ACT ONE
SCENE ONE
(The stage is completely dark except for one beam of light shining in the middle/front of the stage. Nothing is in the light)
NARRATOR
(Voice off-stage)
Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD. Psalms 25:4-7.
(NARRATOR walks on stage into the light)
In the times of the prophets, not long after Elijah was taken up in the chariot of fire, his successor, Elisha, was walking with his servant...
(Spotlights focus on ELISHA and GEHAZI, who walk onstage from stage left. ELISHA walks briskly ahead of GEHAZI, who lags behind, as if tired.)
(loud grumbling sound. Gehazi hugs his arms around his middle and looks around furtively)
ELISHA
What was that, Gehazi?
GEHAZI
Erm…nothing, master Elisha.
ELISHA
(poking fun at his servant good-naturedly) That’s funny, I know I heard something rumbling. Perhaps it is a dangerous bear, or a nearby waterfall, or…
GEHAZI
(looking sheepish, mutters) It was my stomach.
ELISHA
(grinning) What’s that?
GEHAZI
It was my stomach that you heard rumbling, master. We haven’t eaten for a day, and we haven’t stopped walking for just as long. My stomach is complaining that it is hungry.
ELISHA
(with a chuckle) Ah, so that is what your stomach was trying to say to me. Thank you kindly for the translation. I’m sure I never would have gotten it on my own.
GEHAZI
Master, it is nearly the Sabbath, and we have been wandering these roads with no end to our journey in sight. The teachers of law say that we ought not to be walking after sunset. Don’t you think we should start looking for someplace to rest?
ELISHA
…and something to eat as well, I’m sure. We can’t keep your poor stomach in agonies.
(he laughs)
Peace, Gehazi. We will find a place. Surely you cannot be tired after such a refreshing walk out of doors, enjoying God's divine creation first hand?
GEHAZI
(subdued)
It's just...we've been walking before the sunrise, and we are nowhere near any familiar place--where will we find shelter? Do you have an idea?
ELISHA
(places a comforting hand on his companion’s shoulder)
No, I don’t, but do not fear. I know that the Lord will provide.
GEHAZI
Yes, master.
(ELISHA and GEHAZI disappear stage right)
NARRATOR
And the Lord did provide. Unbeknownst to our two travelers, Elisha and Gehazi were just then walking past a small, soon-to-be-significant town by the name of Shunam...
“WELCOME TO SHUNAM / ELISHA” (lyrics):
Shunamite #1:
Make haste! Make haste! No time to waste!
The prophet’s coming here today!
Make no mistake, make no delay,
the holy man is on his way!
Shunamite #2:
My friend, whatever do you mean?
Who is this man that you have seen?
Shunamite #1:
I’ve seen the witness of Elijah’s
Heavenly ascension
The one who saw the chariot
In fiery suspension
(Shunamite #3 and 4 walk closer while others are talking, and poke their head in to interrupt with awe)
Shunamite #3
You cannot mean…
Shunamite #4
It cannot be…
Shunamite #3
Elisha’s coming here?
Shunamite #1:
That’s what I said,
Now hurry, men,
We haven’t got a year!
(Shunamite #1 shoves Shunamite #2 and Shunamite #3 lightly, then all three Shunamites run off, and call out to different corners of the stage, knocking on stage prop doors, etc to announce the news.)
Shunamite #3:
Make haste! Make haste! No time to waste!
Shunamite #4:
The prophet’s coming here today!
Shunamite#2
Make no mistake, make no delay,
Shunamite #1
the holy man is on his way!
(All Shunamites are now slowly gathering on stage, looking bewildered and excited, and murmuring to each other “What’s going on?”)
Elder Shunamite:
(to all in general)
What’s this commotion in the square?
(to Shunamite #1)
What is the news, young man?
Shunamite #1:
(Speaking to the whole crowd gathered there)
I spied Elisha coming here,
And straight to you I ran
(music pauses/holds one note for an instant while all the Shunamites exclaim in surprise)
All Shunamites:
Elisha?
Elder:
Well, hurry up, call all the men,
We’ll all go to the gate
Go, find the others, tell them that
Elisha’s here, don’t wait!
(The men all rush to stage right, where Elisha and Gehazi suddenly appear)
Elisha:
Good evening, would one of you inform me
What is the name of this town that is so charming?
And may we stop a little while, before we go our way?
We promise we will not delay…
Shunamite #4:
Oh, no! I mean…please stay!
(Elisha looks surprised, and opens his mouth to speak, but he is interrupted by the clamor of the other Shunamites)
Shunamite #2
Oh prophet of the Lord, we ask
Shunamite #3
If nothing is too pressing,
Shunamite #4
Please stay a little while with us,
All Shunamites:
Your presence is a blessing
Elisha:
I thank you, my friends, for your kind invitations
Your generous hearts fill my own with elation
Gehazi and I have been walking for miles
I guess we could stay just for a little while
(all Shunamites cheer, then run off and start preparations. The first four Shunamites compete for attention, butting in on each other’s words eagerly.)
Shunamite #1”
We welcome you to Shunam, Elisha
Shunamite #2:
We hope that you will find things to your liking
Shunamite #3:
We offer you our houses to stay and rest in,
Shunamite #4:
We know you must be tired, from all that hiking
(instrumentals continue)
ELISHA (SPOKEN):
(nudges Gehazi)
You see now, my dear Gehazi, God has provided, after all.
(with a chuckle)
And before supper, too.
GEHAZI (SPOKEN):
(His stomach grumbles loudly in agreement, and they both laugh)
Yes, master. God has provided, indeed.
