The Small One

A script for a play containing 10 scenes.
Scene 1: Welcome to the Feast
Scene 2: David is Anointed
Scene 3: Hannah and Peninnah's Rivalry
Scene 4: Hannah's Vow
Scene 5: Small One
Scene 6: Hannah brings Samuel to the Temple
Scene 7: Samuel Serves God
Scene 8: The Lost Coin
Scene 9: Speak Lord
Scene 10: Legacy

On the back cover: In the ancient land of Israel, young David, a humble shepherd, is unexpectedly anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king. Overwhelmed by self-doubt, David struggles to reconcile his modest origins with the weight of his destiny. Seeking to inspire him, Samuel shares his own story of rising from obscurity to become a leader chosen by God. Through this tale of faith and self-discovery, David learns that true strength comes from within and that even the smallest among us can fulfill a divine calling.

Synopsis: In the ancient land of Israel, a young boy named David finds himself thrust into a destiny that seems too grand for his humble origins. Unassuming and small in stature, David is an unlikely candidate to become the next king. However, the prophet Samuel, guided by divine insight, anoints David as the chosen one to succeed Saul as the ruler of Israel.
David, overwhelmed by the weight of this profound responsibility, questions his own worthiness. He struggles with self-doubt, unable to see how a seemingly insignificant shepherd could ever rise to the challenges of kingship.
In the midst of his uncertainty, the wise prophet Samuel takes David under his wing and decides to share a powerful story from his own youth. As Samuel recounts his early years, he reveals that he too was once a small and overlooked child. Despite his stature, God had chosen Samuel to be a voice for the people and a leader in his own right. Samuel's personal journey serves as a poignant lesson for David.
Encouraged by Samuel's story, David learns that true strength comes from within and that his worthiness is not defined by societal expectations. "The Small One" is a tale of self-discovery, faith, and the transformative power of embracing one's divine calling, proving that even the smallest among us can rise to become something extraordinary when chosen by a higher purpose.

Setting: 11th century BCE as described in 1 Samuel 3 and 16. Ancient Israel, in the regions surrounding the temple at Shiloh and the City of Bethlehem. This play takes place in ancient Israel, spanning the humble fields of shepherds and the sacred grounds of the temple. The setting should suggest only the essentials, with enough substance to evoke the time and place. As the story unfolds, the movement must reflect the quiet strength of David, the wisdom of Samuel, and the simple yet profound call to greatness.

Characters:
Priest Eli
Hannah
Atara (Hannah's Maidservant)
Esther (Samuel's Sister
"Old" Samuel
"Child" Samuel
"Young" Samuel
Zemira (Jesse's Mother)
Eunice (Zemira's Maidservant)
"Young" Jesse
"Adult" Jesse
Nitzevet (Jesse's Wife
Eliab (David's Brother)
Abinidab (David's Brother)
Shammah (David's Brother)
Nethanel (David's Brother)
Raddai (David's Brother)
Ozem (David's Brother)
David
Peninnah (Elkahan's, Samuel's father, second wife)
Abner (friend of young Jesse and Samuel)
Kish (friend of young Jesse and Samuel)
Eden (person with lost coin)
Voice of God
Saul
People in Market