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 Gaoler, Abi, Maecha, and later, Salome._

Abi. [_Calls back, laughing._] Mistress, the door is open.

Gaoler. Is that the young Princess, who is daughter of his new wife?

Abi. [_Nods._]

Salome. [_Appears in the gateway._]

Gaoler. Princess, if ever thou comest through again, be sure to laugh, as to-day. For this gate is full of danger for Herod's children.

Salome. What does it do to Herod's children, thy gate?

Gaoler. The two sons of Herod the Great came through this gate before they were sentenced, and through this gate----

Maecha. Stop!...

Salome. Let him alone, Maecha! His wisdom has taken a holiday. Hast thou no livelier stories, old man?

Gaoler. What sort dost thou mean, young Princess?

Salome. Stories of yesterday. Stories that have not yet come to an end--stories that are as young [_stretches herself_] as we are.

Gaoler. Ah, I knew; but----

Salome. But? Tell me, hast thou a new prisoner?

Gaoler. Yes.

Salome. What has he done?

Gaoler. [_Maliciously._] He stole hens, young Princess.

Salome. See to it that thou dost not steal my time!

Abi. [_Softly to him._] With her there is no jesting.

Gaoler. Princess, forgive.... I did not know.... Thou meanest, perhaps, John?

Salome. Which John?

Gaoler. The one they call the Baptist--the Prophet from Judea, who----

Salome. So he is here?

Gaoler. Yes; he has been here the last three days, Princess. They brought him at the end of the same cavalcade which brought thee. He lieth now safe with the salamanders and scorpions. They say he stirred up rebellion in Jerusalem, and therefore----

Salome. I wish to see John. Bring him here!

Gaoler. [_Horrified._] Princess, that cannot be.

Salome. I wish it! Hast thou not heard? I wish it!

Gaoler. Princess, I opened this gate for thee because thou hadst lost a plaything. Shall I now, instead of thy plaything, lose this old head?

Maecha. Mistress, the Tetrarch is coming.

Salome. [_Veiling herself._] Hide yourselves! [_She stoops behind the seat; the maidens slip into the bushes._]

[_In the gateway Herod and his attendants._]

Monologues from this play