''The Gospel Truth''

Sets, Props, Costumes

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Sets, Props, Costumes

Sets

''The Gospel Truth'' is written to be performed on an open stage with very few set pieces needed:

Throughout the show a low, sizable platform is downstage right, providing the acting area for the Four Gospels, from which they can look back and down on the reenacted scenes.
Another small platform with a step or two leading down is upstage left for entrances from the temple by Scribes and others.
Scene 9 - Jairus' house is suggested by the bottom half of a doorframe.
Scene 12 - two small tables are needed for Jesus to knock over.

Any other set pieces are at the producer's, director's and designer's discretion.

Special Effects

''The Gospel Truth'' calls for a few special effects:

Scenes 4 and 11 - ''Thunder booms and the skies darken.''

Scene 9 - blood seemingly spilled, then disappearing as a Woman touches Jesus' clothes.
This has been performed effectively when the Woman has her back to the audience as she touches Jesus. The audience doesn't know she's supposed to have blood on her at first. After she touches Jesus, she is returned to normal and can face the audience. Stage blood on the front half of surrounding actors' arms and clothes, which they subtly show to the audience but quickly switch around as they shift their body positions to look at the Woman, can help give the impresion of general redness which vanishes.

Scene 11 - ''Jesus' face shines like the sun and his clothes become white in the light. Jesus is joined by Elijah and Moses, equally white.''

Scene 13 - Peter lopping off Malchus' ear.
This has been performed effectively when Peter swipes at Malchus' upstage ear. Malchus drops the bloody ear on the ground with his upstage arm shielded by his upstage leg, then covers his upstage ear with his hand. Jesus picks up the bloody ear, walks upstage of Malchus, puts the bloody ear in the long sleeve of the arm Malchus uses to cover his ear. Jesus says a silent prayer, Malchus releases his hand and his ''real ear is back in place''.

Scene 14 - a rooster crows

Props

Scene   2 - doll (baby Jesus)
Scene   4 - a basin of water (to baptize)
Scene   5 - a Holy Book
Scene   6 - fishing nets
Scene   8 - a tear-away shirt, bandages, money, robe, sandals, ring
Scene   9 - wooden box (to stand on), mat, blankets
Scene 10 - four lists (of miracles)
Scene 12 - palms, money, church coins (in covered tins),
                        birds in cages, two small tables
Scene 13 - low table, bread, drinking cup, oil in small container,
                        towel, basin of water (to wash feet), sword,
                        bloody ear, short thin rope
Scene 15 - basin of water (to wash hands), towel

Costumes

A wide range of Biblical attire is called for, as elaborate as the designer wishes to make it. In addition, ''gravecloths'' are required for Lazarus in Scene 10.