CHARACTER BUILDER SKITS

Use the following skit ideas as a springboard for performance. Again, they are only ideas. It’s up to the actors to find their own chemistry in front of the children. Remember to keep it conversational and real. Exaggerate your character’s personality traits and actions. Don’t worry about overacting. Children want to laugh at you!

The characters in bold face are those who are actually in the skit that night.

September – "Relationships" – All three characters come out and take turns introducing themselves. They also talk about how they are related. The characters should take great care to point out each other’s faults tonight. Have fun with this and don’t be afraid to exaggerate – either in costuming or in actions.

October – "Service" – Uncle Maxmillion comes out talking on a cell phone. His call is interrupted by a call from Aunt May. He can repeat what she is saying to the children. She is very sick and needs him to bring her some medicine. He complains and calls Cousin Jake and asks him to do it. When Jake says, "No", Uncle Max bribes him to do it telling him he doesn’t even have to see Aunt May. He suggests he just drop the medicine off on her front porch. Make sure he emphasizes how he doesn’t have time to be her servant! He’d rather pay someone to help her than take time out himself.

November – "Praise" – Aunt May and Cousin Jake come in talking about her illness. She really praises Uncle Max’s service to her in getting her the medicine. Jake then informs her that Uncle Max paid him to do it for her. Despite this, May finds something positive in the fact that Uncle Max still helped her. He still paid for her medicine, and Jake still delivered it. Cousin Jake acts remorseful for being so reluctant to help her and says he’s giving the money back to Uncle Max.

December – "Enthusiasm" – All three characters come out talking about their holiday plans. Aunt May has just received her entry form for the Kentucky Derby. She is very enthusiastic. Uncle Max is preparing for a big ski competition in Switzerland. His great excitement is interrupted as he notices that Jake is moping. Jake is miserable over the fact that there is no skateboarding in the snow. Aunt May then invites him to drive her horse sleigh for the big celebration over the holidays. They all leave excitedly.

January – "Sportsmanship" – Uncle Max comes in angry. He is complaining vehemently about his trip to Switzerland. The judges were favoring the Swiss skiers, his friends didn’t show up, his hotel reservations were mixed up, and the snow wasn’t properly prepared for this type of a competition. In short, he is exhibiting poor sportsmanship. He blames his failure on the fact everyone else didn’t do his/her job.

February – "Honesty" – All three characters come out. Aunt May is struggling with disappointment. She just found out her horse is one month too old to enter in the Kentucky Derby. Jake simply suggests she lie. After all, stretching the truth by one month doesn’t count! Max confesses he lied last month on his skiing competition form. Aunt May talks about how honesty counts. She says that winning through dishonesty is really losing. Both Max and Jake are impressed. As Max walks out, he says he will give back the trophy he won dishonestly.

March & April – "Obedience" – Use these months to focus on Jesus alone.

May – "Discipline" – All three characters come out talking about their summer plans. Max is bemoaning the lack of snow. Aunt May is busy hand feeding a baby colt. She stresses it takes real discipline to stay up at night to ensure the baby gets his feedings on time, etc. Jake seems very worried about his upcoming competition season. Uncle Max offers to give him money. Jake says he really needs a coach. Uncle Max agrees that his expertise in the area of self-discipline could be of help to Jake. Aunt May agrees to use her extra time staying up with the colt to make Jake new kneepads. They all leave as close friends who now have close relationships because of what they’ve learned throughout the year.