30 November 2012
By Miscellaneous------------------------------CHARACTERS-------------------- Random Joe On Street -Have you ever been in great misery? Your freedom taken away? Random Joe On Street has it much worse than you. Read his touching story of trial and tribulation set somewhere in the 15th and 16th century.
Pope - A true tyrant, taking away religious freedom for poor, innocent citizens such as Random Joe On Street or Martin Luther! Feel passionate and motivated to rise against him as you look into one of his normal days...
ACT 1: Random Joe On Street: We want religious freedom! We want to follow Luther, the Jesuits, More, Erasmus, Zwinglianism, and Calvin! [pause] Well, maybe not Calvin…
Pope: Sinners, all of you! Repent, repent!
RJOS: We do not follow your confused, twisted ideas of God! Calvin says that God chose me to be a sinner for life! Calvin told me so!
Pope: [Confused] Didn’t you say you didn’t want to follow Calvin?
RJOS: Oh yeah…
Pope: [Brushes himself off] Never mind. How do you know that they are right about religion, Random Joe On Street? I am the Pope! I’m the closest you’ll ever get to heaven! [Starts muttering] Unless, of course, you pay me and I can clear you of sins, but… [Coughs]
RJOS: Luther says that everyone can be close to God! So there! We don’t need you, Pope!
Pope: Luther’s an outlaw remember? [scoffs] You peasants - I mean people believe any person you meet on the street!
RJOS: Hey! But… but, uh, I can see through your lies and treachery! You think I can’t read the Bible ‘cause it’s in Latin?! Well, Luther translated it to German! I know when you lie about the Bible’s words! [mutters] well, I would if I knew German…
Pope: He did what?! But, uh, but - !
RJOS: Yeah yeah, he did! Him and John Wycliffe both!
Pope: [pauses, thinking] Random Joe On Street…. Do you want to be known as a heathen?!
RJOS: Well, uh, are heathens bad?
Pope: Awful! And you are very close to becoming one!
RJOS: I am? [worried] How can I stop?
Pope: Just pay me, uh, 25 shillings, and uh, I’ll just have a little chat with God and everything will be all right.
RJOS: Woah! You’d do that for me?!
Pope: You bet!
RJOS: Wow! Thanks! Woah! Calvin was wrong! I can be good!
Pope: That’s right. Now, just run along and collect those shillings, and God will like you again!
RJOS: Thanks! Wow! I’ll be right back, Mr Pope, just gotta get those coins! [Runs of and pickpockets someone]
------------------------THE END-------------------------
THE REFORMATION: A Play Of The Church’s Tyranny and the Average Citizen’s Audacity In Standing Up To The Pope During The 15th and 16th Century Reformation • Opuss № I