The Unclaimed Gift
Serenity and Charity, two angels under Gabriel’s supervision, have been dispatched to Earth to help mankind remember what Christmas should be about. To maximize their out-reach they tackle the place where there are the most humans: a busy store in the middle of the holiday shopping season! Their scheme is to leave a gift in the “Lost and Found” department, hoping that someone opens it to discover its mysterious contents. Unfortunately, the stressed humans have so many sales to find and buying to do that no one claims the package. As a last resort, the angels decide to stop being subtle and make a big move to finally get the humans to see the unclaimed gift -- the love that God has for His creation. And that is the very reason for Christmas. About 40 minutes.
Productions
Behind The Scenes
Playwright Karen Jones talks about her play
"The Unclaimed Gift"
What inspired you to write this play? Two things actually. I have friends and relatives that have worked in retail which is no easy task. Dealing with the public can be very stressful, especially in the holiday season where ‘getting a good deal’ overshadows the meaning of the season itself. The other inspiration came from the role of angels and their possible influence on our day to day lives whether we are aware of them or not.
What's your favorite part or line in the play? Why? My favorite line of the play comes from the message on the card “The greatest gift ever given was wrapped in a swaddling cloth,” because it was.
Where did the characters come from? Are they based on people you know? Not specifically. They are just the ‘average Joe’ characters you find everyday on the street.
What did you try to achieve with this play? First, as I stated above, people working with the public have a hard job and I wanted to showcase their possible point of view as they deal with the season of ‘Peace and Goodwill’. I hope that in the comical antics, the general public will come to understand the real reason for the season and spread cheer and good will instead of frustration and stress. Second, that there is a spiritual world all around us and we need to see all the possibilities of angelic help and influence for the Bible teaches us that angels are “ministering spirits” sent to help us out. Heb 1: 14
Do you have anything else you'd like to add? Just that I hope people can look around and see all the ‘gifts’ that have been given them by a merciful and benevolent God and claim them for themselves.