THE DEVILS OF MAGDALA

An Easter Play in Two Acts
by Jewell Ellen Smith

Published in 1973 by the U.S. Army Aviation Center and School at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, in “How to Present a Good Friday Prayer Breakfast”. All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. Nonprofit groups may perform this play without charge, however Jewell’s children ask that if you plan to perform it, you e-mail Jewell’s older son David at DSmith1204@aol.com, particularly if you have questions or problems.

Click here to go to the Jewell Ellen Smith Homepage

"Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with Him, as they mourned and wept." Mark 16:9-10

THEME: Christ lives within our hearts.

Sub-Theme: Our Lord can drive out the evil within us and replace it with the good.

PLACE AND TIME: Jerusalem, when Jesus of Nazareth was crucified.

RÉSUMÉ OF ACTION: As Mary Magdalene (or “Mary of Magdala”), Salome, and Mary of Cleopas sit near the tomb of the crucified and buried Christ, two Roman guards on duty talk, ask the women to leave the garden.

The women sing (as a trio): "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?" Then, leave.

As the women walk on toward the home of Mary of Cleopas, Mary Magdalene tells how Satan sent seven devils up from hell to dwell in her heart. The devils come, singing a rowdy song one of them has composed, and move into Mary Magdalene's "heart-house."

Mary Magdalene continues her story, showing how Jesus came and sent the devils back to hell. Nine "Gifs of the Spirit" replace the seven demons.

Mary Magdalene and the Nine sing a triumphant song titled "The Gifts of the Spirit." And the "Gifts" go into Mary's heart.

The three women resume their walk toward the home of Mary of Cleopas, where they prepare burial spices. On the first day of the week they return to the tomb, carrying the spices. They talk with two angels. Mary Magdalene sees the Risen Lord. The women rush to tell the disciples that the Lord lives.

Mary Magdalene's solo, "He Lives," leads into the grand finale, showing Christ standing in the door of Mary's heart, with the Girls of the Spirit gathered around. All players come on stage and join in finishing the hymn: "He Lives, Christ Jesus lives today ... within my heart."

HYMNS AND SONGS:

Spiritual "Were You There?" Available in standard hymnals.

"He Lives," by Alfred H. Ackley, available in hymnals.

"The Devils of Magdala," and "The Girls of the Spirit," both by Jewell Ellen Smith, included in this play.

LENGTH OF PLAY: About 25 minutes.

FOUR SETS OF SCENERY NEEDED: The tomb in the garden; Mary's heart-house; hell; breakfast room in the home of Mary of Cleopas.

COSTUMES: "Satan" wears a costume consisting of a red cape, a tail, and a hood fitted around the head, with "horns." "Devils" wear similar costumes which may be black. "Satan" and each "devil" wear large signs depicting their name, visible to the audience. "Satan" also has a pitchfork. "Angels" wear white; those designated as "Girls of the Spirit" wear attractive shoulder bands with the name of each "Gift." Other angels may wear "wings" of frilly paper. You may get ideas for costumes for the other characters from Church literature and Sunday School books.

PLAYERS: Total number of characters is 51. Fewer players are needed, if some take double roles. "Girls of Spirit" sing, but have no lines. Their song is written for female voices. Satan and all demons except "Immorality" and perhaps "Deceit" may be males.

CAST, in the order of their appearance:

First Roman Guard
Second Roman Guard
Salome
Mary of Cleopas
Mary Magdalene
Satan
Seven Devils of Magdala:

1. Hate
2. Cruelty
3. Envy
4. Selfishness G.
5. Immorality
6. Wickedness
7. Deceit

Christ Figure
Peter
John

Gifts of the Spirit:

1. Love
2. Peace
3. Joy
4. Gentleness
5. Faith
6. Goodness
7. Humility
8. Temperance
9. Patience

Sons of Mary of Cleopas

James the Less
Joses
Jude
Simon

First Angel
Second Angel

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES:

The action takes place in Jerusalem in the afternoon Jesus was crucified, and early on the morning of His resurrection.

Act I

Scene 1: In the Garden. "And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary (with Salome), sitting over against the sepulcher." Mark 27:61, 65. Here Pilate had set a watch or guard of soldiers.

Scene 2: En route to the home of Mary of Cleopas. "And they (the women) returned and prepared spices and ointments..." Luke 23:56

Scene 3: At the door of hell, "the place of everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Matthew 25:41

Scenes 4 and 5: Mary's heart and home in Magdala, near Tiberius, in the days when "... devils came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And He rebuking them suffered them not to speak." Luke 4:41

Act II

Scenes 1 and 2: At the home of Mary of Cleopas, and on the route to the Garden. "Upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning (when) they went.., bringing the spices." Luke 24:1

Scenes 3 and 4: At the empty tomb. "And the angel said unto the women, Fear not ye... He is risen." Matt. 28:5-7

"... And He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils." Mark 16:9

Scene 5: Back at the home of Mary of Cleopas. "and she (Mary Magdalene) went and told them that had been with Him, as they mourned and wept... and they believed not." Mark 16:10

SCRIPT

ACT I, Scene 1

Two Roman soldiers assigned to guard duty at the newly sealed tomb of Jesus of Nazareth take their places in front of the sepulcher. Nearby, in the same garden, three women of Jerusalem stand, looking at the tomb, weeping, and watching the soldiers.

1^ST SOLDIER: I don't like this assignment! The very idea of standing guard at the tomb of some crucified carpenter from Nazareth!

2^ND SOLDIER: I don't like it either. But he wasn't just a carpenter! Didn't you hear what our Centurion said about him while he was still hanging on the cross?

1^ST SOLDIER: I wasn't there--thank the gods! Somebody told me it was terrible! Like no other crucifixion. An earthquake! And the sun didn't shine for three hours! The graves came open, and the dead walked! I would have been scared out of my hide!

2^ND SOLDIER: Don't think we weren't frightened! Our Centurion was afraid too. He said this Jesus of Nazareth was "truly ... the Son of God!" Those were his exact words: "truly ... the Son of God!"

1^ST SOLDIER: Maybe he was! The sign nailed up over his head said: "King of the Jews."--Say, do you see those three Jewish women standing over there? We'd better send them away.

2^ND SOLDIER: Right! Our orders are to keep a strict watch, not let anybody near the door of this tomb. But you've got to tell the women! Not me!

First soldier walks over to the three women. As they see him coming, they step back in fear.

1^ST SOLDIER: You women will have to leave this garden. Orders of Pilate! You understand?

SALOME: Yes. We understand. We were just here to see where they had lain our Lord. Were you there when they crucified him?

1^ST SOLDIER: What did you say?

Three women sing as trio: "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?"

1^ST SOLDIER: No, lady, I wasn't there. Now you three be on your way!

MARY of CLEOPAS: We will. We will. Come, Mary Magdalene and Salome, let us go to my home. There we can prepare some spices to anoint our Lord's body. And after the Sabbath passes, we will come back to the tomb and bring them.

The three leave, Mary of Cleopas and Salome in front, Mary M. dragging behind, still weeping bitterly. Salome turns back to urge Mary Magdalene to come along.

Scene 2

If a theater-in-the-round technique is being used, there is no break between scenes 1 and 2. The women merely walk slowly to the area where a curtain hides the "Heart House."

SALOME: Come along, dear Mary Magdalene. Mary of Cleopas has invited us to go to her home, where we can prepare the burial spices. Come, come, now. Please don't weep so bitterly.

MARY MAGDALENE: You don't know how I loved Him! You don't know what He has done for me! You don't know! You don't know! Keeps crying, wiping her eyes.

SALOME: We all loved Him. He was our Lord. Our Master. We all loved Him.

MARY of CLEOPAS: Yes, we are all very sad. Our hearts are broken. But we must not give way to grief. When we reach my home, I will prepare you some food. My sons will be there. They are His apostles, as you well know. They, too, are broken hearted. Dry your eyes, now.

MARY MAGDALENE: But you don't know about my heart. I never told either of you. Our Lord cast seven devils out of my heart!

SALOME: Seven devils?

MARY of CLEOPAS: You poor dear! How did it come about?

MARY MAGDALENE: You will let me tell you how it was?

SALOME: Of course we will! Perhaps the telling will make you feel better. Was it long ago?

MARY MAGDALENE: It happened about three years ago when our Lord first began His ministry. That was when I lived in Magdala, not far from Tiberius, on the west shore of the Sea of Galilee. Begins weeping again.

SALOME: Comforts Mary Magdalene You mentioned your heart?

MARY MAGDALENE: Yes! My heart was like a big empty house, with a wide-open door.

Curtains open to show Heart-house. Mary Magdalene walks toward the door, keeps talking as other two women sit down on a low bench.

Scene 3

Heart-house. Same as above. Mary M. may sit down on a stool as she says the following three lines and the spotlight is focused on the door of hell.

MARY MAGDALENE: And when I did not know it, there came up from hell Seven Devils. All sent by that wicked one, Satan. I can see and hear them now! Waves hand toward "gates of hell."

Scene 4

Smoke rises up from the place of hell. There's loud laughter, other noises, clangings, more fiendish laughter, a babble of talking as if many persons were arguing among themselves. At first, no devils are visible to audience. When dialogue begins, they ascend stairs and can be seen. "Deceit" remains behind.

SATAN: Quiet! Quiet! How do you demons think I can give you a new assignment with all this noise going on?

Laughing, hollering, noise continue.

SATAN: Hate, shut your mouth! Noise begins to subside. Wickedness? Where are you, Wickedness? Come here! You too, Cruelty! One of you hand me my assignment book.

Envy hands large black book to Satan. Satan lets Envy hold the pitchfork. -- Wickedness and Cruelty take a place close to Satan, pushing Envy and Immorality to one side. The latter two start fighting the first two.

SATAN: Break it up! Break it up! Wait till you get up to Earth to do your fighting. The human beings up there can show you how. People have been experts at fighting for thousands and thousands of years!

I'll call the roll now and then give you your orders. Line up as your name is called. Hate?

HATE: Present! Walks forward. Stands so audience can see his name plate, leaves room for six others.

SATAN: Cruelty?

CRUELTY: Present. Takes place in line beside Hate. Cruelty has huge jug of water in his hands.

SATAN: Envy?

ENVY: Present. Please, Satan, sir, do I have to stand next to Cruelty?

SATAN: You do. And stop complaining. Selfishness G.?

SELFISHNESS G.: Present!

SATAN: Your name? Selfishness G. Where'd that G come from?

SELFISHNESS G.: You've already forgotten? You named me yourself. The G is for Greed. Greed is my middle name! Remember?

SATAN: Yeah, yeah. I remember. But there are so many of you demons I can't keep you straight. Satan glances over at Immorality, changes the tone of his voice. Immoral-i-tee?

IMMORALITY: Present. Immorality, with a pink bow of ribbon tied to the tail of her costume, walks completely around Satan, with something of a Mae West air.

Do I have to go on this mission? Please don't send me this time! I'd much rather stay down here with you!

SATAN: You have to go!

IMMORALITY: Well, you'll have to come up to Earth and "see me sometime!"

SATAN: I might just do that! Now, now, get in line! This assignment calls for seven devils, including Immorality. Counts One - two - three - four- five. Let's see? I need two more devils. Wickedness?

WICKEDNESS: Present! And raring to go! Gets in line.

SATAN: Deceit? Deceit is not there. So Satan yells back down into door of Hell Deceit! Get yourself up here!

DECEIT: Running up, out of breath Yes, Sir! Satan, sir, do let me act as Captain this time!

WICKEDNESS. Pushing Deceit aside No, not you, Deceit! I want to be the captain! I'm more accomplished than you are! Satan, you'll let me be the captain, won't you?

SATAN: Not so fast! Not so fast! Hm-m-m-m. I had some more notes on this particular job. Looks in book. Yeah, here they are. Half-reading You’re to go up to Earth, to a region known as Magdala. It's not far from the Sea of Galilee. You'll enter the heart of one Mary. Follow the usual procedure. Be slick and sly! Make Mary into a sinful creature! Stay in her heart all her life. Then, drag her soul down to Hell! Laughs. Rubs hands with glee. All devils laugh and echo his words.

ALL DEVILS: Yeah! Drag her down to Hell!

SATAN: Any questions?

WICKEDNESS: I can be the captain, can't I?

SATAN: Not this time, my wicked one! It's Hate's turn to be captain! Satan takes pitchfork from Envy, hands it to Hate. Hate, take charge!

HATE: Yes, sir! Steps forward. Satan turns to go back to Hell.

WICKEDNESS: But, Satan, what'll I do? I'm no common demon, you know!

SATAN: Think of something to do! Don't bother me with details! Compose one of your songs. You're good at devilish tunes! Teach your fellow demons a ditty to sing on your way to Earth--Be gone, all of you!

Satan waves them away, returns to Hell. Hate moves over to where Satan had been standing. Wickedness, meantime, has started dancing and prancing around.

WICKEDNESS: A song! A song! Let's sing a hellish song!

HATE: Make it a marching song! With lively gait! Lusty words! And a tune to fit our scheme!

WICKEDNESS: Enthusiastically Just give me a few minutes, and I'll beat out one! Wickedness goes aside. Assumes thinking pose. Taps foot, etc.

ENVY: Captain Hate, I've got to run back down to Hell a minute! I forgot something.

HATE: What did you forget?

ENVY: My rolls of "Strife." Where there's Envy, there's always "Strife." So when I go into a human heart, I always paper the walls of the heart with rolls of "Strife." But I left my paper down in Hell.

HATE: Go get your "Strife." But do hurry! Envy rushes down stairs to Hell. Hate turns around to talk to Cruelty. Cruelty, what in Satan's name do you have in that jar? Don't you know we can't go into a heart with a lot of junk?

CRUELTY: Holding up jug of water. This is not junk! This is tears. People who let Cruelty live in their hearts come around to tears sooner or later. So I just keep a supply ready and waiting for them!

Hate slaps Cruelty on the shoulder.

HATE: Cruelty, you are a genius as well as a devil! Yeah, that Mary of Magdala will shed some tears after we get there!

DECEIT: Addressing Hate Do you have something special you want me to do?

HATE: No, Deceit. Nothing special. Just be ready to help me get us through the door of Mary's heart without her seeing us!

DECEIT: No problem! No problem! We're invisible! Remember? Human beings can’t see evil! We'll march right into that Miss Mary's heart, and she'll never know how or when we came!

IMMORALITY: That's fight, Captain Hate! People can feel the results of our work. But they can't see you or me, or Cruelty, or Envy, or Selfishness, or Wickedness, or Deceit. We devils are invisible! Rears back, in boastful, bragging pose.

Envy returns with rolls of paper with "Strife," "Strife,” "Strife" printed on in an allover design.

HATE: Looking around for Wickedness Wickedness, are you ready with that song?

WICKEDNESS: Just about! We'll finish it as we go along. I want to try for a sort of echo effect! I'll chant out part of a verse. The six of you repeat it. Then I'll give the next line.--Get the idea?

ALL: We get it! We get it! Yeah! It had better be good! Loud, too!

SELFISHNESS G: I want a solo part! A long solo part!

WICKEDNESS: All right! All right! Now as we get it going maybe some of you can think of some more evil stuff. If you do, just throw it in make it part of the chorus, or something.

It'll be free and loose! With a tune about like this: La-la-la-la-la, and so forth. Skims through several bars of tune.

Okay, now, let's run through it once!

The devils sing their song, "The Devils of Magdala”, standing in a cluster, with Wickedness directing. On the chorus, Wickedness may throw in such instructions as: "Let's make this part sugary sweet, now!" And in the next line: "This is the mean part, now!" At the conclusion of the song, Wickedness says:

WICKEDNESS: Let's fall in behind Hate!

The seven march off to Magdala and enter Mary's Heart-house· Wickedness is the last to enter the door. He pokes his head back out, shakes his finger at Mary Magdalene, and repeats this line from the song; in a singsong tone:

WICKEDNESS: Mary, Mary, all is well!

The devils shriek out phrases from the song:

DEVILS: Hu-rah! Ha! Ha! Ha! He! He! He!

Scene 5

Mary Magdalene rises from where she is still sitting near her Heart-house, to continue the story she is telling to Salome and Mary of Cleopas.

MARY MAGDALENE: My life was ruined. I could not get the devils to leave my heart. Then one day Jesus of Nazareth came by. Peter was with him. And John.

Christ Figure, Peter, and John enter, C. F. walking in front.

MARY MAGDALENE: I fell at the Master's feet and begged His mercy.

Mary Magdalene kneels before Christ Figure. He places his hand on Mary Magdalene's head momentarily, says a silent prayer, and talks with Mary Magdalene.

CHRIST FIGURE: Mary Magdalene, thy faith hath made thee whole. Go in Peace.

Christ Figure steps to the Heart-house door and opens it wide. The seven demons come pouring out, cowering before Him, and slink back in Hell. The curtains remain open as C. F. and James and John walk slowly on. Mary Magdalene comes back toward Salome and Mary of Cleopas, who have remained sitting on the side.

MARY of CLEOPAS: What happened then, Mary Magdalene?

SALOME: Yes, tell us what happened to your heart!

MARY MAGDALENE: Cheerfully, with a happy ring in her voice It was just as if I had a new heart! And I was a new creature, with my heart filled with love.

Mary Magdalene begins singing as a solo "Gifts of the Spirit," which starts "There came to my heart sweet gifts of Love, Peace, and Joy, and Gentleness ...” etc.

As she sings, the nine "Gifts" start coming toward her heart door, in the order in which they are mentioned in the song. They gather near Mary M. and join in finishing the hymn. As the song ends, the "Gifts" enter the Heart-house. Curtains close. Mary Magdalene rejoins her two companions. They walk toward the home of Mary of Cleopas.

MARY of CLEOPAS: Come in, now. We are at my home. I'm sure James and Joses and Jude and Simon will be here. Perhaps some of the other Apostles, too. We will have something to eat and then prepare the spices. As soon as the Sabbath is passed, we will rise early and return to the tomb.

All enter Mary C 's house. Curtain closes. If a form of theater-in-the-round method is being used, a simple folding screen may be used to shield this area from the audience And the three women can simply walk behind the screen. -- An interlude of sad music may be used to indicate the passage of time between Acts I and II.

Act II, Scene 1

Home of Mary of Cleopas, where her four Disciple sons and John and Peter sit at a breakfast table. Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary of Cleopas are standing, putting on their shawls and preparing to leave. They have two jars of burial spices on a side table. Mary of Cleopas holds a candle, which she lights, for it is not yet daylight. There are also candles on the breakfast table.

MARY of CLEOPAS: Pats one son on the shoulder, in comforting manner Let us not weep today. We must do what we can. While you finish your breakfast, we will go back to the garden where our Lord is buried, to take these ointments and spices.

M. of C. hands candle to Salome, one jar of ointment to Mary M.; carries the other one herself, The women leave. Curtain remains open. Six Disciples remain seated at table. The women talk as they hurry along toward the tomb in the garden.

SALOME: It is good that we go early.

MARY MAGDALENE: Yes, but I am troubled. The great stone at the door of the tomb! Who will roll it away?

MARY of CLEOPAS: Perhaps the Roman guards will help us.

Scene 2

Curtain is drawn back, revealing open sepulchre, with two angels at the door.

SALOME: Look! Look! Look! Angels!

MARY MAGDALENE: The door is open! The stone already rolled away!

Women stop, step back in fright.

MARY of CLEOPAS: We must ask where they have laid the Master. Advances toward angels. Sirs, we seek--

FIRST ANGEL: Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

SECOND ANGEL: He is not here; for he is risen, as he said.--Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Women look inside door.

FIRST ANGEL: Go quickly, and tell his disciples and Peter that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee.

SECOND ANGEL: In Galilee shall ye see him. Lo, we have told you.

Women start to leave--Salome and Mary C. going ahead, Mary M. trailing. The Christ Figure approaches. Mary Magdalene sees him; the other women do not. Mary M. assumes that he is the gardener. She stops, begins crying. The other women go on.

CHRIST FIGURE: Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?

MARY MAGDALENE: Tell me where they have laid my Lord. You are the gardener. You should know where they put Him.

CHRIST FIGURE: Mary!

Mary M. falls at his feet.

MARY MAGDALENE: Master! Master! She bows herself to the ground.

CHRIST FIGURE: Go to my brethren and say to them I ascend unto my Father.

Mary runs quickly to catch up with the other two women. The Christ Figure disappears into the garden. Curtain closes to hide tomb and angels.

Scene 3

Home of Mary of Cleopas. Six disciples are still seated at the table. The three women rush in, all talking at once. The men rise from their seats when they. see how excited the women are.

MARY MAGDALENE: He lives! He lives! I saw our Lord!

SALOME: The angels said to tell you! They said He will go to Galilee! Our Lord is risen from the grave! He was not in the tomb! The angels showed us!

JAMES the LESS: To Mary of Cleopas. Mother, is this true?

MARY of CLEOPAS: Yes, son, it's true!

JUDE: But He-- He-- He was crucified! Buried--day before yesterday!

JOSES: Mother, we saw the honorable Joseph of Arimathea put Him in his own new tomb. The ruler, Nicodemus, helped him!

MARY of CLEOPAS: It is true! Our Lord lives! We saw two angels!

MARY MAGDALENE: I saw Jesus! He spoke to me!

PETER: Poor Mary Magdalene! Grief has made you say this!

JOHN: This sounds like an idle tale. One we can't believe!

PETER: Perhaps all of you had a dream, or a vision! This is just too much to believe!

MARY MAGDALENE: I knelt at His feet, and He told me to come tell you!

SIMON: To Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene, how do you know for sure that Christ lives?

Mary Magdalene breaks into singing, starting with Chorus section of "He Lives," i.e.:

MARY MAGDALENE: You ask me how I know He lives. He lives within my heart!

She continues singing chorus and first verse of "He Lives" as a solo. Curtains open to reveal Christ Figure standing in the Heart-house door. All other players assemble for the grand finale and join in finishing the hymn. The "Devils" will have removed their hoods, and they stand in a lower position than the other players.