That Night

Two thousand years, on a bitterly cold snowy evening in Bethlehem, a baby was born in a barn. We know the story only because of the myths that have arisen about it over many centuries-but there was a witness. Grandfather Bunny saw the story unfold with his own eyes. This is the tale he shares with his own grandchildren. We watch the farmer taking in three traveling princes and leaving a poor tradesman and his wife to sleep with the animals in the barn: the exhausted donkey, the suspicious aristocratic camels of the princes, the cow down from the high pasture, and the sheep in from the fields with their two keepers. When the young wife gives birth to a beautiful baby boy on the frozen dark evening, they all try to help. But none can play the role of Grandfather Bunny in saving the baby on His first night of life. This play, based on the book of the same name, show us Grandfather Bunny's story of That Night. The 25-minute play is based on the Nativity story. However, Grandfather Bunny has no understanding of who the actors represent and simply wants to help a baby in trouble. It is intended for 4-10 year old children to play in a classroom or school/church stage. There are small speaking roles for 10 children and non-speaking acting roles for 8 additional children. Staging and props are simple and readily available. Music as Christmas songs at the beginning and end would be a nice touch.