Drama Queen - The 'Other' Art Form

Seriously this is me. At first I used to fight the title, kicking and screaming; denying and justifying.

But I came to the realization that my dramatic personality is naught to try to run away from or to squelch.

When I was a wee lass in Scotland I remember being over the hills of Loch Lomond happy that I got the role of Mary in the school Christmas play. I don't remember a lot about it but I do remember loving the feeling of assuming the character of Mary and wondering if I could possibly 'pull it off and be believable'. I was doubly honoured when I got to bring my doll - Dianne (who I still have) along to play the part of Baby Jesus. The audience clapped and I was hooked.

All through school, as I was able, I was part of the drama team. I loved acting. I started to write plays and sketches and skits and thought how much fun that was, although I kept them hidden.

Then when I moved to Drayton, I was overjoyed to discover there was a wonderful theatre.
 Built in 1902, the majestic building still stood stately in the centre of the little bedroom community. I soon discovered the beautiful upstairs theatre complete with an amazing tin ceiling which afforded some incredible acoustics. And better yet, we soon learned that there was an amateur drama group in town that regularly presented plays to the community. I was bitten; stricken; moved; touched and dove in headfirst as soon as I saw the callout for local actors.

For many years both my husband and I got involved and were part of the Drayton Community Players. We had SO much fun. One year - for Christmas, actually - I was asked to write a play so that the Community Players could do something exclusively for the children of the area. I wrote Mother Goose's Christmas. I still have the scripts in my file after 25 plus years! What fun. What joy The first time I had seen my words acted out  'on stage'. I also produced the play so I was in my element.

The Drayton Community Players carried on acting and laughing and enjoying some wonderful fellowship over the years. I learned so much and took lots of classes and courses on acting and writing plays.

Then, when the professional theatre took over, it was curtains for us.

But God wasn't done. It was almost like he was setting the stage for me to do  something special.

About a year later, a friend and I started the Master's Voice Players (MVPs) at our church. What an amazing plan God put in place. I not only wrote many of our plays, I often collaborated with musicians to create some great cantatas. I loved those years. The MVPs grew and before we knew it we were ten years in and our group of wonderful young actors performed in many places including
churches, schools, and jails.

Our scripture verse was Acts 1:8b: "You will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”

We loved that and our MVP goal was to present the gospel through the power of prayer and through our combined love of the dramatic arts. 

Oh how I miss our group. It was a lot of work and a huge commitment, but I know God had His hand on us and how blessed we became with sweet  memories and forever friendships. 

I loved drama, although I was no professional. I think if I was younger I might have been persuaded to go back to school and learn so much more. But then again, as a leader of the MVPs, I ended up writing plays and instead of acting, I was producing. My love of the written word grew and I began to publish plays. I even wrote a Christian Actor's devotional [Eldridge Publishing] after a little nudge from God. He taught me so much. 

So yes, I am a drama queen, still to this day. My family all know that they can expect the unusual, but thank goodness they love me for my 'other' art form - or maybe I should say, despite my other art form. Thank goodness now, my energy is translated more often than not to the printed page, although I do express myself with flair and pizazz when I have a point to make. It's usually then that my family exit - stage left! 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters

Colossians 3:23

If God is Dead Then Who Did I Speak to this Morning?

by Glynis M. Belec

I needed a snappy synopsis for the brochure that would appeal. How could I sum up and relay exactly the right words? It would be a great dramatic time and a superb party for children and youth, not to mention an amazingly cool way to present stories from the Bible. I needed to find a way to draw the young folk in and get involved. So I played around with words and phrases and eventually I had it.



"Looking for some excitement? Maybe you need a place to just hang out and talk about stuff. If you are looking for some good, clean dramatic fun with a focus on the One who made it all possible, then come on out to our drama club 'getting to know you' party and bring a friend. Step inside the curtain and learn through drama, mime and recitation how to make scripture come alive in unique ways."


There, I had it - the perfect hook.

I was pleased with what I had prepared for the church bulletin. The kids would love it. Yes, I was going to do my best with these young people. My passion was to help stir young hearts for Jesus and I was ready. I was going to do my part to promote Christian drama as a way of making scripture come alive.

 

I read my blurb over and over. It sounded good and appealing to young people initially. Yet something gnawed. The grammar seemed appropriate. It was written at a level and language that would appeal to the younger age groups. What was it that wasn't ringing true? I read the words again. My stomach churned as if I was on a roller coaster. There it was. The last sentence - ...do my part to promote Christian drama as a way of making scripture come alive. What was I saying? My words implied (although not intentionally) that God's Word was dead. Scripture was not the living, breathing Word of God and I in all my wisdom and talent was going to do my best to resuscitate it.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

I am grateful that God prodded me and made me realize that I do not need to perform any sort of life- saving procedure on scripture. That is His job. My job is to seek opportunities and ways to share the good news. I can do that...

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