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Rock Nativity

By David Wood (words), Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent (music)

Notes: This is a text of Act One of Rock Nativity, which was designed so it could be

performed independently. There is also a much shorter Act Two, which continues

the story, showing the baby Jesus’s presentation in the temple and the flight of

Mary, Joseph and Jesus into Egypt, to escape Herod’s persecution. It also includes

Herod’s death. If you want to write about Rock Nativity for your BA thesis,

obviously you would need to study Act Two as well!

This text is designed to accompany the CD recording by the National Youth Music

Theatre. The CD includes some of the spoken dialogue, but not all. The omitted parts are marked in a different font.

MAIN CHARACTERS (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)

Evangelist one of the writers of the gospels1

Mary mother of Jesus

Joseph Mary’s fiancé (and later husband)

Gabriel an angel2

Herod King of Judea (now part of Israel)

Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar the Three Wise Men (or Three Kings)

A Roman Soldier

Innkeeper’s Wife

Innkeeper

Gib, Jon and Daw shepherds

The cast are assembled in a tableau representing the traditional nativity scene. MARY with

the BABY JESUS, JOSEPH at their side; the WISE MEN and the SHEPHERDS kneeling in

reverence; GABRIEL looking on from above; and, perhaps, the INNKEEPER and HIS WIFE,

plus some animals in the stable.

Evangelist: Holy, Holy, Holy. CD1

Holy, Holy, Holy.

Mary: Holy, Holy, Holy.

Holy, Holy, Holy.

Chorus: Holy, Holy, Holy.

Holy, Holy, Holy.

1 The four gospels are the four accounts of Jesus’s life included in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In

fact, only Matthew and Luke tell the Christmas story, and they tell different parts of it, so Evangelist in the

musical is a sort of combination of Matthew and Luke. 2 The angel who, in the Bible, brings Mary the news that she will give birth to Jesus.

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Evangelist: And the Word was made flesh

And dwelt among us,

And we beheld His glory.1


Holy, Holy, Holy.

Evangelist: For thou, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

Art in no wise least among the Princes of Judah.

For out of thee shall come forth a governor,

Who shall be shepherd of My people Israel.2


Holy, Holy, Holy.

Evangelist: Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

And shall bring forth a son

And they shall call his name Emmanuel.3

Chorus: Emmanuel.

The cast break from their tableau and excitedly sing.

Chorus: Praise!

Come on, come on, come on,

Ev’rybody, come on, come on, come on.




Chorus: Praise for the promises ┐

Of Prophets4 long ago, │

They’ve come true, │

And we’re the first to know. │

│

Two Voices: Come on, come on, come on, │

1 And the Word … His glory. This is a very famous verse from the Bible (John 1: 14). The “Word” is Jesus,

who, as God, became human (“flesh”) and lived with people. Along with the next two verses quoted by the

Evangelist, this is a standard part of Christmas Bible readings in Christian churches. 2 For thou, Bethlehem … My people Israel. This is another famous verse from the Bible (Matthew 2: 6), which

refers to an older verse (Micah 5: 2). In Matthew, the older verse is understood as a prophecy that Jesus, a

“governor,” or leader, will be born in Bethlehem. The use of the word “Princes” here is very odd as it clearly

refers to places, princely cities. The point is that though Bethlehem may not seem an important place, actually it

is important, because Jesus will be born there. 3 Behold, a virgin … Emmanuel. A third famous Bible verse (Matthew 1: 23) referring to the birth of Jesus.

Emmanuel means “God with us.” 4 Prophets = the Old Testament prophets who (according to Christians) prophesied the birth of Jesus.

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Ev’rybody, come on, come on, come on. │

Come on, come on, come on, │

Ev’rybody, come on, come on, come on. │

The first to … ┘

Chorus: Praise for the promises ┐

Of Prophets long ago, │

They’ve come true, │

And we’re the first to know. │

│

Two Voices: … know that it’s true, now, │

You’d better believe it. │

Come on, come on, come on, │

Ev’rybody, we’re the first to know, │

The first to … ┘

Chorus: The first to know. ┐

We’re the first to know, to know. │

│

Two Voices: Come on, come on, come on. │

Come on, come on, come on. ┘

Chorus: Praise!

Praise!

Praise!

The lighting changes to reveal GABRIEL, above. The cast, noticing him, react and melt

away. MARY is left alone with GABRIEL. He, in mime, gives God’s blessing to MARY – to

suggest the annunciation.1 He looks on as MARY receives the blessing with, at first, fear,

turning to serene acceptance.

Mary: My soul doth magnify the Lord,2 CD2

And my spirit rejoices in

God my Saviour.

He looked upon the low estate3

Of his handmaiden,4

And from now on

All generations

Will say that I’m blessed.

My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And from now on

1 The annunciation = the moment when Gabriel tells Mary she is going to give birth to Jesus. 2 My soul doth magnify the Lord. This and the next lines are the Magnificat or “Song of Mary,” an ancient

Christian hymn derived directly from the Bible (Luke 1: 46-55). “Magnify” means glorify, or worship. 3 Low estate = humble condition. 4 Handmaiden = servant.

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All generations

Will bless my name.

GABRIEL fades away as JOSEPH enters. He is a solid, honest carpenter. His buoyant mood

cuts across the atmosphere. MARY cannot react to his enthusiasm.

Joseph: Mary!

She hardly takes notice of him.

Mary: Joseph.

He kisses her.

Joseph: (Excited) Finished mortising the beams1 today. Roof will be up in no time. House’ll be

ready by the end of the year.

Mary: Joseph.

Joseph: What is it?

Mary: I’m going to have a child …

Joseph: (Tentatively.) That’s impossible.

Mary: I know, it must seem that way to you –

Joseph: (As realisation dawns.) Not it’s not. Well, so much for honesty.2 (Hurt not angry.)

Mary: Joseph, I’ve never lied to you.

Joseph: Who’s the father? Eh? I want to know. (Mary just looks at him.) I’ve a right to know.

(Mary doesn’t react..) (Shouts.) We’re meant to be getting married. Why did you do it,

Mary? What are people going to say?

MARY walks away from him. He is interrupted by voices from the darkness; insinuating

voices. He reacts to them as they build.

Voices: Joseph! CD3

What have you been up to, Joseph!

Mary’s having a baby …

1 Mortising the beams = joining the (house) beams together with mortise and tenon joints. 2 So much for honesty. An ironic statement meaning something like “I had thought you were honest, but clearly

you’re not.”

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Mischief! (Laughter.)

He can’t marry her now …

He’ll have to marry her now … (Laughter.)

They say he’s not the father …

Oh? But he’ll stand by her won’t he …?

JOSEPH, head in hands, tries not to hear.

Yes. He’s a good sort …

Good old Joseph …

Poor old Joseph … (Laughter.)

Silence. Enter GABRIEL, above.

Gabriel: (Calling) Joseph! Hey, Joseph! CD4

Don’t be afraid,

Don’t be afraid,

You’re a good man,

You’ve led a good life.

Don’t be afraid,

Don’t be afraid

To take Mary,

Sweetest Mary

For your wife.

Mary has been chosen

As the mother of the Lord,

The only son of God on high;

She hasn’t been untrue,

She needs you,

So don’t leave her,

Just believe her,

Don’t ask why.

Don’t be afraid, etc.

Call the baby Jesus,

He’s the Saviour of the world,

There are battles to be won;

But till He is a man

Do all you can

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To direct Him

And protect Him

As your son.

Don’t be afraid, etc.

Don’t be afraid,

Don’t be afraid,

You’re a good man,

You’ve led a good life.

Don’t be afraid,

Don’t be afraid

To take Mary,

Sweetest Mary

Take her and make her your wife,

Take her and make her your wife.

GABRIEL leaves. JOSEPH remains, still and bewildered, trying to sort things out in his

mind.

Joseph: It’s not easy to accept that the girl you love is having a child that’s not really yours too.

MARY enters the scene.

Mary: Joseph. I love you, Joseph. I need you so much.

Pause. JOSEPH takes her in his arms.

Joseph: Forgive me, Mary. I shouldn’t have lost my temper. But it’s all CD5

so much to take in. “Saviour of the World,” “Only son of God.” We’re

ordinary people, Mary. How are we expected to cope? Why choose us

anyway?

Mary: I don’t know. I don’t think it’s up to us to know, just to believe. Try to

understand, it won’t be easy.

Something wonderful has happened, CD6

Over which I’ve no control,

It’s unearthly yet so human1

And it fills my very soul.

I don’t understand

This feeling but it’s there;

It tells me this was planned

For ev’ryone, ev’rywhere.

1 It’s unearthly yet so human = it’s heavenly but also very human too.

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Open your heart,

Open your mind;

Make a new start,

Relax, unwind.

Give all you have to give

To God,

And live, live, live.

Open your heart,

Open your heart to Him,

Let Him in.

Something wonderful inside me

Is dissolving ev’ry doubt,

It’s my own sweet special secret

But the world will soon find out;

The love and the light ┐

Will shine for all to share, │

And goodness, truth and right │

Will breathe again ev’rywhere. │

│

Chorus: Ooh … Ooh … Ooh ┘

Mary + Chorus: Open your heart, etc.

Joseph: I see the reason;

Give me your hand.

I see the reason;

I understand.

I’ll give all I have to give

To God,

All: And live, live, live.

Open your heart,

Open your heart to him.

Open your heart, etc.

JOSEPH and MARY join hands. JOSEPH has been “won over.” Above, GABRIEL smiles.

Joseph: Mary, forgive me. (Making his decision.) I will be his guardian.

Gabriel: The guardian of the King of the Jews.

HEROD appears.

Herod: King of the Jews? Nonsense, utter nonsense. I am the King of the Jews.

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He processes round, pompously, majestically, perhaps carried on a litter.

Chorus: Herod! This is Herod! He’s old and ill, CD7

But rules the country with a rod of iron.1

He fought hard to be the King and he’s fighting still.

In the jungle of Judea he’s the lion.

The next part is a stylised2 scene to establish Herod and the voice of his critics. Not a

naturalistic scene taking place at a specific time in the nativity story.

Soldiers: Hail, King of the Jews.

Crowd: King of the Jews?

Voice: He’s not even Jewish.

Herod: Rome declared me King of Judea.

Voice: Rome?

Voice: We didn’t ask for you.

Herod: My people, Judea is in a precarious position. The Persian empire on the one hand, the

Roman empire on the other. We sit in the middle. In constant danger. I must keep the

peace. I’ve done my utmost for you, my people.

Crowd: For us?

Herod: For you … Solomon’s temple is being rebuilt.3

Crowd: For us?

Herod: Ten thousand labourers …

Voice: Slaves.

Herod: Carpenters …

Voice: Slaves.

1 With a rod of iron = very strictly, with the threat of harsh punishment to those who disobey. 2 Stylised = artificial, theatrical, contrived (the opposite of naturalistic). 3 Solomon’s temple is being rebuilt. King Solomon had built a grand temple in Jerusalem in the tenth century

BCE. This was the centre of the Jewish religion, but it had been destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE.

Sometime later, the Jews began rebuilding a temple on the same site, and when Herod was king it was greatly

expanded and aggrandized.

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Herod: Stone masons …

Crowd: Slaves.

Herod: Enclosures paved with exotic coloured stones …

Crowd: Waste.

Herod: Dazzling marble columns …

Crowd: Waste.

Herod: The temple topped with golden spires.

Crowd: Madman, madman, madman.

Herod: I am your King. The King of all Jewry.

Voice: (Quiet.) The King of fear.

Voice: Murderer.

Voice: Murdered your wife.1

Voice: And mother-in-law.

Voice: And brother-in-law.

Voice: And sons.

Crowd: Murderer, murderer, murderer.

Herod: They opposed me; they were plotting against me. I am empowered by Rome to protect

the Kingdom and therefore to protect my person.

Voice: Give up.

Voice: Abdicate.

Voice: You’re old.

Crowd: You’re mad (old, mad, etc.).

Herod: Mad am I? Very well. You are saying that this baby, one baby in CD8

1 Murdered your wife. The wife was Mariamne. Herod’s killing of various members of his family (because of

his paranoia that they were plotting against him) is recorded not in the Bible, but by the Jewish historian,

Josephus.

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thousands, in tens of thousands, this baby which a handful of people thought

could be the Messiah1 – you think I should have agreed, thrown up everything

and simply handed over my crown?

Crowd: Yes. Why not? Yes. Yes.

Herod: Did you? Did you believe? Then? (There is silence as the point goes home.)

YOU crucified him. I’d been dead and buried for years.

When I was small CD9

My ambition was

To be a king.

And at that time

To be a king

Offered everything:

To fight for your subjects,

To fight for peace,

To struggle for survival

Against west and east:

To be a king,

To make a minor country great,

To be a king

I didn’t hesitate.

I’ve been ruthless in ambition

And merciless, it’s true,

But in my position

Wouldn’t you?

Oh, lucky me;

I achieved my dream

To be a king.

But then I found

To be a king

Is a dangerous thing.

You fight for your subjects,

You bring them through;

Instead of being grateful

They start fighting you!

To be a king

Is more than sitting on a throne.

To be a king

Is to always be alone.

To be a king

1 The Messiah = the promised savior of the Jewish people.

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Is more than simply keeping rule;

To be a king

You have to be a fool.

Enter MELCHIOR, one of the WISE MEN, elderly, with astrological equipment, charts,

telescope, etc. He meets CASPAR and BALTHAZAR.

Melchior: My Lord Balthazar. My Lord Caspar.

Balthazar/Caspar: My Lord Melchior.

Melchior: Enter.

Crossfade to the WISE MEN’s area. As the chorus starts to sing, HEROD exits and the WISE

MEN prepare for their scene.

Chorus: Far away in Persia live three wise men, CD10

Astrologers who scan the evening sky.

The future they predict, the how and what and where and when

Ev’ry movement of the stars may signify.1

Melchior: What news?

Balthazar: Sir, since our last visit, further developments.

Caspar: First the extraordinary entry of the Sun into Taurus.2

Melchior: Exactly. Your conclusions?

Balthazar: The great event we have known for two years to be imminent is not affected.

Caspar: It is in fact connected. It can only represent the maternal influence, the importance of a

mother.

Melchior: Yet Mercury in the Fourth House3 allied with the unexpected movement and

juxtaposition of the Great Bear4 and the planet Venus give me to believe a King, a

spiritual leader, a universal magnate.

Caspar: Precisely. And the current presence of the Sun in Taurus …

Balthazar: … points to the birth of such a man. There can be no doubt it will be soon.

1 Signify = mean something, reveal something. 2 Taurus = one of the constellations of the zodiac, on which the idea of astrology is based. 3 Mercury in the Fourth House. This is typical astrological talk and you don’t need to worry about the details.

Mercury is the planet Mercury. Astrologists divide the horoscope, or map of the stars, planets, etc., into 12

“houses.” 4 Great Bear = Ursa Major, the constellation.

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Melchior: But where?

Caspar: That our charts and calculations cannot for certain say.

He looks through a telescope.

Melchior: An event such as this could be once in a lifetime …

Balthazar: A once in a thousand lifetimes …

Melchior: A once in a millennium …

Caspar: (excited.) Gentlemen. The Planets. CD11

All come forward, as though into the open air. Music echoes the mystery.

Melchior: Saturn is speeding across the sky.

Balthazar: And Jupiter. Like huge comets. They seem to be heading for Mars.

Caspar: Impossible. They are light years1 apart.

Melchior: In relation to us they are. But they could be aligning with each other …2

Balthazar: But why?

Melchior: I can only think, as a sign.

They gasp as a sudden brightness dazzles them. The three planets have appeared to form one

large one.

Melchior: Certain signs of the Zodiac

Balthazar: According to the almanac

Caspar: Are veering from their normal track

And changing course;

All 3: In an unfamiliar pattern

Mars and Jupiter and Saturn

Have conjoined as one,

By some extraordinary force.

1 Light years = not literally light years (a modern concept), but huge distances. 2 Aligning with each other = lining up so that one appears to be behind another.

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Caspar: It’s the brightest star I have ever seen.

Balthazar: It must be a sign.

Melchior: Gentlemen, we must pack immediately. It is a sign. It will lead us to where the

new King is born. One!

Balthazar: Two!

Caspar: One! Two! Three! Four!

All 3: Shimmer and shine, it’s a heavenly sign,

We’ve gotta follow the star,

Come on now, come on now!

Glimmer and glow, where it leads we must go,

We’re gonna follow the star,

Follow the star.

Over the mountains and over the sea,

No matter how far, we’ll follow the star.

We’ve gotta be where it wants us to be,

So no hanging back now,

We’re on the right track now.

Who can say where, but it’s guiding us there,

We’ve gotta follow the star,


Who can say why, but it’s sweeping the sky,

We’re gonna follow the star,

Follow the star.

Over the ocean and over the sand,

No matter how far, we’ll follow the star.

We’ve gotta land where it wants us to land,

So get it together,1

It’s now or it’s never.

Follow, follow, follow,



The star.

A journey of worth

And significance,

To witness a birth

Of magnificence.

1 Get it together = sort yourselves out.

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Wise Men: Shining so bright, see it light up the night, ┐

We’ve gotta follow the star, │

│

Chorus: Doo doo doo doo doo doo │

Follow the star, │

Follow the star. ┘

Wise Men: Glitter and gleam, like a magical dream, ┐

So come on, follow the star. │

│

Chorus: Doo doo doo doo doo doo │

Follow the star, │

Follow the star. ┘

Faster and faster, no lagging behind. ┐

No matter how far, we’ll follow the star. │

We’ve gotta find what it wants us to find, │

│

Chorus: Ooh │

│

Follow the star. │

Ooh. ┘

All: So no hesitating,

A new King is waiting.

We’ll follow, follow, follow,


Follow, follow, follow

The star.

Wise Men: Shimmer and shine, it’s a heavenly sign, etc.

[The Wise Men repeat the first part of the song, now accompanied by the chorus.]

All: So no hanging back now,

We’re on the right track now,

We’ll follow, follow, follow, etc.

Doo doo doo doo doo doo etc.

Follow the star.

The procession exits. JOSEPH and MARY take over the scene. She now looks pregnant.

There is forbidding music.

15

Mary: News from Jerusalem. CD12

Voice 1: Harken!1

Voice 2: Harken!

Voice 3: Harken to the words of Caesar Augustus!

Voice 4: Lend your ears!2

Voice 5: Lend your ears to the words of Caesar Augustus!

Joseph: (To audience.) And woe betide anyone3 who takes no notice of them.

Enter HEROD, reading from a scroll.

Herod: Ev’ry man, ev’ry woman and ev’ry child of Judea,

Is commanded by the Emperor of Rome

To register his particulars4 on the twenty fourth day of December

In the town he originally called home.

Ev’ry man, ev’ry woman and ev’ry child of Judea,

Is commanded to abide by5 this decree;

And basing our calculations on his income and his belongings

He will pay a percentage in tax to me.

Herod’s Secretary: Hail, Caesar Augustus!

Chorus: (Sarcastically imitating.) Hail, Caesar Augustus!

Joseph: But my wife is with child.6

Herod: (As he exits.) The law says all citizens must report. Caesar Augustus wants none of your

tax-evading tricks.

Chorus: Useless then to argue or disobey; CD13

Now Joseph and his wife are near despair,

For Bethlehem their family home is many miles away,

So to trudge the dusty road they must prepare.

1 Harken! = listen! pay attention! 2 Lend your ears! = listen! 3 Woe betide anyone = they’ll be trouble for anyone. 4 Particulars = personal information. 5 Abide by = obey. 6 With child = pregnant.

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JOSEPH and MARY mime their preparations, and leave for Bethlehem. The CHORUS joins

them on the road.

Joseph: I’m a carpenter CD14

Going to be taxed

On a cold December day,

I left my bench

And the monkey wrench,1

And I journeyed on my way.

Hit the road, Joe,2

There’s no turning back.

Hit the road, Joe,

Get on down the track.

Farmers: We’re farmers

Going to be taxed


We left the cow

And the goat and plough,

Joseph: I left my bench

And the monkey wrench,

Joseph and: And we journeyed on our way.

Farmers Hit the road, Joe,

There’s no turning back.

Hit the road, Joe,

Get on down the track.

Fishermen: We’re fishermen

Going to be taxed


We left our boats

And put on our coats,

Farmers: And we left the cow




All: And we journeyed on our way, etc.

1 Monkey wrench = a tool, an adjustable spanner. 2 Hit the road, Joe. This is a joke, playing on the title of the famous song “Hit the Road Jack” which had been a

huge hit for Ray Charles in 1961. “Joe” is an abbreviation of Joseph.

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Wives: We’re wives all

Going to be taxed


For thanks to Rome

We locked our home,

Fishermen: And we left our boats


Farmers: And we left the cow





Teachers: We’re teachers

Going to be taxed


We broke the rule

And left the school,

Wives: For thanks to Rome

We locked our home,

Fishermen: We left our boats


Farmers: We left the cow





So … we’re all

Going to be taxed


We sing this song

To help us along,

We broke the rule

And left the school,

For thanks to Rome

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We locked our home,

We left our boats


We left our cow


We left our bench


And we journeyed on our way.

Hit the road, Joe, etc.

We’re all going to be TAXED!

The music continues. MARY weakens. Others ahead of JOSEPH and MARY arrive in

Bethlehem and mime being asked questions by Roman soldiers. As the music ends JOSEPH

reaches the census point.

Soldier: Name?

Joseph: Joseph, family of David.

Soldier: Occupation?

Joseph: Carpenter.

Soldier: Address?

Joseph: Nazareth, Galilee.

Soldier: Married?

Joseph: This is my wife.

Soldier: Name?

Mary: Mary.

Soldier: How long?

Mary: What?

Soldier: (Impatient.) Married.

Joseph: Six months.

Soldier: Own house?

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Joseph: Yes, I built it myself.

Soldier: Paid for?

Joseph: Almost. I borrowed the money. I’m paying it back. As I can.

Soldier: How much did you earn last year?

Joseph: Four thousand talents.1

Mary: Joseph. (Mary begins to faint.)

Joseph: Not much longer, Mary.

Soldier: Any animals? What’s the matter with her?

Mary: It’s alright. I’m sorry. It’s been a long journey.

Soldier: Animals?

Joseph: One donkey.

Soldier: Any fig orchards, olive groves, vineyards?

Joseph: No. (Mary collapses.) Please hurry. My wife is ill … she’s about to have a baby.

Soldier: Really? Why didn’t you tell me before?

Joseph: I …

Soldier: That affects your tax, you know.

Joseph: Please, is there anywhere we can stay?

Soldier: Don’t ask me. I don’t live here. Right, that’ll be six hundred talents.

JOSEPH pays.

Soldier: Here, I thought you’d only been married six months.

Joseph: Yes.

Soldier: And she’s having a baby?

Joseph: Yes.

1 Four thousand talents. This would be an enormous sum, equivalent to 235,600 kilos of gold! Clearly David

Wood made a mistake and thought this was quite a small amount, appropriate for a carpenter’s earnings.

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Soldier: Got her into trouble did you?

Joseph: Please, can we go?

Soldier: I suppose so. (Showing at least one kind spark.) Try the Inn down the road. I’m staying

there.

Chorus: Mary barely conscious, they stumble on CD15

Until they see a warm and welcome sight,

But the town is full of travellers, and all the rooms are gone;

There is nowhere they can shelter for the night.

During the chorus JOSEPH and MARY, supported by him, travel on. They reach the Inn, and

in mime the INNKEEPER’S WIFE indicates there is no room. She steps out of the scene and

addresses the audience.

Innkeeper’s Wife: Well, what could I do? Eh? All our rooms were taken. Booked in

advance. They always are at tax-gathering. Business is never brisker1 – travellers

swarming through the streets. We put up a stall outside to catch the passing trade. So

what could I do? Ask some of our guests to make way for some couple from Nazareth?

You must be joking. Most of “our guests” are Roman soldiers! (She stops, as though

worried that she may be overheard by Romans, then continues confidentially.) I don’t

go for them2 myself, but first come, first served3 and they do spend recklessly … So. All

the rooms were full … but the girl did look rough, and the husband seemed honest

enough … so, to cut a long story short …

The INNKEEPER appears on cue and takes MARY and JOSEPH to the stable.

Innkeeper: It’s not luxury as you might say, but it’s warm and I changed the straw myself this

morning. Take no notice of the oxen; they’re used to human company.

Joseph: Thank you, you’re most kind.

MARY sinks down.

Innkeeper: Just don’t let on you’re here to anyone else, though. Don’t want any more riffraff4

clamouring to get in for the night. And don’t leave any litter. ’Night.

He leaves them. They settle in the straw. JOSEPH comforts MARY.

Joseph: With you, CD16

1 Brisker = better. 2 Go for them = like them. 3 First come, first served = those who arrived first got served first (got the rooms). 4 Riffraff = disreputable people. It is possible that the innkeeper is suggesting Joseph and Mary are themselves

riffraff, though it is not certain.

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If it’s any help, you know I’m

With you.

In all you have to do, I’ll be

With you,

Willing you on,

When faith has gone

I’m with you.

With you,

Once I wasn’t sure, but now I’m

With you


With you.

Day after day,

All of the way

I’m with you.

Tho’ I can’t tell you why,

I just know if we try

Together we’ll both see it through.

Here I am, love,

Happy to stay here

With you.

With you,

Through the troubled time ahead, I’m

With you.


With you.

Offering hope

When you can’t cope,

I’m with you.

And if you will depend

On your lover and friend,

Perhaps all your dreams will come true,

And I’ll share them,

Happily share them

With you.

Any time, any place

You have problems to face,

You know by your side I will be

Always with you,

Happy to have you

With me.

22

Fade to blackout. Lights up on HEROD, receiving the WISE MEN. Throughout the scene,

Herod is suspicious, yet, naturally, more than interested.

Melchior: We have travelled far to gaze upon the King.

Herod: You see him. You may gaze. But I have more important things to do than be gazed

upon.

Balthazar: With respect, Herod, you are not the new King.

Herod: Treason, blasphemy, perjury!

Caspar: Treason it cannot be, we are not your subjects.

Balthazar: Blasphemy it cannot be, you are not a god.

Melchior: Perjury it cannot be, we do not lie.

Herod: Explain.

Melchior: Our calculations indicated the birth of a new king.

Caspar: A king greater than any to have gone before.

Balthazar: The Saviour prophesied to mankind.

Melchior: We saw his star in the east.

Balthazar: And followed it here.

Herod: A star? Led you here?

Balthazar: To Jerusalem.

Herod: Of course. For I am the great king you seek.

Balthazar: The star cannot refer to you Herod; it has only just appeared.

Caspar: Signifying a birth … the birth of one … greater than any mortal.

Herod: You may be right. The prophets long ago did foretell of the CD17

birthplace for a ruler of Israel. Bethlehem. That could be your goal. It’s not

far. Go there my friends, find your royal child, but return. Tell me all about it.

Naturally I will want to worship him, too. Go. If your story is true, I will feel

honoured that the gods have delivered my successor so near. And in my own

lifetime.

23

The WISE MEN exit. Music. HEROD’s anger and fear, restrained in the presence of the

WISE MEN, vents forth. He is verging on the manic.

Herod: Your rivals wait,

Breathing down your neck,1

To be the King.

Your sacrifice

To be the King

Won’t mean anything.

Distrust ev’rybody,

Suspect them all,

Or sudden revolution

Will strike till you fall.

To be a King

Means dang’rous living ev’ry day,

But as a King

I have no choice but stay.

The scene changes to the hillside above Bethlehem. Two shepherds are wrapped in cloaks

round a fire. DAW is the elder – the philosopher who harks back to the old days.2 JON takes

himself very seriously. There is a sudden growling noise.

Daw: Jon!

He nervously gets up, preparing his crook for battle.

Jon: What is it?

Daw: Wolf. (Pause.) I think. (There is a growl.) There.

Jon: Over there.

They stalk towards the noise. DAW pushes JON ahead of him. Suddenly a muffled shape rushes into the

camp.

Daw: Now!

JON prepares to attack. DAW covers his eyes and races away. JON jumps on the “wolf.” But it is revealed

to be GIB, the youngest shepherd, a happy-go-lucky 3practical joker.

Gib: Ha ha. Fooled you.

1 Breathing down your neck = very close, just behind you. 2 Who harks back to the old days = who likes to praise and talk about the old days. 3 Happy-go-lucky = happy, relaxed, optimistic.

24

Daw: You … silly shepherd! I nearly clubbed you unconscious then.

Pause. He sees the funny side of it and laughs. After all, he was nowhere near smashing GIB’s head in.

Jon: Serve him right if we had. (The others giggle.) Well, it’s no joke.

Gib: (Imitating.) It’s no joke.

GIB and DAW stifle their laughter. Pause.

Jon: Have you been drinking?

Gib: One or two.

Jon: Might have known. Spent all your tax money I suppose.

Gib: Course not. I paid that first. Then I thought I’d hang around for a while. I’ve never seen

so many people, from all over Judea. Tramping the streets. Singing in the Inn.

Daw: Not much to sing about. Walk miles to Bethlehem, give your hard earned money to the

Romans, then sing a little song. It’s not natural.

Gib: It was mainly the Romans singing.

Jon: You drank and sang with Romans? S’pose you bought them all a drink, gave ’em all

your money.

Gib: No. They’re alright. Quite friendly. Only doing their job.

Daw: Some job. It’s unnatural. I can remember the days when we were our own masters.

Maybe we weren’t a very big country, but at least we could hold our heads up.1 Man

can’t hold his head up now. Where’s your self-respect when you’ve got to tramp miles in

your own country to hand over your own money to a crowd of foreigners? I don’t know

what the country’s coming to. Romans roamin’ all over the place. It wasn’t like this in

Aristobulus’s time.2

Jon: What are you rabbiting3 on about? Look, I’m tired. I’m on second watch this morning.

Daw: Alright, I can take a hint. Goodnight.

Jon: Goodnight.

1 Hold our heads up = feel pride. 2 Aristobulus’s time. It’s not clear which Aristobulus David Wood was thinking of. It could be Aristobulus of

Alexandria, a second century BCE Jewish philosopher, or it could be Aristobulus III of Judea (53-36 BCE), an

enemy of Herod. There are other possibilities, too. 3 Rabbiting = chattering.

25

JON and GIB settle down. DAW stays on watch. Pause.

Gib: One, two, three, four … CD18

Daw: Will you be quiet please?

Gib: I’m sorry. (Pause. Whispers.) Five, six, seven …

Jon: Will you shut up!

Daw: What’s the matter with you two?

Jon: He keeps chattering.

Gib: I’m sorry. I’m trying to get to sleep. Mum always said the best way was to

count … sheep.

Daw and John: Sheep!!!???

Shepherds: When Momma got insomnia CD19

She swore that counting sheep

Would make her go to bye-byes1 right away (right away),

But for a shepherd what’s the use of

Counting sheep to go to sleep

When we count the bleating2 things all day.

Counting sheep,

Chorus of sheep: Counting sheep,

Shepherds: Counting sheep,


Shepherds: A little bit of shut-eye3 we could use.

Chorus of sheep: We could use.

Shepherds: Counting sheep.,


1 Bye-byes = sleep. 2 Bleating. This is a joke: sheep do literally bleat, but the way the word is used here makes it sound like a

swearword, a bit like “bleeding.” 3 Shut-eye = sleep.

26

Shepherds: Counting sheep,


Shepherds: We’ve got those counting sheep-type sleepy shepherd blues,

wup wup

Blues

wup wup.

We count them ev’ry morning,

We count them all the night,

Each woolly-headed lamb and ram and ewe, (ram and ewe),

And even shepherds have to eat so

For a very special treat

On Sunday we have mutton stew.

Counting sheep, etc.

1st Shepherd: We count them all the summer

2nd Shepherd: And in the winter, too,

3rd Shepherd: Then they multiply themselves throughout the spring.

1st Shepherd: And they sometimes wander off

2nd Shepherd: Or start to moult

3rd Shepherd: Or get a cough,

1st Shepherd: And all their bells go ting-a-ling-a-ling (ting-a-ling):

The sheep bleat furiously.

So is it any wonder

We lie awake at night,

Though who could say we really make a fuss? (make a fuss)

And though we can’t go to sleep

By counting sheep, we’ve heard that sheep

Always go to sleep by counting us.

Counting sheep, etc.

They fall asleep. After a while GIB suddenly wakes with a jump, disturbing and waking the

others.

Jon: What on earth’s the matter now?

Gib: Thought I … I feel strange.

Jon: So would I if I’d drunk as much as you have today. Night.

He settles to sleep.

27

Gib: It’s not the beer. Can’t you feel it? Something stirring. In the air.

Daw: You’ll be seeing flying sheep next.

He settles to sleep. GIB looks uncertainly about him. A shaft of light begins to build. He notices it.

Gib: Hey. (Afraid now.) Look!

GABRIEL steps into the light.

Daw: (Sitting up again.) Bright green sheep flying overhead!

The light gets brighter. Music. GIB watches, hypnotised. Transfixed, he nudges DAW.

Daw: Oh, for …

He turns and sees GABRIEL. He reacts terrified, and shakes JON awake and shows him. He

reacts amazed.

Jon: (Very tentatively.) Who are you? What do you want with us? CD20

Gabriel: Stay, shepherds, stay,

God is with you,

No need to run away.

Don’t be afraid,

Don’t be afraid,

You are good men

So be of good cheer.

Don’t be afraid,

Don’t be afraid

Of the glorious,

Great and glorious,

Glorious news that you hear.

I bring tidings of great joy

To you and all mankind;

Tonight is born a baby boy

Who you will find

Can change the world.

Really can change the world.

The lights brighten.

So come and worship Christ your King

For He is the Saviour of men

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And in a manger He will be found

So come along,

Just come with us,

Make it to Bethlehem.

So don’t be afraid, ┐

Don’t be afraid, │

You are good men │

So be of good cheer. │

Don’t be afraid, │

Don’t be afraid │

Of the glorious, │

Great and glorious, │

Glorious news that you hear, │

Make it to Bethlehem. │

│

Chorus: Come and worship Christ your King │

For He is the Saviour of men, │

And in a manger he will be found. │

So come along, just come with us, │

Make it to Bethlehem. ┘

Gabriel: (Fading with the light.) Come. Leave your sheep. Come and worship your

King.

He has gone. Pause. The SHEPHERDS are speechless.

Gib: That was no flying sheep.

Daw: I saw it too. I thought I was dreaming. At first.

Jon: Why us? Why did he come to us? He said the promised King was born this night, but

why us?

Gib: Come on, let’s find him.

Daw: We can’t just leave the sheep. Wolves, bandits.

Jon: Yes we can. We must. To Bethlehem, the City of David.

Daw: It’s a big place. A little baby in a big town like a needle in a haystack.1

Jon: In a manger, he said. That makes it easier. But why us? CD21

1 A needle in a haystack. This is a standard idiom meaning “something that is very difficult to find.”

29

Gib: Well, if the King’s just been born, the angels wanted to celebrate! But

everyone in the town must be asleep; we were awake, so they told us!

Jon: A manger. Not a cradle or a cot in a royal palace.

Gib: Manger. Stable! We’ll look in all the stables till we find Him.

They are stopped in their tracks by the reappearance of GABRIEL.

Gabriel: Come, all ye faithful,1 CD22

Joyful and triumphant,

Come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of angels:

Shepherds: Come, let us adore Him,

and chorus Come, let us adore Him,

Come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

The Shepherds “set off” encouraging the chorus to join in.

Shepherds: Come, all ye faithful,

Joyful and triumphant,

Come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of angels:



Oh, come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

Enter the WISE MEN on their journey to the stable.

All: Follow, follow

Follow, follow

Shepherds: Come, all ye faithful, ┐

and chorus Joyful and triumphant, etc. │

│

Wise Men: Shimmer and shine, it’s a heavenly sign, │

We’re gonna follow the star. │

Glimmer and glow, where it leads we must go, │

So come on, follow the star, │

1 All ye faithful = all you faithful believers (in Jesus).

30

Follow the star. │

Over the mountains and over the sea, │

We’ve gotta be where it wants us to be. │

So no hanging back now, │

We’re on the right track now, │

So follow, follow, follow, │

Follow, follow, follow. │

We’re gonna follow the star. ┘

All: Follow, follow,

Follow the star.

Gabriel: Silent night, CD23

and chorus Holy night,

All is calm,

All is bright,

Round yon virgin mother and child,

Holy infant, so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

During the song, the SHEPHERDS and the WISE MEN present their gifts.

Gib/Melchior: What a way to welcome Him,

Jon/Caspar: What a way to welcome Him,

Daw/Balthazar: What a way to welcome a King,

All 6: What a way to welcome Him.

Chorus: No marble palace, no silk and satin,

No song of praise in Hebrew or Latin.

Where are the courtiers,1 drunk with elation?

Where is the banquet, the great celebration?

What a way to welcome Him,

What a way to welcome Him,

What a way to welcome a King,

What a way to welcome Him.

No trumpet fanfare, no proclamation,

Here is the news, but where is the nation?

No people cheering, no one rejoices,

Spreading the message with thousands of voices.

1 Courtiers = the many people who would normally make up a king’s “court”; a king’s retainers.

31

What a way to welcome Him, etc.

Welcome Majesty!

Born in simplicity,

His palace is a stable,

His silken sheets are hay.

Welcome Majesty!

Born in simplicity,

The cattle low His fanfare,1

His courtiers simply pray.

Welcome Majesty!

Born in simplicity,

With no sophistication,

No empty pomp and show.

Welcome Majesty!

Born in simplicity,

The prophet’s words fulfilled,

And we’re the first to know,

The first to know.





Come on, come on, come on.

Praise for the promises

Of Prophets long ago.

They’ve come true,

And we’re the first to know.

Praise for the promises, etc.



They’ve come true,

And we’re the first to know.

The first to know

That it’s true, now

You’d better believe it.


Ev’rybody, we’re the first to know.

1 The cattle low His fanfare. I.e. instead of a “trumpet fanfare,” Jesus is welcomed with the sound of cattle

lowing.

32

The first to know,

We’re the first to –


Come on, come on, come on.

Praise!

Praise!

Praise!

END OF ACT ONE

rock nativity - david chandler - home 2/rock...1 rock nativity by david wood (words), tony hatch and...

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