Play on Words

full length · drama

John the Baptist: A Play

by Hermann Sudermann · translated by Beatrice Marshall

39 roles (0M / 0F / 39 any) · approx 113–156 minutes · 9 acts

Royalty-free Public domain — free to read, perform, and adapt. No licence needed.

Characters

John lead 208 speeches
Herod supporting 139 speeches
Salome supporting 117 speeches
Herodias supporting 100 speeches
Josaphat supporting 60 speeches
Miriam minor 30 speeches
Gaoler minor 27 speeches
Amasai minor 23 speeches
Manassa minor 22 speeches
Eliakim minor 21 speeches
Vitellius minor 20 speeches
Matthias minor 19 speeches
Gabalos minor 18 speeches
First Galilean minor 18 speeches
Jael minor 17 speeches
Amarja minor 16 speeches
Pasur minor 15 speeches
The People minor 12 speeches
Abi minor 11 speeches
Mesulemeth minor 11 speeches
Second Soldier minor 10 speeches
Maecha minor 10 speeches
Hachmoni minor 8 speeches
Merokles minor 8 speeches
Second Galilean minor 8 speeches
First Soldier minor 6 speeches
Third Soldier minor 6 speeches
First Priest minor 6 speeches
Jabad minor 6 speeches
The Boy minor 6 speeches
First Woman minor 5 speeches
Marcellus minor 5 speeches
Hadidja minor 4 speeches
The Citizen minor 4 speeches
Simon The Galilean minor 4 speeches
Call minor 4 speeches
Citizen minor 3 speeches
Jorab minor 3 speeches
Another minor 2 speeches

Read the play

_The same. Amarja; with a fresh crowd of people._

Amarja. [_Calling._] John, where is John?

Josaphat. [_With resolution._] Here is John.

The People. [_Hear and murmur, joyously._] See, there is John!

Josaphat. Hear all of you! Go not past; and thou over there mayest speak. The master will listen unto thee.

Amarja. Herod is coming to the Temple, wearing princely robes. At his side, sparkling with precious stones, walks the courtezan.

The People. [_Break out into cries of anger._]

Josaphat. Master, thy hour is come; mount the steps and speak to them!

The People. [_Pressing round._] John, speak--Rabbi, speak--What shall we do?

Josaphat. Keep back! He will speak to you. [_Sotto voce._] Mount the steps!

John. [_Walks as if in a dream towards the steps._]

The People. [_Murmuring._] See! He sways. What aileth him?

Josaphat. Make haste. Speak!

Call. Here is Herod. Here cometh Herod!

The People. Stone him! Stone the courtezan!

Others. Look at John! Do what John does, else are ye lost.

Monologues from this play