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

_Manassa, Amarja, John._

John. How Amarja, and how Manassa? Those whom I trusted the most have forsaken me, and ye are still here!

Amarja. Rabbi, I was at all times the least among thy disciples. What should I be worth if I were not faithful?

Manassa. And to me, Rabbi, thou hast given a hope.

John. Yet he is gone to Jesus of Nazareth. Be ye not fools. Go with him.

Manassa. Let us be fools, Rabbi.

John. [_Sitting down on a stone._] So seat yourselves with me. Night draweth nigh, and I am weary. Hearken! It was even as if I heard a beating of wings above me. Did ye hear nothing?

Amarja. Nothing, Rabbi.

John. The womb of my soul is opened. I am ready for the blessing from on high. Is there not a whispering, roundabout? Heard ye nothing?

Manassa. Nothing, Rabbi.

John. There is a light shining over yonder mountains. Lovely is that light, and within me dawns the meaning of a contradiction. Who alone can deliver the world? To obtain it as a gift is to stretch forth your hands for the unobtainable.... We are in Galilee, know ye, where He now teacheth, this Jesus of Nazareth!

Amarja. We heard in the streets that He was not far off. He tarries on the sea-coast.

Manassa. And they say He may perhaps come into the town.

John. Mayhap. Yet only mayhap! And my time is over. I must make haste, lest I die. Will ye do me a service?

AMARJA, MANASSA

Rabbi, command us!

John. Get ye up and go unto Him.

AMARJA, MANASSA

To Him?

John. [_Nods._] And wheresoever ye find Him, speak to Him. Ask: "Art Thou He Who cometh, or shall we wait for another?" So ask Him, and when He hath answered, come back--quickly--for my longing for Him is very great. I believe I could not die ere ye returned.

Amarja. Master, we will not pause or rest.

John. And ye will not forget my darkness in His radiance?

Manassa. Master, why makest thou us ashamed?

John. Then, farewell.

MANASSA, AMARJA

Farewell, Rabbi. [_They turn to go._]

John. Go not thus; not yet. Let me clasp your hands, then ye are the least among my disciples, and [_in great emotion_] methinks I--I--love you.

[_The Curtain falls._]

Monologues from this play