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Plot
"A Banquet In Bethany" begins in a church graveyard circa 1943 (although it could be a more modern graveyard). Some girls and their grandmother are looking at the gravestones and talking about the engravings on the stones. One stone has the carving, "she did what she could," referring to Mary of Bethany's annointing Christ's feet.
The setting swiftly moves back in time to that dinner as preparations are made. Simon, the (former) Leper, is the host. The action swiftly moves to the next scene when the guests all arrive: Jesus, Nichodemus, Lazarus, and the Disciples are all present.
During the final act, Jewell Smith skillfully weaves the Biblical stories into life application. The setting has moved back to the earlier graveyard. The grandmother teaches the girls how to find God's will for them so that they, too, may do what they can.
Characters
Eloise, a student at Marysville State College.
Mabel, Eloise's roommate, the niece of Miss Hattie.
Martha, a housewife in Bethany, the sister of Mary and Lazarus.Mary, the younger
sister of Martha and Lazarus.
Lazarus, a Bethany resident whom Jesus raised from the dead.Myra, the wife of
Simon the Leper.
Myra's Servant Girl.
Simon the Leper, a prominent citizen of Bethany.Simon's Banquet Guests:
Jesus of Nazareth.
Nicodemus, a secret disciple of Jesus, a member of the powerful Sanhedrin in
Jerusalem.Joseph of Arimathea, a secret follower of Jesus, a ruler and Sanhedrin
member.
Disciples of Jesus: Simon Peter, Judas Iscariot, James, John.Amos of Jericho,
brother-in-law of Simon the Leper.
Miss Hattie, Mabel's aunt and guardian.