "Church Invitational".)

Jim: Welcome back to the 2006 Olympic games – live coverage from Torino. Jim Castel here with Kenny Robbins. Wow, these have been some games huh, Kenny?

Kenny: Absolutely, Jim. Americans have been dominating the gold medal hunt to this point. It reminds me of my days as a 3 time Olympic speed skater in Salt La...

Jim: (cuts him off) Yes it does, Kenny. And today, we’re moving from the ice of Olympic stadium to the home of Crystal Davis and the last event of these winter games – the semis of the Church Invitational. Describe this sport for us, Kenny.

Kenny: Well Jim, this sport was added by the F.I.G. back at the Nagano games. Knowing that inviting friends, neighbors and co-workers to church can be, well, a bit intimidating, our athletes use their specialized techniques to excel in this event. They have already been judged on style but it’s this score that is critical.

Jim: Excellent summation Kenny. It should be noted that Crystal was once considered the fore-runner for the Americans in this event but I talked with her team mates earlier and they said that she hasn’t been quite up to form as of late.

Kenny: But, she is doing well enough to qualify for these semis. She’s still a half point behind one of the favorites – the Frenchman Jacques Logarides. So, let’s listen in and see how she’s doing. Looks like she’s going to make a call and invite someone to church.

Crystal sits down and picks the phone and then hesitates, sighs, and puts it down.

Kenny: Ooooh. Too bad there, Jim.

Jim: Right you are, Kenny. She’s gonna see some deductions for premature cradling of the phone.

Kenny: Exactly, Jim. She also is going to lose at least 2/10ths of a point by the sigh. It could cost her the gold. We expect more from her at this point. She’s behind the leader at this point.

(put up a +0.43 on the screen)

Jim: Indeed. Back to the action and Crystal’s next routine…

Crystal picks up the phone and dials…

Jim: Ah, here we go, she’s dialed a number and by the looks of it, it’s a local call. For this competition, who do you imagine she’s calling?

Kenny: Traditionally, the athletes have been calling their closest friends in the early heats and then saving their acquaintances for semis. In the Nagano games, former Gold Medalist Stacy Tucker lost in the semis when she misdialed and invited a Dell tech support in India.

Jim: Wow. Huge mistake there.

Kenny: Right you are, Jim. Let’s see who Crystal chooses…

Crystal calls up a friend from the gym.

Crystal: Hi, Kelly? It’s Crystal. You know, from the gym? Yes. Hi!

Kenny: A good start, Jim.

Crystal: I was wondering what you were doing Easter morning? I mean, I imagine you go to church on Easter…

Jim: Excellent! That was a nice combination. She’s moving up on the leader.

(put up a +0.21 on the screen)

Kenny: You’re right, Jim. Crystal moved flawlessly from the introduction into the classic “C&E” move.

Jim: C&E?.

Kenny: Christmas and Easter. She knows that most people who might not have a church would probably be open to attending on these holidays. A smart move by the girl from Charlottesville.

Jim: Indeed, Kenny. Okay, she’s still has one more routine in these semis.

Kenny: That’s right, Jim. Let’s see how she dismounts...

Crystal: Really? Okay. That would be great. I’ll tell you what, I give you a card when I see you on Tuesday, ok? Alright. Sounds great. Bye.

Kenny: Flawless Jim! She ended it with excitement and then surprised us with one last move in the routine with the introduction of the invite card.

(put up a +0.03 on the screen)

Jim: A risky move that might just pay off! Let’s see how the judges score her… 8.95 and the crowd doesn’t like it.

(Replace current slide on the screen with one that lists the participants listed below...)

Kenny: It’s a great score Jim considering the premature cradling earlier in the event.

Jim: So with the performance, Crystal Davis has landed herself into medal contention by placing second!

(At this, Crystal looks up at a list that is on the screen. The list looks like this...)

1. Scott Baio  8.98
2. Crystal Davis 8.95
3. Jacque Logarides 7.74
4. David Hasselhoff 7.71
5. Father Guido Sarduchi 7.63
6. Flip Wilson 7.25
 

Crystal: Scott Baio? I’m ranked lower than Scott Baio??

Jim: Everyone loved that show “Charles in Charge”.

Kenny: Right you are, Jim.

Jim: Alright, that’s it from us here in Torino. We’re gonna send you to our live coverage of the Proper Church Attire 100. That’s all from now.

Play Olympic theme again.

Lights out slow.

END

© 2006 Dave Marsh