Serving Some Body

A fun, fast-paced comedy that brings 1 Corinthians 12 to life! Head, Torso, Legs, and Arms are tired of bickering over which part is most important. But when a simple game of catch reveals how much they need each other, they discover God’s bigger lesson: we are many parts, but one Body, designed to serve one another and God.

Perfect for teaching kids (and adults!) how everyone’s unique gifts are vital to God’s work.

Cast: 4 m or f

• Head
• Torso
• Legs
• Arms

Bible Reference: 1 Corinthians 12

Set: standard

Sound: wireless mics if available

Song: none

Lighting: standard

SFX:

• sound of heartbeat

Props:

• baseballs, 2 small tables to set the balls on (one stationed near Arms, the other further away from all actors)

Costumes:

• each character is wrapped in a cloth cylindrical cone with the particular featured part of that character exposed:
• Head had the head exposed, all other parts hidden
• Torso has a life size picture of a clothed torso showing, all other parts hidden
• Legs has legs showing, all other parts hidden
• Arms has arms showing, all other parts hidden

Special Instructions: none

Time: 20

Sample of Script:

(Head, Torso, Legs, and Arms are standing onstage. Head looks admiringly in a “mirror,” admiring eyes and lips.)

Head:
Oh my, my, my, my my! If I do say so myself, looking very good indeed!
Gorgeous hair… perfect cupid’s bow lips… saucy ears… eyes that are, may I say it… sexy!

Legs:
Oh really, Head! Rather high on yourself, are you?

Head:
And just why wouldn’t I be high on myself, Legs? After all, I certainly am the crowning achievement of our collective Body!

Arms:
I simply can’t grasp why you think so highly of yourself, Head!

Head:
Well, Arms, if you had any intelligence you’d realize I’m the only one in our Body who is able to think. After all, I am home to the only Brain in our Body.

Torso:
Person Parts, please! You’re driving me to distraction with all your chintzy chatter! I am the central part of our Body, and I ask that you stop your ridiculous rants!

Arms:
Torso, you talk as though you are the heart of our existence, our very breath of life, the digest directive of all we are!

Torso:
Well, well, amiable Arms! Perhaps I might remind you that I am responsible for the beat of our heart. Perhaps you’d like to listen?
(SFX: loud heartbeat)
Further, I boldly bring breath—witness! (breathes rapidly, loudly)
And as for digestion—well…

Legs:
Enough, Torso. We get the drift of your digestion without further expression!

Head:
Legs, I too am having trouble… stomaching… Torso going on and on.

Torso:
It seems to me the rest of you have no stomach for facts. Might I remind you that Napoleon Bonaparte once said an army moves on its stomach! So there!

Legs:
Oh really, Torso? Moving on one’s stomach sounds painful. I’d suggest Napoleon have his army move on its legs!

Arms:
All of you! These antagonistic acrimonious arguments are giving me a horrendous headache!

Head:
I agree, Arms. Surely we, being one body, should live in harmony.

Torso:
And how do you suggest we do that, Head?

Head:
Well, in situations like this, it seems appropriate that saner heads prevail.
With myself being the only Head, it seems right that I prevail as leader and all-around source of intelligence.

Legs:
Head, you have a knack for creating a climate where, when there’s nothing to say… you say it!

Arms:
Surely there’s something that can bring us together to act as one happy Body.

Torso:
Well, I am nothing but easy to live with.

Head:
Wherever you go, Torso, you bring your own cheering section.

Legs:
I’m with you, Arms. We need to hop on the happy bus.

Arms:
I just feel like giving someone a big hug.

Torso (backs off):
I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the hugging thing, Arms.

Head:
A friendly wave might suffice.

Arms:
Still, we need to come together as one, appreciating what each part brings to the table.

Torso:
Speaking of table, I’m a bit hungry.

Legs:
Seems like you’re always hungry, Torso.

Torso:
You don’t mind the strength I give you after a good meal, Legs. Helps you run and jump.

Legs:
Fair point, Torso. I do feel weak when you miss a meal.

Head:
Hey guys, I’ve got an idea—let’s play baseball.

Arms:
How do you figure we’re gonna do that? Baseball needs a pitcher, catcher, fielders… a whole bunch of guys.

Torso:
That was not your best idea, Head. For someone who claims to be the thinker, you didn’t think that one through!

Head:
I didn’t mean a full game. I meant we could just play catch.

Legs:
Good idea, Head. That’s using your head.

Head:
Exactly what I do, Legs—I use my head.

(Arms picks up a ball.)

Arms:
Alright, I’ll throw this ball way up high. You guys try to catch it, OK?

Legs:
This will be fun!

Head:
I can definitely do this!

Torso:
OK, Arms, throw that ball up high—I’ll catch it!

(Arms does an exaggerated windup.)

Head:
Oh really, Arms? Stop acting like Felix Hernandez and just toss the ball!

(Arms throws the ball up. It lands behind the actors. Head reacts dramatically.)

Head:
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! You threw that ball at me and hit me right on the top of my head! Ouch!

Torso:
Oh really, Head, you’re such a drama queen. How much can a little old baseball hurt you?

Head:
You think so, Torso? Maybe I’ll pick up that ball and toss it at you to see how much you like it!

Arms:
Go for it, Head! Toss it as hard as you can.

Head:
Alright… I will… Uh… How did you throw that ball, Arms?

Arms:
Easy. I held it in my hand, twisted my wrist, and let it fly.

Head:
Uh… Hand?

Arms:
Yes, I held the ball in my hand.

Head:
Uh… I don’t have… any hands.