The Staring Match

The community is holding a large meeting to pray for rain

Mattie Hobbs tries to persuade her husband, Linus, to accompany her to the meeting - Linus is religious but in his own way - he intends to help his neighbors build a church - he just doesn't want to go to it

But at Mattie's insistence he goes with her and their little daughter, Molly Mae, to the meeting which is held in the schoolhouse

With great humility and sincerity the townspeople pray for rain; there is a knock at the door and in comes a man dressed completely in white

Though no one at the meeting has ever seen him before, he greets them all by name, asks about their affairs - and gradually a suspicion creeps round the assembly: Can Mr White - that's what he calls himself - be an angel of the Lord?

His announcement that he has been sent to help them find a well convinces them

They're eagerly crowding about him when there's another knock at the door, and a second man enters

This one dressed completely in black

With the same courtesy and affability displayed by Mr White, the newcomer, Mr Black, announces that he too has been sent to help the community find a well - and lets it be known that he is an angel of the Lord

It's quite apparent that only one of these two gentlemen is an angel and the other must be carefully avoided

But which one to avoid?

To solve the dilemma a "staring match" is decided upon, with Mr White and Mr Black the contestants

In the end the real angel is revealed, water is discovered and the problems of the community are solved to everyone's satisfaction

Cast also requires 1 Girl

An ideal play for high schools, colleges, community theatres and church groups