Here’s a readers’ theatre setting of Luke 16: 19-31,
the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. It is set for three voices.
Readers’
Theatre:
Parable
of the Rich Man and Lazarus
(Luke 16: 19-31)
One: Jesus said,
There was a certain rich man
who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine
linen
and who lived each day in luxury.
At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus
who was covered with sores.
As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from
the rich man’s table,
the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
Finally, the poor man died
and was carried by the angels to be with
Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and his soul went to the place of the
dead.
There, in torment,
he saw Abraham in the far distance with
Lazarus at his side.
The rich man shouted,
Two: Father Abraham, have some pity!
Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his
finger in water
and cool my tongue.
I am in anguish in these flames.
One: But Abraham said to him,
Three: Son, remember that during your lifetime
you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus
had nothing.
So now he is here being comforted, and you
are in anguish.
And besides, there is a great chasm
separating us.
No one can cross over to you from here,
and no one can cross over to us from there.
One: Then the rich man said,
Two: Please, Father Abraham,
at least send him to my father’s home.
For I have five brothers, and I want him to
warn them
so they don’t end up in this place of
torment.
One: But Abraham said,
Three: Moses and the prophets have warned them.
Your brothers can read what they wrote.
Two: No, Father Abraham!
But if someone is sent to them from the dead,
then they will repent of their sins and turn
to God.
One: But Abraham said,
Three: If they won’t listen to Moses and the
prophets,
they won’t listen even if someone rises from
the dead.
