The Story of Esther
The Story of Esther – The story of Deliverance
GREETER/Hostess:
Welcome to our melodrama theatre – the Festival Hall - for the telling of a story that is over 2500 years old. Every year since this event happened, it was decreed that a feast would be held [which we have just done], one would give to the poor [your taxable bars of soap] and the story would be retold. That story is known as the Story of Esther.
A melodrama allows, permits and encourages participation from the audience. Tonight as each character is introduced or their name spoken in the script, everyone is to make a chant.
We have a card-holder to help cue us as to what is to be said [gesturing to Card Holder]
We have a Narrator who will unfold the story with words [acknowledge the Narrator]
And now to introduce the characters within tonight’s story and their chant. We have 5 characters plus a council of 7 – which are the various tables with #s from 1 to 7. We are all part of the play – all actors on this stage. Let us begin by introductions:
King Ahasuerus – a ruler of Persia whose kingdom stretched from Africa to India and all nations in between. Mighty, powerful and wealthy [Ahasuerus stands and gesture to the crowd] anytime you hear his name in the story you chant [Card Holder holds up – Aha – Aha]
Queen Vasti – known for her beauty throughout the empire and bedecked in jewels [stand and gesture to crowd & eyelashes blinking – tiara is turned on] when you hear her name in the story her chant is [Card Holder holds up – Ohh No! Ohh No!]
Esther, a Jewish orphan, who wins a national beauty contest and the heart of the King of Persia – [stands and gestures to crowd] when you hear her name her chant is
[ Card Holder holds up – Help me! Help me!]
Mordecai, a Jewish leader, one who raised Esther and keeps his standards against all odds or royal decree – [stands and acknowledges crowd] when you hear his name in the story, his chant is [ Card Holder holds up Save Us – Save Us]
Haman, Prince of Princes, doer of dasterly deeds causes so much havoc in the Empire [Rise & acknowledge crowd] when you hear his name – remember he is the villain and as such we chose someone with strong self esteem to withstand what you do when his card is held up… [Card Holder holds up: Boo, Hiss and Stomp your feet – make noise] We do this so that we can erase his evil deeds.
You – the audience will become the Council of Seven and when Council of Seven is spoken you are to do a roll call. You will represent the 7 Princes of Persia & Media [ Card Holder holds up card: Council Roll Call by table - #1 All shout “#1 present” #2 All shout “#2present” etc.]
Repetition is good for the soul and before our story unfolds, let us practice to see if you have your cues connected to the characters. I will draw names out of the magic bowl – when I say their name, please connect the chant to the character. [Draw out names]
Thank you for coming out this evening to play together. Let the story begin…
NARRATOR:
In a land far, far, away in a time long, long ago there lived a ruler whose empire stretched from one continent to another. His name was King Ahasuerus [Aha – Aha]. A mighty King was he. He wanted to celebrate the power of his 127 provinces so for six months in his city of Shushan there was a feast with much food, much wine, much merriment.
During this party King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] sent for his wife, Queen Vasti [Ohh No, Ohh No]. He wanted her to come to him. But Queen Vasti [Ohh No, Ohh No] would not come to King Ahasuerus [Aha – Aha] and dance for his friends. This was not a wise choice made by Queen Vasti [Ohh No- Ohh No] King Ahasuerus [ Aha- Aha] was not happy with Queen Vasti [Ohh No – Ohh No] Trouble was coming to Queen Vasti [Ohh No- Ohh No].
King Ahasuerus [Aha – Aha] called for his Council of Seven [Roll Call] And told them of Queen Vasti’s[Ohh No- Ohh No] action. The Council of Seven [Roll Call] told King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] to get rid of Queen Vashti [Ohh No, Ohh No] before other women follow her example. And so King Ahasuerus [Aha- Aha] removed Queen Vasti [Ohh No, Ohh No] as his Queen.
What good is a King without a Queen?… and so the Council of Seven [Roll Call] suggested a beauty contest. In the kingdom lived a Jewish leader named - Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us] had a niece named Hadassah which is Hebrew for Esther [Save me, Save me] and sent her to the contest. Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us] told Esther [Help me, Help me] – to tell no one that she was a Jew. He kept a close eye on her at the palace gates
For 12 months Esther [Help me, Help me] waited to meet King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha]. In the 10th month of the 7th year of his reign. King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] and Esther [Help me, Help me] finally met and the King loved Esther more than any of the other women in the contest. He made her Queen Esther [Help me, Help me]
Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us] still watched over Esther [Help me, Help me] One day he overheard two chamberlains plotting to harm King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha]. Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us] found Esther [Help me, Help me] and told her of the plot. Esther [Help me, Help me] went before King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] and told him that his life was in danger and what Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us] had learned. An inquisition was held, the men were found and hung in a tree. One does not threaten King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha]
There was a Prince amongst Princes called Haman [Boo, Hiss, Stomp feet] whom King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] promoted above every man in the Kingdom. Every one bowed before Haman [Boo, Hiss, Stomp feet] except Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us]. It was known that Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us] was a Jew and Haman [Boo, Hiss, Stomp feet] was angry that this Jew would not bow before him. He decreed that all Jews throughout all the kingdom and convinced King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] to support this idea of death. And so a day was chosen when all the Jews would be killed. That day was decided by drawing lots known as Pur. This day came about because of Haman [Boo, Hiss, Stomp feet]
Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us] was sorrowful. Queen Esther [Help me, Help me] wanted to know what was wrong. Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us] told Esther [Help me, Help me] to go to King Ahasuerus [Aha – Aha]. Esther [Help me, Help me] had not been sent for by the King for over 30 days. It was the law that if any one went to his inner courts without being called by the King, they would be put to death – UNLESS – King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] held out the royal scepter to them. Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us] told Esther [Help me, Help me] That she had to save her people the Jews. Perhaps this is why she was chosen Queen.
Queen Esther [Help me, Help me] asked for three days of fasting then she will go to King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha]
Esther [Help me, Help me] went into the inner chamber, King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] saw her and held out the royal scepter to her, asking “What is thy petition?”. She invited King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] and Haman [Boo, Hiss, Stomp] to a feast. They were the only guests. Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us] was outside the King’s gate after the feast and still would not bow before Haman [Boo, Hiss, Stomp]. However, as he had been invited to feast with Esther [Help me, Help me] & King Ahasuerus again Haman [Boo, Hiss, Stomp] did not harm Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us]. But he did go home and built gallows to hang Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us] after he talked to King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha].
The next day was another feast by Queen Esther [Help me, Help me] for King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] and Haman [Boo, Hiss, Stomp]. The King asked again “What is thy petition?” She answered to have her life given her and also the life of her people for she was under edict to be slain on the day of Pur. King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] asked “Who did this edict?” And Esther said “Prince Haman” [Boo, Hiss, Stomp]. The King granted Esther’s [Help me, Help me] request and her people were okay.
Things did not go well for Haman [Boo, Hiss, Stomp]. The ring King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] gave him was given to Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us]. Queen Esther received from King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha] the House of Haman [Boo, Hiss, Stomp]. Queen Esther [Help me, Help me] gave all these things to Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us]. The gallows that were built for Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us] was used to hang Haman [Boo, Hiss, Stomp]. This is the end of our melodrama.
For the details that were not spoken tonight, please read The Story of Esther pg 668 in the Old Testament – that’s in the Bible – for the rest of the story. Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for your participation from the Princely Council of 7 [roll call], powerful King Ahasuerus [Aha-Aha], the unfortunate Queen Vashti [Ohh No, Ohh No], the beautiful and brave Queen Esther [Help me, Help me] the late Prince Haman [Boo, Hiss, Stomp] and wise Mordecai [Save Us, Save Us].
Good night.
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