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Winners Competition Series Volumes 2 and 4: Award Winning 90-Second Comic Scenes Review by Dawn Oaks
EditedEdited by Janet B. MilsteinSmith and Kraus Books
177 Lyme Road
Hanover, NH 03755
http://smithandkraus.com/sk/
The Winners Competition Series is an assortment of 90-second comic scenes that will bring laughs. There are almost 60 scenes in Volume 2 and 50 scenes in Volume 4. Volume 2 is specifically written for actors between the ages of 4 and 12; while Volume 4 is geared to students who are between 13 and 18. These resources come in a colorful paperback format at a retail price of $14.95 each.
The skits are written to be performed by students in a particular age bracket, as the content pertains to real-life situations that students at those ages would experience. As I stress with writing as well as acting, the author or performer can always excel when working with material that he or she can relate to. The skits are free from foul language and do not require costly costumes or props.
As realistic portrayals of everyday situations, some skits do include less-than-desirable behavior. At first I struggled with this, believing that the things we talked about, acted out, and exemplified in our lives should be pleasing to God. However, after examining the scenes more fully, I found opportunities in which the skits would be highly valuable.
For instance, you could role-play the skits during devotional times to facilitate discussion regarding character development. Some of the scenes highlight self-centeredness, greed, and a lack of respect toward others. Has anyone else had to work on these issues with their children? We certainly have, and these skits provide a way to objectively discuss the types of speech, behavior, and attitude that truly glorify God.
A second area of application for these skits was in our homeschool group. We have a Creative Ministries class where the students are challenged to use their skills and passions for the Lord. Students who enjoy being on stage can utilize these skits and then provide their own dialogue on what the Bible has to say about the characters' actions, attitudes, and thoughts.
In reviewing the Winner's Competition Series, Volume 2 and Volume 4, I found that my initial concerns were put to rest. These skits could certainly be used for God's glory within the right context. Not to mention that working with the skits was a lot of fun for the kids.
