Upgrading Perfection

The Maker’s ultimate creations, humans.

Designed to be the very best in every way. Yet human nature being what it is, we question our worth and our perfection, and many are willing to do anything to look better, be smarter, be greater in our own eyes.

This drama is kind of a takeoff on the Misfit Toys of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer fame.

 A toy truck, a doll, and a toy dog have concerns about their looks and capabilities, which were given to them by their creator, Judah. Enter Pester, Judah’s nemesis who offers the three toys the opportunity to upgrade what Judah has designed into them. In spite of warnings to beware the smooth-talking Pester and his accomplice, two of the toys place their trust in the evil Pester.

Useful at Christmas or any time of year.

Cast: 7 m or f

• Judah – the Creator
• Captain Pat – assistant to Judah
• Pester – enemy of Judah
• Kocomo – assistant to Pester
• following may be actors but written as inanimate props:
• Tony the Truck – toy
• Beth the Doll – toy
• Sylvester the Dog - toy

Bible Reference: 2 Corinthians 11:14

Set:

• can be as dressed up as desired but a blank set is all that's needed

Sound:

• wireless mics if available
• lines from the toys may be pre-recorded, live from offstage OR performed by onstage actor

Song: none

Lighting:

• some form of lighting which pinpoint the individual toy when that toy “speaks”
• This could be lights on the individual toy prop or a close spot on the individual toy

SFX:

• loud engine noise and screeching tires
• piccolo sound
• Bicycle bell
• dog barking
• dog, engine noise & girls laughter all together
• girls laughter

Props:

• oversized truck and doll, large dog, various other Christmas toys

Costumes: standard

Special Instructions: none

Time: 30

Sample of script:

Scene: Stage Left, Captain is proudly polishing up various children’s gifts and toys. Let this play for a short time.

Capt:
Wow, these here toys Judah made are pretty awesome!
(looks at Tony the Truck)
Just look at this awesome truck! . . . Amazing is what!

Voice of Tony:
Thanks, Captain Pat! . . . I am Tony the Truck, and I for sure am amazing, you got that right!
Have a look at my construction! . . . Solid and reliable!

Capt:
I can see that for sure, Tony. That is some powerful engine you have under the hood!

Voice of Tony:
Like my Maker, Judah, said . . . I am a . . . classic!

Capt:
A classic indeed! . . . As is every toy Judah creates!

Voice of Tony:
And I can go fast as you’d never believe! . . . Wanna see me race around the block?

Capt:
Perhaps later, Tony . . . perhaps later.

Voice of Tony:
No, I mean it, I will just . . .

(Loud engine noise and screeching tires. Captain covers his ears.)

Capt:
Shut that off, Tony!

Voice of Tony (loud):
Sorry, Captain! I can’t hear you—too much noise!

Capt (louder):
I said . . . Shut that off, Tony!

Voice of Tony (loud):
Sorry Captain, but I can’t hear you . . . I will have to turn off my engine.

(Engine noise stops. Captain doesn’t notice and keeps yelling.)

Capt (loud):
I said . . . shut off the eng . . . Oh, I guess you did. . . That’s better.

Voice of Tony:
Sorry, Captain Pat . . . Maybe I was just a little too loud . . . but us big trucks, we are just naturally really noisy. . . . Like this here super air horn Judah gave me!

Capt:
Super horn? . . . Whatever is a super horn?

Voice of Tony:
Us big trucks, we have super loud air horns.

Capt:
And why would trucks have super loud horns?

Voice of Tony:
Not just super loud horns . . . super loud air horns. . . See, like this . . .

SFX: Truck air horn blares. Captain covers his ears, makes a face.

Capt:
Tony, that horn of yours is way too loud!

Voice of Tony:
Super, isn’t it? . . . My crowning glory, you might say. . . Just like all the other awesome toys Judah created here, Captain Pat!
Take a look at the other trucks here too . . . None quite as powerful and well-designed as me, you understand. . . But good . . . very, very good!

(Captain turns to Beth.)

Capt:
And this doll! . . . Name is Beth. . . Wow, how beautiful you are, Beth!

Voice of Beth:
Thank you, Captain Pat. But don’t forget—it was Judah that designed me and created me . . . (pause)
And I am beautiful . . . don’t you think I am beautiful, Captain Pat?

Capt:
Yes, for certain you are beautiful, Beth . . . And for sure Judah did a mighty fine job in designing you!

Voice of Beth:
Judah always does a fine job of designing! . . . I mean . . . he always does . . . doesn’t he?

Capt:
Judah is the very best designer and builder of toys there ever was!
But you seem a little unsure of what Judah can do . . . and even more unsure about your own design and good looks.

Voice of Beth:
Well, I mean . . . Judah did give me a really wonderful laugh . . .

SFX: Girl’s laughter

Voice of Beth:
Don't you think that is a really wonderful laugh, Captain Pat?

Capt:
Indeed, a very wonderful laugh, Beth.

Voice of Beth:
I mean . . . maybe my laugh is just a little too high and maybe if I . . .

Capt:
Whatever are you saying, Beth?
Why, I do think that your laugh is just about the nicest laugh I have ever heard in my whole life!

Voice of Beth:
“Just about the nicest laugh?” . . . So you mean you have heard better laughs than mine . . . is what you are saying?

Capt:
Beth, I am shocked!
You have a gorgeous laugh!
Judah designed that laugh just for you . . . and everyone knows Judah does wonderful work!

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