Presbyterian Sunday school puts on original play

PINE PLAINS — Last Sunday, the town’s Presbyterian church performed a new holiday play written by Sunday school teacher Brendan Kilpatrick.

The play, entitled "Where Your Treasure Is, Your Heart Will Be Also," was performed by the students of the school, ranging ages 3 to 13.

Brendan Kilpatrick, 26, said that he wrote the play because he wanted to have a modern Christmas fable.

"The message behind the play is summed up by its title," Kilpatrick said. "It’s something Jesus said about where your heart is the treasure will be. It’s also about how love trumps all monetary and material needs. Because if you don’t have love, you don’t have anything."

According to Church minister Carol Miller, the title of the play comes from the Bible passage 6:21.

"It’s sort of like a modern day Christmas Carol," Miller said. "It’s also a modern day Scrooge story."

Kilpatrick’s mother, Diane Wapnick, said the play is about a mother of two who lost her job around the holiday season.

"She is concerned about getting her children presents for Christmas, but instead she gives the little bit of money that she has left to a homeless person," Wapnick said. "Her former boss sees this and has a change of heart and rehires her. It turns out that her children care more about family than any presents."

She said the message behind the play involves the spirit of Christmas.

"Christmas is not about material things, it is about doing good for others," she said.

Miller said she was impressed with Kilpatrick’s play and the students’ performance.

"It was wonderful that this young man wrote, produced and directed an original play done from scratch and that all of the children were all able to participate in it," Miller said. "Members of the congregation had a great time, too."

She said after the play, the children celebrated the birthday with cupcakes and sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.

"I just think that all of these things teach kids a really good lesson," she said. "I am very impressed."

Kilpatrick said the students did a great job performing the play.

"For the children, I hope they got out of it the importance of being grateful for what they have and being helpful to others," he said. "I hope the audience got out of it the same thing."