Godspell

ACT ONE
Matt P-Jesus
My name is known: God and King. I am most in majesty, In whom no beginning may be and no end.
Highest in potency I am, And have been ever.
I have made stars and planets in their courses to go. I have made a moon for the night and a sun to
light the day also. I have made earth where trees and grasses spring, Beasts and fowl, both great and
small, all thrive and have my liking. I have made all of nothing for man's sustenation And of this
pleasant garden that I have mostly goodly planted I will make him gardener for his own recreation.
TONY Socrates
(spoken)
I honour and love you; but I shall obey God rather than you, and while I have life I shall never cease
from the practice and teaching of philosophy. For know that this is the command of God; and I believe
that no greater good has ever happened in the state than my service to the God. For I do nothing but
go about persuading you all, young and old alike, not to take thought for your persons or properties,
but first and chiefly to take care about the greatest improvement of the soul. This is my teaching and if
this is the doctrine which corrupts the youth, then I am a mischievous person.
But if anyone says that this is not my teaching, he is speaking an untruth.
Song 01 TOWER OF BABBLE
TONY Socrates
Wherefore, O men of Athens,
I say to you
Therefore, acquit me or not
But whichever you do
I shall never alter my ways
Never adjust my approach to this maze
Never reform til the end of my days
Even if I have to die many times
BEN F - Thomas Aquinas
God is apprehended by imagination, intuition, reason, touch, opinion, sense, and name
(And so on)
While on quite the other hand, we find we can't begin to
Understand him, so to some it seems a shame
To go on
But he is all things in all
And he is nothing in any
He is often found in one thing small
Conversely, he is often missed in many.
ADAM F - Martin Luther
God almighty has made our rulers mad
God almighty has turned our people bad
For the German nobility, with typical agility,
Have so applied their skill at egregious laws
That the people are lead astray; they feel beholden to obey
I may be just the German way, but God, it gives one pause.
DAN H - DaVinci
The rise of man...
Was natural...

JAMES H - Gibbon
The decline of Rome
Was natural
And inevitable

Man is so levitable!
Instead of inquiring
why Rome was destroyed
Instead of admiring
Man's filling of the void.

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We should rather be surprised
tyrannized

We should rather be surprised That God had man so

That Rome remained
so strong

Man will be strong

So long.

So long

NATHAN O - Frederic Nietzsche

What...
Is noble
Nowadays?
CALLUM - Jean Paul Sartre
Atheistic existentialIsm which I represent is
More coherent - I do believe it...
MATT T - Buckminster Fuller
Man is a complex of patterns, of processes...
CALLUM - Jean Paul Sartre
There is no such thing as human
Nature, not in all or few men,
Since there is no God to conceive it...
MATT T - Buckminster Fuller
Man is a complex of patterns, of processes...
(spoken)
I live on Earth at present, and I don't know what I am.
I know that I am not a category
I am not a thing - a noun
I seem to be a verb, an evolutionary processAn integral function of the universe.
All 8
So high
In my
Lovely Ivory Tower of Babel babble, babble, babble, Babble, babble, babble, babble)
high above the
Rabble (Rabble, rabble, rabble, Babble, Rabble, babble, babble, rabble, babble)
Greatest mind of history
Solving life's sweet mystery
So listen to me (so listen to me)
Know how life should be (know how life should be)
Oh, what does it matter if they don't agree?
EACH THEN REPEAT ALTOGHETHER THE LINES THEY HAVE JUST SUNG)
ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh.
Song 02 PREPARE YE
Dario
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

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Dario

You vipers' brood! Who warned you to escape from the coming retribution? Then prove
your repentance by the fruit it bears; and do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have
Abraham for our father." I tell you that God can make children for Abraham out of these
stones here. Already the axe is laid to the fruit of the trees; and any tree which fails to
produce good fruit is cut down thrown on the fire. I baptize you with water, for
repentance; but He who comes after me is mightier than I. I am not fit to take off his
shoes. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Do you come to me?

Matt P

Yeah, I wanna get washed up.

Dario

I need rather to be baptized by you.

Matt P

No, no. Look, let it be so for the present; we do well now to conform with all that God
requires.

Song 03 SAVE THE PEOPLE

Matt P
When wilt thou save the people?
O God of mercy when?
The people, Lord, the people;
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
Flowers of thy heart, O God are they;
Let them not pass, like weeds, away,
Their heritage a sunless day:
God save the people!
Shall crime breed crime forever,
Strength aiding still the strong?
Is it thy will, O Father,
That men shall toil for wrong?
"No," say thy mountains; "No," say thy skies;
Man's clouded sun shall brightly rise,
And songs be heard instead of sighs:
God save the people!
When wilt thou save the people?
O God of mercy when?
The people, Lord, the people;
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
God save the people; for thine they are,
Thy children as thy angels fair:
O save the people, from despair,
God save the people! (Oh God save the people)
When wilt thou save the people?
O God of mercy when?
The people, Lord, the people;
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
God save the people, save us, for thine they are
Thy children as thy angels fair
Save the people (God save the people)
From despair (God save the people!)
God save the people (Oh God save the people)
God save the people (Oh God save the people)
God save the people
God save the people
God save the people

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Matt P

Now, do not suppose that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets:
I did not come to abolish, but to complete.
I tell you this: so long as heaven and earth endure not a letter, not a stroke, will
disappear from the Law until all that must happen has happened. If any man, therefore,
sets aside even the least of the Law's demands he will have the lowest place in the
kingdom of heaven.
But he who keeps the law and teaches others so, he will have the highest place in the
kingdom of Heaven. I tell you this, unless you show yourselves far better men than the
Pharisees and the doctors of the Law

Callum

Tadaaa!!

Matt P

(admonishing him) ... you shall never enter the kingdom of Heaven.

All

Ta ta taratara ta ta tara (circus music)

Matt P

There once was a judge. (Tony acts the role of the judge and Ruth is widow)
Who cared nothing for God nor man
And in the same town there was a widow
Who constantly came before him demanding justice against her rival.

Ruth

I am constantly demanding justice against my rival

Matt P

For a long time he refused.

Tony

No

Ruth

What do I want? Justice! When do I want it? Now

Tony

No!

Ruth

Justice!

Tony

No!

Ruth

Justice!

Tony

No!

Ruth

Justice!

Tony

No!

Matt P

But in the end he said to himself

True, I care nothing for God nor man, but this widow is so great a nuisance, that I will
see her righted before she wears me out with her persistence.
You hear what the unjust judge says: and will not God vindicate his chosen who cry out
to him day and night while he sits listening patiently to them?

All

Will he, Jesus? Will he, will he?

Matt P

Well, I tell you, he will vindicate them, soon enough.

All

Yay! (etc.)

Matt P

But, when the son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?

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Dan H

Oh, I'm glad you brought that up...

Karla

Shhh!
Gather round, brothers and sisters, because two men, I said two, went off to the temple
to pray. One, a Pharisee,

All

Boo! (General derision)

Karla

and the other a tax gatherer.

All

Ahhh!

Karla

The Pharisee, why he just stood right on up, and praaaaayed thus:

Emily

I thank thee, O God, that I am not like other men, greedy, dishonest, adulterous, or, for
that matter, like that tax gatherer. I pray twice a week - get that, twice a week - and pay
taxes on all that I get."

Karla

But the other kept his distance and would not even raise his eyes to the good Lord in
Heaven.
I said the good Lord in Heaven, chile.

All

Amen, sister!

Sonia &
Karla

But beat upon his breast, saying,

Jess F

Oh, God, have mercy on me, sinner that I am!

All

Hallelujah! Amen! (etc.)

Matt P

And it was this man, I tell you...

Emily

Oh, you've got to be kidding!

Matt P

... and not the other who went off and quitted of his sins for - Every man who exalts
himself shall be humbled, but
Every man who humbles himself, shall be exalted.
Shall be exalted.
You have learned that they were told, "Do not commit murder, anyone who commits
murder must be brought to judgment." But what I tell you is this: "Anyone who nurses
anger against his brother must be brought to judgment." So, anyone who abuses....
... his brother must answer for it in the court. But, he who sneers at his brother must
answer for it in the fires of Hell.
Now, what if you are bringing a gift to the altar, and... ... you suddenly remember your
brother has a grievance against you.

All

Tada!!! (as Kande enters to present the gift with an acrobatic trick)

Matt P

No, leave your gift where it is, before the altar. Leave it!
First, go and make peace with your brother.
Now go and offer your gift.

All

Wooohoo !!

Matt P

But, what if your brother sues you...

You'd better settle with him quickly.
Otherwise, he'll hand you over to the judge and the judge to the constables.

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(Matthew W takes position to play the role of the judge and Harry and George F the roles
of the constables)
.and you'll land in jail.
(Nathan Hubble forms pyramid with others)
And I tell you, you'll not get out of there until you've paid the last penny.
Nathan

There once was a king...

All

Yeah, yeah!

Matt T

Who decided to settle accounts with the men who served him

All

Yea, yeah, yeah!

Dan

Well, at the outset there appeared, before the master

Ben

a man whose debt ran into the millions.

All

What!

All four

I said the millions.

All

Whoa!

Nathan

Since the man had no means of paying the money,

Matt T

the master ordered him to be sold to meet the debt with his wife...

All

No!

Dan

And his child...

All

Whoa!

Ben

And everything he had.

Nathan

Well the man,

Matt T

threw himself down

Dan H

at the master's feet

Ben F

and went

All

Unh!

Charlotte
S

Oh, be patient with me...

All 4

he said,

Charlotte
S

and I will pay you in full...

Nathan

And so moved with pity was the master

Matt T

that he decided to free the man

Dan

and remit the debt

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Ben

and let's hear it for the master!

All

Yay!

Dario

Wait a minute! But, no sooner had the man gone out than he met a fellow servant who
owed him a few dollars. He gripped him by the throat and said:

Charlotte
S

Pay me what you owe me!

Dario

The man threw himself at his fellow servant's feet and begged him saying:

Amie

B-b-b-b-b-b-be patient with me and I shall pay you.

Dario

But he refused and had him jailed until he should pay the debt.

James H

The other servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened.
They ran and they told their master the whole story!
Accordingly he sent for... THE MAN!

Deb

You scoundrel!

James

He said to him.

Deb

I remitted the whole of your debt when you appealed to me. Were you not bound to show
your fellow servant the same pity I showed you?

Adam

And so fricken was the skrickpocket that he clickened the storz, and frockened the
stickpocket!

All

WHAT????

Adam F

And so angry was the master that he condemned the man to torture until he could pay
the debt in full.
Unh-unh-unh.

Matt P

And that is how my Heavenly Father will deal with you, unless you each forgive your
brothers from your hearts.

Song 04 DAY BY DAY

Deb
Day by day
Day by day
Oh, dear Lord three things I pray.
To see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day.
Day by day
Matt P

Now, if your right eye offends you, tear it out and fling it away.

Callum

thats the most ridiculous thing I ever heard

Matt P

It's better for you to lose one part of your body than for the whole of it to be thrown into
hell.

Callum

Yeah, but she's so.... fit.

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Tony

Since when? (deb slaps)

Dario

Master, let me chastise the vixen.

Matt P

Get back there.

(almost sparring with Dario)
Now if you right hand offends you I want you to cut it off and fling it away. (Matts hand
trick)

Deb

Aw, c'mon!

Matt P

Now look, it's better for you to lose one part of your body than for the whole of it to be
thrown into hell.

Matt P and
Deb

(in a Vicar of Dibley style) Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes , yes, yes no no, no, no, no, no,
no, yes.

Matt P

You've heard that they were told; An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But what I
tell you is this: Never set yourself against a man who wrongs you.
So if someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn and offer him your left.

Dario

Oh, Jeeesus Ch...

(Someone slaps her hand over Dario's mouth.)

Matt P

Now, if a man sues you for your shirt

All

Charades!
GIVE HIM YOUR COAT AS WELL!
Yay! (Handclapping, cheers, bravos, etc.)

Matt P

Now, if a man in authority asks you to go one mile with him...

Dario

Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Let's hear it from

.. (weightlifter appears).

Matt P

Now if a man in authority asks you to go one mile with him...

All

Go with him two!

Matt P

Give when you are asked to give

And never turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

Lottie

Hey, you wanna see a show?

Matt P

At these prices?

Lottie

A man was on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell in amongst robbers, who
beat him, stripped him, and left, leaving him half dead. It so happened that a priest came
upon the place and saw him and went past to the other side. So, too, a judge came to
the place and saw him and went past to the other side.
But, a Samaritan who was making the journey came upon him, and when he saw him,
was moved to pity. He went up and bandaged his wounds, bathing them in oil and wine.
Then he put him onto his own beast, brought him to an inn, and looked after him there.
The next day he produced two pieces of silver and said, "Look after him and if you spend
anymore, I will repay you on the way back."

Matt P

You have learned that you were told, "Love you neighbour, hate your enemy," but what I
tell you is this,

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"Love, love, love, your enemies.
And pray for your persecutors.
Amie

You don't mean...?

Matt P

I do! Only so can you be called the Children of your Heavenly Father who makes the sun
rise and set on good and bad alike, and sends the rain on the honest and the dishonest.
Now if you greet only those who greet you, what reward can you expect? Surely the tax
gatherers do as much as that and if you love only those who love you, what is there
extraordinary in that? Even the heathen do as much. No, your goodness must know no
bounds, just as your heavenly Father's goodness knows no limit.
But, be careful not to make a show of your religion before men.

All

Oh.

Matt P

Because if you do, no reward awaits you in the kingdom of my Father.

When you do some act of charity, don't announce it with a flourish of trumpets, as the
heathen do in the synagogues and in the streets. I tell you they do it just to win
admiration from men. No, when you do some act of charity
don't let your right hand know... what your left hand is doing.
(Thumb light trick)

All

Ohhhhh.

Amie

Did you see that?

Matt P

Your good deed must be in secret.

Karla

Shhhhh! It's a secret!

Dario

What the Good Master is telling us is that when God tells a little secret the angels write it
down in a big... (confused ad lib)

Matt P

No, no, no. Your heavenly Father, who sees what is done in secret. He will what?

All

REWARD YOU! (Party poppers behind Dario)

Dario

(Parable staged as a clown scene involving Harry, Ben Carr, Callum H, George F, Sam)
There once was a rich man who dressed in purple and the finest linen,

Charlotte
S

That's me.

Dario

and every day feasted in the greatest magnificence. At his gate lay a poor man named
Lazarus who would have been glad to have satisfied his hunger with the scraps from the
rich man's table.
(Callum L plays the role of Lazarus)

Charlotte
S

Oh, my God, it's good!

Dario

Even the doggy-doggies used to come and lick his open, running sores.

All

Ooooouurghh!

Dario

Well, one day, the poor man died

and was carried away by the angels
I said the angels
(Laura, Jess L & Kande act the role of angels)
to be with Abraham.

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The rich man also died
and was buried in Hades.
Charlotte
S

Hello

All
demons

Hello

Dario

where he was in torment. He looked up and there, far away, was Abraham with
Lazarus close beside him.

Charlotte
S

Oh, Father Abraham, have pity on me; send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water
to cool my tongue for I am in agony in this fire.

Dan H

Remember, my child, that all the good things fell to you while you were on earth and all
the bad to Lewis

Dario

Lazarus (correcting Dan H)

Dan H

Abraham, nice to meet ya

and now it is he who has consolation here and it is you who are in agony. But that ain't
all; there's a great chasm between us and nobody from your side who wants to cross it
can, and no one from our side who wants to cross it can either.

Charlotte
S

Then, Father, send Lazarus to my Father's house where I have five brothers to warn
them that they too may not come to this place of torment.

Dan H

They've got Moses and the prophets. Let 'em listen to them.

Charlotte
S

But if some one from the dead should rise, then they would listen.

Dan H

Look, if they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, they ain't gonna listen to nobody,
even if someone should rise from the dead.

All

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.

(Music cue.)

Song 05 LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL

I can see a swath of sinners settin' yonder and they're actin' like a pack of fools
Gazing into space they let their minds all wander stead of studying the good Lord's rules
You better pay attention, build your comprehension
There's gonna be a quiz at your ascension
Not to mention any threat of hell
But if you're smart, you'll learn your lessons well
Every bright description of the promised land meant you can reach it if you keep alert
Learning every line and every last commandment may not help you, but it couldn't hurt
First you gotta read 'em, then you gotta heed 'em
You never know when you're gonna need 'em
Just as old Elijah said to Jezebel
You better start to learn your lessons well
The lamb of the body is the eye
If youre eye sees bad, your whole body will be darkness
And if darkness is all around your soul will be doubly unbright
But if your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light
Your whole body will be filled with light

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Your whole body will be filled with light
Dan
I can't see!
Callum
What's the matter?
Dan
Because I've got my eyes shut!
LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL
Every bright description of the promised land meant
You can reach it if you keep alert
Learning every line and every last commandment
May not help you, but it couldn't hurt
First you gotta read 'em, then you gotta heed 'em
You never know when you're gonna need 'em
Just as old Elijah said to Jezebel
You better start to learn your lessons well.
Matt P

Now, no servant shall be the slave of two masters. Either he will love the first and hate
the second

Ruth

I love you (pointing to Amie) but I hate you (pointing to Deb)

Matt

or be devoted to the second and think nothing of the first.

Ruth

I am devoted to you (pointing to Deb) Whatever (aimed at Amie)

Matt

No man can serve God...

(Staged with Matt T, Lottie, Emily)

All

What!?

Matt P

and money!

All

Money, money,. money, guilders, rupees,

Matt T

(Dressing up box)
There once was a rich man, whose land yielded heavy crops. He debated with himself:
"Oh what am I to do?" he said. "I have not the room to store my produce. Ahh, this is
what I will do," he said. "I will tear down my storehouses and make them bigger. I will
collect in the all my corn and popcorn and tuna surprise, and M&Ms, and then I will say
to myself, 'Man, you have a plenty of good things laid by you, enough to last you many
years. Take life easy. Eat. Drink. Enjoy yourself.' But, then God said to the man, "You
fool, this very night you must surrender your life. You have made your money. Who will
get it now?"

Song 06 OH BLESS THE LORD MY SOUL

Matt Trembling
O Bless the Lord, my soul!
His grace to thee proclaim
And all that is within me join
To bless his holy name!
Oh Yeah
O Bless the Lord, my soul!
His mercies bear in mind!
Forget not all his benefits!
The Lord to thee is kind.

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He will not always chide
He will with patience wait
His wrath is ever slow to rise
(O bless the lord) And ready to abate
(O bless the lord) And ready to abate
(O bless the lord) And ready to abate
(And ready to abate) (And ready to abate) And ready to abate
Oh Yeah
He pardons all thy sins (all thy sins)
Prolongs thy feeble breath (feeble breath)
He healeth thine infirmities
And ransoms thee from death
O bless the Lord my soul (O bless the Lord my soul)
He clothes thee with his love (with his love)
Upholds thee with his truth (with his truth)
And like the eagle he renews
The vigour of thy youth
Then bless his holy Name
Whose grace hath made thee whole
Whose loving kindness crowns thy days
(Oh bless the Lord) Bless the lord my soul
(Oh bless the Lord) Bless the lord my soul
(Oh bless the Lord) Bless the lord, bless the Lord, O bless the Lord my soul
Oh bless the lord my soul
Oh bless the lord my soul
Oh bless the lord my soul
Oh bless the lord my soul
Oh bless the lord my soul
Oh bless the lord my soul
Oh bless the lord my soul
Oh bless the lord my soul
Bless the Lord
Bless the Lord
Bless the Lord
Bless the Lord
Bless the Lord
Bless the Lord
Bless the Lord
Bless the Lord
My Soul
O bless the Lord (O bless the Lord) my soul
O bless the Lord my soul
Matt P

Therefore I bid you put away anxious thoughts about food and clothes to cover your
body. Surely life is more than food...
and the body more than clothes.

Adam

Her body is more than clothes. Look, I'll show ya!

Matt P

Consider the lilies of the field.

Ruth

Im Lilly of the Valley. whats occurring?

Karla

Im Lilly Savage.alright our kid?

Amie

And Im Lilly the Pink

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Matt P

They don't work, they don't spin, and yet I tell you, Solomon in all his splendour was not
attired like one of these.

Ruth

I will not lie to you.. look yer. we are beautiful!

Matt P

Now, if that's how God clothes the grass which is here today
and tomorrow is thrown on the fire, will he not all the more clothe you?
How little faith you have! So don't go around anxiously saying, "What am I to eat, what
am I to drink?"

Adam

What are we to eat?

All

Don't ask that!

Matt P

Set your mind where?

All

God.

Matt P

God's kingdom and His justice and all the rest will come to you as well. So don't worry
about tomorrow. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has problems of its own.

Callum

Master, Master! Blessed are the poor in spirit...

Matt P

For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

Deb

Blessed are they that mourn...

Matt P

For they shall be comforted.

Adam

Blessed are the meek...

Matt P

For they shall inherit the earth.

Jess F

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice...

Matt P

For they shall be filled.

James

Blessed are the merciful...

Matt P

For they shall have mercy.

Charlotte
S
Matt P

Blessed are the poor in heart...

Tony

Blessed are the peacemakers...

Matt P

For they shall be called the children of God

Lottie

Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake...

Matt P

For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

Dario

Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil
against you falsely.

Matt P

Did I ever tell you that I used to read feet? No, it's true; some people read palms and tea
leaves, I read feet.
Look what it says. It says rejoice.

For they shall see God.

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Deb

No it dont, it sez made in China

Matt P

No no, rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in Heaven.

Song 07 ALL FOR THE BEST

Matt P
When you feel sad, or under a curse
Your life is bad, your prospects are worse
Your wife is sighing, crying,
And your olive tree is dying
Temples are greying
And teeth are decaying
And creditors weighing your purse
Your mood and your robe are both a deep blue
You'd bet that Job had nothing on you
Don't forget that
When you go to heaven you'll be blest
Yes, it's all for the best.
Dario
Some men are born to live at ease
Doing what they please
Richer than the bees are in honey
Never growing old
Never feeling cold
Pulling pots of gold from thin air
The best in every town
Best at shaking down
Best at making mountains of money
They can't take it with them
But what do they care?
They get the center of the meat
Cushions on the seat
Houses on the street where it's sunny
Summers at the sea
Winters warm and free
All of this and we get the rest
But who is the land for?
The sun and the sand for?
You guessed It's all for the best.
Matt P

Now, how can you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye, when all the time
there's this great plank in your own?

Dario

I don't know. How can you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye when all
the time there's this great plank in your own?

Matt P

Or, how can you take the speck of sawdust out of your brother's eye when all the time
there's this great plank in your own?

Dario

I don't know. How can you take the speck of sawdust out of your brother's eye when all
the time there's this great plank in your own?

Matt P

You hypocrite!
First take the plank out of your own eye so you can see clearly enough to take the speck
of sawdust out of your brother's.

Dario

Wait a minute! That's no answer to the question!

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Matt P

Did I promise an answer to the question?

When you feel sad, or under a curse

Your life is bad, your prospects are worse
Your wife is sighing, crying,
And your olive tree is dying
Temples are greying
And teeth are decaying
And creditors weighing your purse
Your mood and your robe are both a deep blue
You'd bet that Job had nothing on you
Don't forget that
When you go to heaven you'll be blest
Yes, it's all for the best.
Matt P
All your wrongs will be redressed.
All
Yes, it's all for...
Matt P
You must never be distressed.
All
Yes, it's all for...
Dario
Someone's got to be oppressed.
All
Yes, it's all for the best.
Matt P

Judge not that you yourself shall not be judged.

For whatever you deal out to others
will be dealt back to you.

Ben F

(with other mime artists behind him)

(Deb and Callum lead juggling)
A sower went to sow some seed and as he sowed some seed fell along the footpath
where it was trampled on (Kieron big clown shoes) and the birds ate it up.

Jess
Ruth

and

Tweet, tweet, tweet.

Ben F

(Seeds played by Lottie, Karla & Adam)

Some seed fell on rock. (Nathan jumps)
And after coming up, withered for lack of moisture.
Some seed fell in among the weeds

Dan,
Emily,
Matt T &
Dario

Weeeeeeeds

Ben F

.and the weeds grew up with it and choked.

And some of the seed fell into good soil.

Charlotte
S,
Amie,
James &
Tony

Hey, that's us!

Ben F

And it grew, and it yielded a hundredfold.

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Matt P

If you have ears to hear, then listen, listen, for this is what the parable means. Do you
know what the seed is?

Ben F

A baby!

Matt P

No! The seed is the word of God, and that seed which fell along the footpath represents
those who hear the Word, but then the Devil comes and carries them off for fear they
should believe and be saved.

Jess

Oy! (Dario enters and carries Jess off)

Matt P

And that which fell upon rock, oh, they receive the word with joy when they first hear it,
but they have no root and so in time of testing they desert.
Oh, and that which fell among the weeds, they hear the Word, but their further growth is
impaired by cares and wealth and pleasures of the world.
Oh, no, no, no! They bring nothing to fruit.

Ben F

No fruit.

Matt P

But, that which fell among good soil Hey, good soil, good soil They hear the word with a good and honest heart and through their perseverance, yield
a harvest.

Song 08 ALL GOOD GIFTS

Ben F
We plough the fields, and scatter
The good seed on the land
But it is fed and watered
By God's almighty hand
He sends the snow in winter
The warmth to swell the grain
The breezes and the sunshine
And soft refreshing rain
All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above
Then thank the Lord, O, thank the Lord
For all his love
Matt P
So don't store your treasure on earth, where it grows rusty and moth-eaten, and thieves break in to
steal it. No, store up your treasure in heaven, where there is no moth and no rust and no thief breaks
in to steal it. For where your treasure is, so will your heart be also.
All
We thank thee, then, O Father
For all things bright and good
The seed time and the harvest
Our life, our health, our food
No gifts have we to offer
For all thy love imparts
But that which thou desirest
Our humble thankful hearts
All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above
Then thank the Lord, O, thank the Lord
For all his love
I really want to thank you lord

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Godspell
(All good gifts around us) I want to thank you Lord
(Are sent from heaven above) Thank you for all of your love
I want to thank you Lord
(All good gifts around us) I want to love
O thank you Lord
Breakdance section
Nathan

Once upon a time there was a man who had two sons and the younger said to his father

Adam

Father, give me my share of the property.

Nathan

So, he divided his estate between them. A few days later the younger son turned the
whole of his share into cash and left home for a distant country, where he squandered it
in reckless living. He had spent it all, when a severe famine fell upon the country and he
began to feel the pinch.

Adam

Ouch!

Nathan

So he decided to attach himself to one of the local landowners who sent him to the field
to mind the pigs.

Dario

Pigs!

Karla

Pigs?

Dario

Pigs!

Nathan

He would have been glad to have filled his belly with the pods that the pigs were eating,
but no one gave him anything. Then he came to his senses and said

Adam

How many of my father's paid servants have more food than they can eat, and here I am
starving to death. I will set off and I will go to my father and I will say to him: "Father, I
have sinned against God and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat
me as one of your paid servants.

Nathan

So he set out for his father's house, but while he was still a long way off, his father saw
him and his heart went out to him. The son ran to meet his father, threw his arms around
him, and kissed him, saying

Adam

"Father, I have sinned against God and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your
son; treat me as one of your paid servants.

Nathan

But the father called to one of his servants

James

"Kvick, fetch me my robe, my best one, put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet and
bring the fatted calf and kill it - a nice Kosher vun - and let us have a veast to celebrate
the day, for this son of mine was lost and is found."

Nathan

And the festivities began.

Dario

Now, the elder son was out on the farm, working;

And on his way back, as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He
called to one of the servants and asked him what it meant. The servant said

Ruth

Uh, uh, uh, your nephew - nope, nope, nope, your brother-in-law, nope, nope, nope your cousin - your brother, your, your brother's come back home again and your father's
killed the fatted calf cause he has him back safe and sound, yup, yup, yup!

Dario

But the brother was irritated.

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Tony

Oh, c'mon!

Dario

He was pretty damned mad! And refused to go in the house. The father came out and
pleaded with him but he retorted, saying

Tony

"You know how I've worked for you all these years and I never once disobeyed your
orders and you never gave me so much as a kid for a feast with my friends, but once this
son of yours turns up, after running through your money with his women you kill the
fatted calf for him.

James

My boy, you are always with me and everything I have his yours. Now, how could we
help but celebrate this happy day, for your brother here was dead and has come back to
life - metaphorically speaking - was lost and is found."

Tony &
Adam

(whining)
No, I don't wanna. Please don't make me, Jesus... oh, all right!

Matt P

Is there a man among you who will offer his son a stone when he asks for bread?

All

Is there a man among you who will offer his son a stone when he asks for bread?

Matt P

A snake if he asks for fish?

All

No!

Matt P

Well if you now, bad as you are, now, know how to give your children what is good for
them, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things...

All

Good things! Good things! Good things! Good things! Good things! Yeah!

Matt P

... to those who ask for them. Always treat others as you would have then treat you

All

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Matt P

Well, that is the law and the prophets.

All
The law and the prophets
The law and the prophets
The law and the prophets
The law and the prophets
The law and the prophets
The law and the prophets
The law and the prophets
Song 09 LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Solo
You are the light of the world!
All
You are the light of the world.
Solo
But if that light's under a bushel
It's lost something kind of crucial.
All
You've got to stay bright
To be the light of the world
Solo
You are the salt of the earth.

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All
You are the salt of the earth.
Solo
But if that salt has lost its flavour
It ain't got much in its favour
All
You can't have that fault and be the salt of the earth
So let your light so shine before men
Let your light so shine
So that they might know some kindness again
We all need help to feel fine
Solo
Let's have some wine!
Solo
You are the City of God
All
You are the City of God
Solo
But if that city's on a hill
It's kind of hard to hide it well
All
You've got to stay pretty in the City of God
So let your light so shine before men
Let your light so shine
So that they might know some kindness again
We all need help to feel fine
(Let's have some wine!)
Solo
You are the light of the world
All
You are the light of the world
Solo
But the tallest candlestick
Ain't much good without a wick
All
You've got to live right to be the light of the world
Matt P
We're gonna take a little break now, but in the mean time, we'd like to invite you all up on the stage or
back out there for a tea, coffee, soft drinks, sweets and ice cream... go outside, smoke a cigarette, get
some fresh air. We'll be back in fifteen minutes or so, and thank you all very much for coming.
END ACT I

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ACT TWO
Song 10 LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL (reprise)
Deb
I can see a swath of sinners settin' yonder and they're actin' like a pack of fools
Gazing into space they let their minds all wander stead of studying the good Lord's rules
You better pay attention, build your comprehension
There's gonna be a quiz at your ascension
Not to mention any threat of hell
But if you're smart, you'll learn your lessons well
Every bright description of the promised land meant you can reach it if you keep alert
Learning every line and every last commandment may not help you, but it couldn't hurt
First you gotta read 'em, then you gotta heed 'em
You never know when you're gonna need 'em
Just as old Elijah said to Jezebel
You better start to learn your lessons well
Song 11 TURN BACK, O MAN
Lottie, Jess F, Charlotte S & Emily Cavill
Turn back, O man, forswear thy foolish ways
Old now is earth, and none may count her days, Da, da, da, da, da
Yet thou, her child, whose head is crowned with flame
Still wilt not hear thine inner God proclaim
Turn back, O man (Hi ya, sweetie)
Turn back, O man (Eat your heart out)
Turn back, O man (Can you take it?)
Forswear thy foolish ways
(See ya later I'm going to the front of the theatre.)
Earth might be fair, and all men glad and wise (Howm doin)
Age after age their tragic empires rise, Da, da, da, da, da
Built while they dream, and in that dreaming weep
Would man but wake from out his haunted sleep
Turn back, O man (Get the picture?)
Turn back, O man (Can ya see from where you're sittin'?)
(To Stephen)
Turn back, O man (Hi ya, big boy!)
Forswear thy foolish ways.
Matt P
Earth shall be fair, and all her people one
Not till that hour shall God's whole will be done
Now, even now, once more from earth to sky
Peals forth in joy, man's old undaunted cry
Earth shall be fair, and all her people one
Sonia
C'mere, Jesus, I got something to show ya!
All
Turn back, O man, forswear thy foolish ways
Old now is earth, and none may count her days, Da, da, da, da, da
Yet thou, her child, whose head is crowned with flame
Still wilt not hear thine inner God proclaim
Turn back, O man
Turn back, O man

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Turn back, O man
Forswear
Thy
Foolish ways
Play it honey
Matt P

Stop!! This is the beginning.

Amie

By whose authority are you acting like this?

Charlotte
S
Matt P

Who gave you this authority?

Emily

If we say "from God," he will say, "Then why did you not believe?"

Karla

But if we say, "from men",...

Ruth

... the people...

Amie

... will be angry for they took John as a prophet.

All 5 girls
Matt P

We do not know.
Then neither will I tell you by whose authority I act, but I have a story for you; a man had
two sons
He went to the first, and said,

Tony

My son, go and work in the vineyard today.

James

I will go

Matt P

said the boy; but he never went. Then the father said to the second,

Tony

Now go my son, go and work in the vineyard today.

Callum

"I will not go,"

Matt P

said the son, but later on he changed his mind and went.
Now which of these two did as his father wished?

All 5 girls

The second.

Matt P

And I tell you this; tax gatherers and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of heaven,
because when John came and showed you the right way to live, you didn't believe him
but the tax gatherers and the prostitutes did, and even when you saw that you did not
change your minds and follow him.

Lottie

Master, you are an honest man. Give us your ruling on this: Are we or are we not
permitted to pay taxes to the Roman emperor?

Dario

You hypocrites!

Matt P

Show me the money in which the tax is paid.

Well, now, whose head is on here, whose inscription?

Adam

Caesar's.

Matt P

Then, pay Caesar what is due Caesar, but pay God what is due God.

Well, I have a question to ask you. Answer it and then I'll tell you by whose authority I
act. The baptism of John; was it from God or was it from man?

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Jess

Master, what is the greatest commandment of them all?

Matt P

Thou shalt love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and all your soul. This is the
greatest commandment of them all and the second is like it: Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. All the rest of the law, and all the prophets have written, is based
on these first two.
The doctors of the law and the Pharisees sit in the chair of Moses, therefore listen to
what they say, pay attention to their words, but do not follow their practices. For they say
one thing and do another. They make up heavy packs and pile them on men's shoulders
and they don't raise a finger to lift the load themselves. Everything they do is done for
show. Oh, they go about wearing broad phylacteries with large tassels on their robes.
They like to have their places of honour at feasts and at the synagogues and to be
greeted respectfully in the streets and to be called 'teacher.'
But you must not be called "teacher" for you have one teacher: the Messiah,
and you must not call any man on earth "Father" for you have only one Father and you
are all brothers, and you must call no man on earth "Rabbi" for you have one Rabbi and
he is in heaven.

Song 12 ALAS FOR YOU

Matt P
Alas, alas for you, lawyers and Pharisees
Hypocrites that you are
Sure that the kingdom of heaven awaits you
You will not venture half so far
Other men who might enter the gates you
Keep from passing through
Drag them down with you.
You snakes, you viper's brood
You cannot escape being devil's food
I send you prophets and I send you preachers
Sages and rages and ages of teachers
Nothing can mar your mood
Alas, alas for you, lawyers and Pharisees
Hypocrites to a man
Sons of the dogs who murdered the prophets
Finishing off what your fathers began
You don't have time to scorn or to scoff, it's
Getting very late
Vengeance doesn't wait.
You snakes, you viper's brood
You cannot escape being devil's food
I send you prophets and I send you preachers
Sages and rages and ages of teachers
Nothing can mar your mood
Blind guides! Blind fools!
The blood you've spilt
On you will fall
This nation, this generation
Shall bear the guilt of it all!
Alas, alas, alas for you
Blind fools!
Matt P

Oh, Jerusalem!

All 12
disciples

Oh, Jerusalem!

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Matt P

City that stones the prophets and murders the messengers sent to her. How often have I
longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you
would not let me!
(Wailing stops)
And so I tell, you shall never see me until the time when you say: "Blessing on him who
comes in the name of the Lord!"
But, take care that no one misleads you for many will come claiming my name and
saying, "I am the Messiah!", and many will be mislead by them, for the time is coming
when you will hear the noise of battle near at hand. For nation will make war upon
nation, kingdom upon kingdom; there will be famines and earthquakes in many places
but with all these things the birthpangs of a new age begin.
For as things were in Noah's days...

Callum

Happy Noah's Days!

Matt P

So will they be when the son of man comes.

Callum

C'mon animals. C'mon. There's a 73% chance of rain!

Matt P

For in the days before the flood, men ate and drank and married and they knew nothing
until the flood came and swept them all away.

All
disciples

Master, save us! Are you not afraid we shall be drowned?

Matt P

Have you no faith? Peace. Be still.

For when the son of man comes, there will be men working in the fields.
And of all these men working, one will be taken and the others left. Women! grinding at
the wheel and of all these women one will be taken and the others left. So keep awake
then for you never know on what day your Lord is to come.

All
disciples

Hah!

Matt P

Remember, if the householder had known what time the burglar was coming, he would
have stayed awake all night.

All
disciples

Ha-cha-cha-cha-cha!

Matt P

So keep awake, then, for the son of man will come at a time when you least expect him.
Who is the trusty servant?
The man charged by his master to take care of his servants and pay them at the proper
time. Well, happy is that servant who is at his job when his master comes, for I tell you,
he will be out in charge of all his master's property. But, what of the bad servant who sits
around saying, "Oh well, the master is a long time coming," and he begins bullying the
servants and eating and drinking with his drunken friends. I tell you this, the master will
come on a day when he does not know at a time he least expects and will cut him to
pieces. Then he'll take his place among the hypocrites...
where there is wailing...

All
disciples

Wailing!

Matt P

and gnashing of teeth.

All
disciples

Gnash, gnash, gnashing!

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Matt P

Remember, even a good runner, if he remains indifferent to the race, can never enter the
kingdom of my Father.

James

(Role of woman is played by Amie)

Master, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery and in the law that Moses has
laid down, such women are to be stoned.

Callum

Yeah, what do you say about it, mister?

Matt P

That the one of you who is faultless shall throw the first stone.

Jess

Oh boy!

Matt P

Where are they now? Has no one condemned you?

Amie

No one, sir.

Matt P

Nor do I condemn you. You may go. Do not sin again

Song 13 BY MY SIDE
Amie and Lottie
Where are you going? Where are you going?
Can you take me with you?
For my hand is cold and needs warmth
Where are you going?
Far beyond where the horizon lies, where the horizon lies
And the land sinks into mellow blueness
Oh please, take me with you
Let me skip the road with you
I can dare myself, I can dare myself
I'll put a pebble in my shoe
And watch me walk (watch me walk)
I can walk, and walk, and walk, and walk
I shall call the pebble Dare (I shall call the pebble Dare)
We will talk, together about walking
Dare shall be carried
And when we both have had enough
I will take him from my shoe, singing
Meet your new road
Then I'll take your hand
Finally glad (finally glad)
That you are here
By my side (by my side)
(By my side) By my side (By my side)
(By my side) By my side (By my side)
By my side
Jess
Then the man they called Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests, and said
Dario
What will you give me to betray Him to you?
Jess
They paid him thirty pieces of silver.
And from that moment, he began to look out for an opportunity to betray him.
By my side (by my side)
(By my side) By my side (By my side)
(By my side) By my side (By my side)

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By my side
Matt P

Now, when the Son of Man comes in all his glory with all his angels with him, he will sit in
state on his throne with all the nations gathered before him and he will separate the men
into two groups as a Ring Master separates the lions from the monkeys, and then he will
put the lions on his right and the monkeys on his left...

Callum

Lions on his right? OK.

Matt P

... and then he will say to those on his right

(Callum false roar with sound effect)

Lions

Miiiaoow!

Matt P

You have my father's blessing. Come and enter the kingdom that has been ready since
the world was made.
For when I was hungry, you gave me food, when I was thirsty, you gave me drink, when
I was naked and without a home, you took me to your house, and when I was ill and in
prison, you came to my aid.
(Monkey starts to move to the other side)
Hey, hey, hey get back there.

Monkey

Oooh ah ah ah!

Matt P

And they will say to him:

(Lion roars)

Callum

(Interpreting the lions roar)

What he actually said was Master, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you
food or thirsty and gave you drink?
(Lion roars again)
(Interpreting the lions roar)
Yeah, or in prison or helped you?

Matt P

And then he will say to them (Roar): Anything you did for one of your brothers here,
however humble, you did for me.

Matt T
(as lion)
Matt P

Oh, I get it!

Monkeys

Ooooh aaah aaah

Matt P

You go from my sight to the eternal fire...

... to the eternal fire, that has been ready for you with the devil and his angels, for when I
was hungry you didn't give me anything to eat, when I was thirsty you didn't give me
anything to drink, when I was naked and without a home, you didn't take me to your
house, and when I was ill and in prison, you didn't come to my aid. And then they will say
to him:

Nathan (as
gorilla)
Matt P

Aw, Master, if we'd a known it was you we woulda taken you to Monkey World.

Monkeys
Matt P

Then he will say to those on his left (Monkeys react): A curse is upon you!

And then he will say to them: Anything you did not do for one of my brothers here,
however humble, you did not do for me.
Oooh ah ah ah!!!!
Go take your place in eternal punishment!
(Monkeys scream)

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But the righteous shall have eternal life.
Song 14 WE BESEECH THEE
Tony
Father, hear Thy children's call
Humbly at thy feet we fall
Prodigals, confessing all
We beseech thee, hear us!
We thy call have disobeyed
Into paths of sin have strayed
And repentance have delayed
We beseech thee, hear us!
Come sing about Love!
That caused us first to be
Come sing about Love!
That made the stone and tree
Come sing about Love!
Love!
That draws us lovingly
We beseech thee, hear us!
Sick!
We come to thee for cure
Guilty!
We seek thy mercy sure
Evil!
We long to be made pure
We beseech thee, hear us!
Blind!
We pray that we may see
Bound!
We pray to be made free
Stained!
We pray for sanctity
We beseech thee, hear us!
Come sing about Love!
That caused us first to be
Come sing about Love!
That made the stone and tree
Come sing about Love!
Love!
That draws us lovingly
We beseech thee, hear us!
By the gracious saving call
Spoken tenderly to all

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Who have shared man's guilt and fall
We beseech thee, hear us!
By the love that longs to bless
Pitying our sore distress
Leading us to holiness
We beseech thee, hear us!
Grant us hope from earth to rise
And to strain with eager eyes
Towards the promised heavenly prize
We beseech thee, hear us!
Come sing about Love!
That caused us first to be
Come sing about Love!
That made the stone and tree
Come sing about Love!
Love!
That draws us lovingly
We beseech thee, hear us
Song 15 BEAUTIFUL CITY
Matt P
Out of the ruins and rubble
Out of the smoke
Out of our night of struggle
Can we see a ray of hope?
One pale thin ray reaching for the day
We can build a beautiful city
Yes, we can; yes, we can
We can build a beautiful city
Not a city of angels
But we can build a city of man
We may not reach the ending
But we can start
Slowly but truly mending
Brick by brick, heart by heart
Now, maybe now
We start learning how
We can build a beautiful city
Yes, we can; yes, we can
We can build a beautiful city
Not a city of angels
But we can build a city of man
When your trust is all but shattered
When your faith is all but killed
You can give up, bitter and battered
Or you can slowly start to build
A beautiful city
Yes, we can; yes, we can
We can build a beautiful city
Not a city of angels
But finally a city of man
A city of man

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Matt P

I tell you this: One of you among us will betray me.

All

Can it be me, Lord?

Dario

Rabbi, can you mean me?

Matt P

The words are yours. Do quickly what you have to do.

Take this and eat; eat for this is my body.
Take this and drink for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant shed for the
forgiveness of sins, and I tell you I shall never again drink from the fruit of the vine until I
drink it again with you in the kingdom of my Father.

Song 16 ON THE WILLOWS

Dario
On the willows there, we hung up our lives
For our captors there required
Of us songs and our tormentors mirth
On the willows there, we hung up our lives
For our captors there required
Of us songs and our tormentors mirth
Saying
Sing us one of the songs of Zion
Sing us one of the songs of Zion
Sing us one of the songs of Zion
But how can we sing
Sing the Lords song
In a foreign land
On the willows there, we hung up our lives
Matt P

Stay here while I go over there to pray. My heart is ready to break with grief. Stop here
and stay awake with me.

Another verse of on the willows - just Dario

Matt P

Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass me by, yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.
What! Could none of you stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and be spared the
test. Oh, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
I tell you this, tonight before the cock crows you will all betray me three times.
Father, if it be not possible for this cup to pass me by without my drinking from it, thy will
be done.

James

If you are the son of God, turn these stones into bread!

Matt P

Man does not live by bread alone. He lives on every word that God utters.

Jess

If you are the son of God, throw yourself down, for Scripture says: "He will send his
angels down to support you and they will hold you in their arms."

Matt P

You shall not tempt the Lord your God.

Tony

All these things I will give you if you will do me homage.

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Matt P

Be gone, Satan!
You shall do homage to the Lord your God and worship him alone.
(Dario returns)
Friend, do quickly what you have to do.
Put down the sword; he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.
Do you not suppose that I could appeal to my Father who would at once send to me
twelve legions of angels?
Do you take me for a bandit, that you come after me with swords and cudgels? Day after
day I sat teaching in the synagogues and you didn't come after me then, but all this has
happened to fulfil what the prophets have written.

Song 17 FINALE
Matt P
Oh God, I'm bleeding!
Oh God, I'm bleeding!
Oh God, you're bleeding!
Oh God, I'm dying!
Oh God, you're dying!
Oh God, I'm dying!
Oh God, I'm dead!
Oh God, you're dead!
Oh God, you're dead!
Oh God, you're dead!
Solo
Long live God
Long live God
Long live God
Long live God
All
Long live God
Long live God
Long live God
Long live God
Long live God
Long live God

God save the people

We may not reach the ending
But we can start
God save the people
Slowly but truly mending
Brick by brick, heart by heart
Now, maybe now
We start learning how

Long Live God

Long live God

Long live God
Long live God
Long live God
Long live God

Prepare ye
The way of the Lord
Prepare ye

We can build a beautiful city

Yes, we can; yes, we can
We can build a beautiful city
Yes, we can; yes, we can
We can build a beautiful city
Yes, we can; yes, we can
We can build a beautiful city
Not a city of angels
But we can
Build a city of man

Prepare ye

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Godspell
Long live God
Long live God

The way of the lord

Prepare ye

Long live God

Long live God

The way of the lord

Prepare ye
The way of the lord
Prepare ye
The way of the lord

THE END
(Matt P and Company return for curtain call.)

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