Help! I’m Stuck in a Church Christmas Play!
Karen Silver was one of the most sought-after actresses on Broadway. Her star was rising even as she was labeled a self-entitled, demanding, and difficult actress. But something dreadful happened at the opening of her new Broadway play. The director fires Karen on the spot, telling her, "You’ll never work in this town again!” That's when Karen has a chance encounter with a mysterious man who offers her an opportunity to regain her dignity. She only needs to take a role in a church Christmas play in Virginia. Despite her adamant refusal, Karen Silver miraculously finds herself on the set of the most clichéd church Christmas play ever. But she doesn’t know anything about the play! She is trapped without lines or blocking, and she can't escape until she finishes it. Amid confusion and unexpected action, things certainly don’t go as scripted, but as the church cast ultimately delivers a message of kindness and love, lives are changed, especially Karen’s.
Productions
Behind The Scenes
What inspired you to write this play?
I’ve seen and have partaken in my fair share of heavily clichéd Christmas plays and this is a homage to all of them. God does and can use any means to get the message of the Gospel out into the world; even a heavily cliched Christmas play.
What's your favorite part or line in the play? Why?
When the cast realizes that Marianne is delivering the baby on stage, but they still try to complete the play. The personality of each character comes forward as they experience this unexpected event. Mixing the reality of life with the art of theatre.
Hope's favorite line: "I don’t know what that was, Marcie, but that’s not what I wrote!”
Andrew’s favorite line: It’s hard to narrow it down to just one, but if I must - From Bootless - “Finish the play and I promise, you won’t have to see me or this stage ever again and you can go back to finding your own light. But I’m telling you Karen, there is only one light, one mark you want to hit. Only one playbill you really want to be in. And if you miss that cue, your life will fade to black, and the bright lights will never be seen again.”
Tell us a little about the characters.
Andrew: I’ve worked with quite a few Karens, on and off the stage in my life and I wanted one of them to find redemption. All of the characters, as Hope can attest, are inspired by people who have crossed both our paths.
Hope: Preston and Alice were inspired by a beloved older couple in my home church. Preston often complained that preachers didn't come by to visit like they did years ago. When Alice thought his comments were inappropriate, she would grab her cane and poke him in the leg.
What did you try to achieve with this play?
God wants everyone to come to Him with a repentant heart.
2 Peter 3:9 states, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
We stuffed the pages of this play with tropes, idioms, and cliché'. There were references to everything from Shakespeare to Gone with the Wind to the Hallmark channel.