Meet the Puppets

This week I tweaked a skit I had used in AWANA and which is already posted here. I thought this week I would show the puppets I am using and talk their personalities. Hopefully, this may help some of my skits make more sense.

D.B.
D.B. is a good albeit not very bright bunny. He is a kid of about 8-9 years old, the median age of my current class.
His voice was originally based on Benny from the Warner Brothers George and Benny cartoons. After I started doing D.B., the Pixar movie Up came out, and Dug's voice is also very similar.
To help me maintain his voice and character, I over-pronounce all words and never use contractions.
D.B. often goes down a rabbit trail when he misunderstands something that is said. His skits nearly always end with him saying thank you to his comic foil.

Ozzie

Ozzie is an an excitable little monster. He also is a kid of about 8 or 9.
His voice could be described as a cross between Wallace Shawn and Sylvester the Cat. He has an exaggerated interdental lisp. He gets worked up easily and often repeats words or phrases.
Ozzie enters and exits quickly, often just popping up or disappearing quickly. He typically makes an outrageous statement or comment that shows he didn't really completely understand the lesson before disappearing.
Ozzie has a pet worm named Squiggly.





Squiggly
Squiggly is Ozzie's pet worm. He is played by one of the finger funzles (the green one with the orange hair.) Squiggly's voice is done with a kazoo, because pet worms don't actually speak.
Ozzie makes it sound like Squiggly runs the show, but he is actually just along for the ride.
Ozzie has mentioned Squiggly in previous skits, but he will make is debut in two weeks.







Dilly

Dilly is the newest addition. She is a southern fried chicken who doesn’t always get things straight. While she is older than the boys, she of an indeterminate age.
She has a very definite drawl. Her dialog is full of southern expressions and church clichés. She is well meaning and sweet, but she is easily led astray and often misunderstands what she is told.
She often refers to her friend Flora in her stories. They are old friends, and neither has ever met a bad idea.
Dilly makes her debut this Sunday.

All By Myself

Scripture Reference: 2 Samuel 23:8-39, 1 Chronicles 11

A lesson about having the courage to stand alone.

Cast:
D.B. – a good albeit not very bright bunny
MR. MIKE – the teacher who sets him straight

Props:
Baseball

SFX:
Glass breaking
“Run away”

(Opens with D.B. offstage, and MR. MIKE at the back of the room.)

SFX: Glass breaking
SFX: “Run away!”

(MR. MIKE comes to the front holding a baseball. D.B. peaks over the top of the stage and spots MR. MIKE looking at him.)

D.B.: (reluctantly) Hi, Mr. Mike.

MR. MIKE: (seriously) Hello, D.B.

D.B.: It is a nice day.

MR. MIKE: It’s a very nice day.

D.B.: (after an awkward pause) Yes, very nice.

MR. MIKE: Where did all your friends go, D.B.?

D.B.: Friends?

MR. MIKE: I heard other kids outside playing. Where’d they go?

D.B.: Oh, those kids. They are not here any more.

MR. MIKE: I can see that. What happened to them?

D.B.: Um, they ran away.

MR. MIKE: Why did they run away?

D.B.: I do not know. Maybe their moms called them home for dinner.

MR. MIKE: Are you sure about that, D.B.?

D.B.: (dropping head) No. They ran away, because the baseball got hit really hard and broke someone’s window.

MR. MIKE: And whose window do you suppose got broken?

D.B.: (looking at the baseball) Yours?

MR. MIKE: Mine.

D.B.: (becoming upset) I am sorry, Mr. Mike. It was an accident.

MR. MIKE: I’m sure it was. I broke plenty of stuff when I was a kid, so I understand.

D.B.: You were a kid once?

MR. MIKE: (amused) Of course I was. Everyone was a kid at some time.

D.B.: Oh, yeah.

MR. MIKE: I’m angry, because all those kids ran away without taking responsibility for their actions.

D.B.: But they were scared.

MR. MIKE: Aren’t you scared too, D.B.?

D.B.: Yeah, but staying is the right thing to do.

MR. MIKE: All of your friends ran away. You could have run away too.

D.B.: Yeah, but being honest is the right thing to do even if no one else does it.

MR. MIKE: I’m proud of you, D.B.

D.B.: For breaking your window?

MR. MIKE: No, for having the courage to stand alone and do the right thing.

D.B.: Courage?!? I am so very frightened that my furry little knees are knocking together.

MR. MIKE: I know, and I appreciate that. Courage means doing what’s right even when it is hard.

D.B.: Thank you, Mr. Mike. What are you going to do with our ball?

MR. MIKE: I think I will hold on to it for now, until I have a chance to talk to the other kids’ parents.

D.B.: Are you going to talk to my parents?

MR. MIKE: No, we’re good.

D.B.: Thanks, Mr. Mike.

MR. MIKE: You’re welcome, D.B.

D.B.: Bye, Mr. Mike.

MR. MIKE: Bye, D.B.

Come on And Dance

Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 4-6, 2 Samuel 6

A lesson in worship.

Cast:
JEFF – the worship leader
MATT – doesn’t know how to worship

Props:
none

(During City on Our Knees, the first song, MATT becomes less and less involved in the song. This continues until the song ends.)

JEFF: (looking at MATT, who ignores him) I want to see everyone singing this next song.

(During Big House, MATT completely stops singing and sits down. After the song…)

JEFF: Mr. Matt, what are you doing?

MATT: What? I’m singing. Didn’t you see my lips move?

JEFF: Praising God is more than just moving your lips. It’s thanking God for being our Provider. It’s thanking him with your whole heart.

MATT: Yeah, but it’s kinda embarrassing. I mean, singing in front of people. What if they hear my voice? I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. And as far hand motions and dancing around, I don’t think so.

JEFF: But you’re not suppose to be singing to any of these people.

MATT: (stage whisper) There the only ones here.

JEFF: You’re suppose to be singing to God.

MATT: Oh, yeah. But singing and raising your arms and dancing around is kinda… girly.

JEFF: What about a football player who dances in the end zone after a touchdown? Are you saying Marion Barber and Felix Jones are girly?

MATT: Well, not to their faces. But that’s football. Aren’t you suppose to be quiet and dignified in church?

JEFF: Yes, there are times when we need to be quiet. We don’t want people dancing around while Pastor Chris is preaching, but there is also a time to celebrate God.

MATT: Yeah, but…

JEFF: What if I told you that I know a famous warrior who danced for God?

MATT: Who?!?

JEFF: David.

MATT: David who?

JEFF: King David, who’ve been studying.

MATT: The King David? David-and-Goliath David?

JEFF: That’s the one. A few weeks ago we talked about how the Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant and placed it in a tent with an idol.

MATT: Carrie Underwood?

JEFF: What?

MATT: Daughtry? Jennifer Hudson?

JEFF: Not American Idol. A statue of their fish-god Dagon. When they came in the next morning, Dagon was lying on the ground.

MATT: I guess he wasn’t an idle idol.

JEFF: They put it back up, but the next morning it was on the ground with its arms and legs broken off.

MATT: Talk about it costing an arm and a leg.

JEFF: Right.

MATT: Dagon was dis-armed.

JEFF: Yeah.

MATT: I guess he didn’t have a leg to stand on.

JEFF: Any more?

MATT: One more: Did anyone give him a leg up?

JEFF: Are you done now?

MATT: Um… Yes.

JEFF: Thank you. So the Philistines sent word to David to come get the Ark, because Israel’s God was more powerful than Dagon.

MATT: Sweet!

JEFF: David led thirty thousand men to get the Ark. They all danced and sang and played instruments all the way back.

MATT: Kinda like the Polka Festival.

JEFF: King David took off his kingly robes and celebrated with everyone else.

MATT: He was naked?!?

JEFF: No, he was dressed like everyone else, because he want to be just part of the parade. It was about God, not him.

MATT: I bet the people loved that.

JEFF: Well, not everyone. His wife Michal thought it was vulgar and undignified. Because of her attitude, God cursed her.

MATT: Ouch!

JEFF: David on the other hand humbled himself. He didn’t praise God to impress anyone or to show how spiritual he was. He wanted to celebrate God’s provision. 2 Samuel 6:14 says that David “danced before the Lord with all of this might.”

MATT: And the Bible says that David was a man after God’s own heart. I guess this is part of the reason why.

JEFF: You got it.

MATT: Okay, if David can do it, so can I. Let’s praise God!

(During Come on and Dance, MATT sings whole-heartedly and even dances.)

Make-A-Scene – Peeper EditionDavid, Nabal, and Abigail

Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 25

Cast:
DAVID
NABAL
ABIGAIL
SAMUEL
YOUNG MAN (1 OF 10)
NARRATOR

Props:
Three signs: YEA!, BOO!, AHH!

(The cast acts out the actions as the Narrator describes them. The audience will react to the cast appropriately.)

NARRATOR:
Before we begin our story, you will need some instructions. Each time I say David’s name, I will raise this sign and you will say “Yea!” Let’s practice.

Each time I say Nabal’s name, I will raise this sign and you will say “Boo!” Let’s practice.

Each time I say Abigail’s name, I will raise this sign and you will say “Ahh!” Let’s practice.

We’re ready to go.

Our story today is about David (YEA!), Nabal (BOO!), and Abigail (AHH!). Our story opens with the death of Samuel. (SAMUEL dies) And all of Israel mourned him.

Meanwhile, David (YEA!) is in the Desert of Moan near the property of Nabal (BOO!), who was a very wealthy man. Nabal (BOO!) was married to an intelligent and beautiful woman named Abigail (AHH!)

David (YEA!) sent 10 of his men to greet Nabal (BOO!) and ask for food in return for having watched over his shepherds. Nabal (BOO!) told them the men that he would not give anything to a bunch of runaway servants.

This made David (YEA!) very mad. He took 400 men and prepared to attack Nabal (BOO!)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Abigail (AHH!) heard about her husband’s terrible manners and David’s (YEA!) kindness.

Abigail (AHH!) lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. Then she told her servants, "Go on ahead; I'll follow you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal (BOO!).

Meanwhile, David (YEA!) is heading down to slaughter Nabal (BOO!) and his men. When Abigail (AHH!) saw David (YEA!), she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before him with her face to the ground. She said that he should blame her and that he should pay no attention to Nabal (BOO!). His name means Fool, and that is what he is.

David (YEA!) called off the attack, forgave Nabal (BOO!), and praised Abigail (AHH!) for good her judgment and for preventing bloodshed.

When Abigail (AHH!) went to Nabal (BOO!), he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning when he was sober. When Abigail (AHH!) told him everything, his heart failed him, he became like a stone, and he died ten days later.

When David (YEA!) heard that Nabal (BOO!) was dead, he said, "Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal (BOO!) for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal's (BOO!) wrongdoing down on his own head."

The David (YEA!) and Abigail (AHH!) got married, and they lived happily ever after. The end.

Ain’t No Moe

Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 25

A lesson in kindness and humility.

Cast:
OZZIE – a mischievous little monster
MR. MATT – the teacher who sets him straight

Props:
Bible (for Mr. Matt)

(MR. MATT is on stage when OZZIE enters.)

OZZIE: Mr. Matt, Mr. Matt, I need your help.

MR. MATT: Hey, Ozzie. What’s up?

OZZIE: There’s a kid at school named Alfonso Pasquale, and he doesn’t believe in God. I need a Bible verse to use with him.

MR. MATT: Let’s see. A verse that proves God exists…

OZZIE: No, I’m looking for a verse that proves Alfonso Pasquale is a numbskull.

MR. MATT: Ozzie! You’re not going to find a verse like that.

OZZIE: Now you tell me. I’ve read all of Paul’s letters, and he never once uses the word numbskull.

MR. MATT: Of course not.

OZZIE: Maybe I should use a concordance. How do you spell “knucklehead”?

MR. MATT: No, Ozzie.

OZZIE: Is "lamebrain" one or two words?

MR. MATT: Ozzie!

OZZIE: Or maybe…

MR. MATT: Ozzie! You’re not going to find any of those words in the Bible.

OZZIE: Well, then how am I gonna prove that not believing in God makes him a numbskull?

MR. MATT: You can’t. Besides, that’s completely the wrong approach.

OZZIE: It is? Maybe I should bonk him in the head. Hi-ya!

MR. MATT: Don’t bonk him in the head.

OZZIE: How about I poke him in the eyes?

MR. MATT: Why would you poke him in the eyes?

OZZIE: That’s what Moe on the Three Stooges would do.

MR. MATT: I don’t think Moe is a very good role model for evangelism.

OZZIE: Probably not. Then what should I do?

MR. MATT: Be nice.

OZZIE: Be nice. Be nice. Be nice. That’s all you ever say.

MR. MATT: That’s because it works. Haven’t you ever heard it’s easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar?

OZZIE: What’s that gotta do with anything? I’m not trying to convince flies to believe in God!

MR. MATT: I mean that your friend sees God in your words and your actions.

OZZIE: Yikes!

MR. MATT: Exactly. You’re going to do a better job convincing him that God exists by being nice to him than by trying to prove he is a numbskull or giving him an eye gouge.

OZZIE: Because God is about loving people, not poking them in the eye.

MR. MATT: Right.

OZZIE: But love takes such a long time. Are you sure I can’t bonk him in the head just once?

MR. MATT: Not even once.

OZZIE: How about if I bonk him softly?

MR. MATT: Not even softly.

OZZIE: How about if…

MR. MATT: Ozzie! Don’t bonk him at all.

OZZIE: Okay, okay. No bonking.

MR. MATT: No eye gouging.

OZZIE: No eye gouging.

MR. MATT: No nothing.

OZZIE: Nothing?

MR. MATT: Nothing!

OZZIE: Then I better go.

MR. MATT: Go where?

OZZIE: I gotta go get the pepper-flavored gum from Alfonso Pasquale before he eats it. (exits)

MR. MATT: Ozzie!