A Brave Queen Saved Her People

Mordecai

I am Mordecai. My niece Esther is my adopted daughter since her father died. God used Esther, to save our people, the Israelites, from genocide when wewere captives in Babylonia. The story starts outside the royal castle, where I overhear a plot against the king.

Mordecai

Captain! Captain of the Guard! I overheard a conspiracy against our king. Station a squad at the back wall of the palace and you’ll intercept the conspirers.

Captain

Thank you, Mordecai. I’ll deal with it! I’ll also enter a commendation for you in the royal record. (Run to one side where Haman is approaching.) Hurry men! Hurry!

Prompter & Companions

Hurry! Hurry!

Haman

Hey! Why all the rush? (Point at Mordecai.) Hey, you filthy foreigner! Bow before me! Bow, I say! Everyone bows before me; I’m Haman the king’s Chief-of-Staff.

Mordecai

With all respect, Haman, we Jews bow only to God.

Haman

Oh really! Ha! We’ll see about that. (Wave a fist at Mordecai. Walk to one side and face the audience.) I’ll inform the king that these Jews are seditious and refuse to recognize his authority. Then he’ll issue a decree to slay them all! I’ll hang every last Jew in the kingdom! (Laugh coarsely in a devilish way, and then walk to where Esther is approaching.) Hi, beautiful! (Reach for her.)

Esther

(Slap Haman’s hand. As he walks off, stick your tongue out at his back, unless you are in a culture where this gesture is inappropriate.)

Mordecai

My niece Esther. The king is furious with his insubordinate wife Vashti. He’s holding a huge beauty pageant to choose another wife to be queen. You are going to win it!

Esther

Who, me? That’s crazy! I’m no beauty queen! And I have nothing fit to wear! (Leave.)

Mordecai

(Shout after her.) Ah, but we’ll fix you up! You’ll win.

King

Wow! She’s gorgeous!

Prompter & Companions

Gorgeous! Gorgeous!

Mordecai

And win she did! I’m so proud of Esther! Just think! She’s our queen now. But what’s this I see being built so high, outside the castle? I inquire and discover that Haman is erecting a huge gallows on which to hang us Jews. He’s plotting against us! (Step to one side)

Haman

(Enter with King.) Oh King! Rebellious, seditious peopleare working underground to destroy you.You must make a decree to arrest and exterminate them all.

King

Good work, Haman. I appreciate your loyalty. Write the decree and I’ll put my seal on it, making it a law that cannot be broken.

Mordecai

When I heard that, I tore my robes, fasted and prayed. Mercy, Lord, mercy!

Prompter & Companions

Mercy, Lord, mercy!

Haman & King: (Leave.)

Mordecai

Haman is alerting people in all the land to slay the Jews on the day the edict decrees.

Mordecai

(Enter with Esther.) Esther, you must intercede for the Jews with the king. God put you in the court at this time just for this.

Esther

It’s perilous! Anyone entering the king’s presence without invitation is slain on the spot.

Mordecai

However, after much prayer, brave Queen Esther took the risk. Brave girl!

Prompter & Companions

Brave girl! Brave girl!

Mordecai & Esther:

(Step aside.)

Haman

(Enter with King.) Oh King! Your realm will soon be rid of your treasonous enemies.

King

(Cup a hand to your ear.) Hey! I hear someone coming. Who’s entering my royal presence without permission? That’s punishable by death! Haman! Tell the guards to bring their swords! No. Wait. Why, it’s Queen Esther!

Esther

(Approach timidly and bow.) If I’ve found favor in the king’s sight, please accept my invitation to a special banquet just for you and Haman. (Back away and leave.)

Haman

(Step aside and speak to the audience.) Aha! I constructed the highest gallows ever built, for Mordecai and his ilk! And just consider how important I am now! Even Queen Esther has invited me to a banquet just for me and the king.

Mordecai

The king is not able to sleep that night, and begins reading the royal records.

King

What’s this? Why didn’t anyone tell me! Haman! Haman! Wake up and come in here. I read that Mordecai the Jew averted a seditious conspiracy.Go take him my royal robe and my horse, and lead him through the city proclaiming that he’s the man whom the king desires to honor.

Haman

But… But…

Mordecai

Time passes The King and Haman are enjoyinga private banquet served by Esther.

King

Have more wine, Haman. Now, what is your petition, Queen Esther? I’ll grant it to you, even to half of my kingdom.

Esther

If I have found favor in your sight, O king, let my life be given me, and my people’s life.

King

(Shout) What? What did you say?

Esther

We have been sold, I and my people, to be annihilated.If we’d merely been sold as slaves, I’d have remained silent, for the trouble would not be worth annoying the king.

King

(Furious) Who is he, who would presume to do such a thing?

Esther

A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!

Haman

(Back away from the king) No! It’s a mistake.

King

Captain! Come and arrest this man! Seize him!

Prompter & Companions

Seize him! Seize him!

Captain

(Seize Haman.)

King

Captain! Who built those high gallows out there, and what are they for?

Captain

This nice man Haman built it to hang all the Jews.

King

What? You, Haman? Captain, make sure all the Jews are enabled to defend themselves. Then, hang this Haman and his sons from his own gallows.

Captain

(Drag Haman off.) At last, we know who’s caused so much hate and grief! At last!

Steward & Servants

At last! At last!

Mordecai

To this day, we Jews celebrate as a national holiday the Feast of Purim, in memory of how God used Queen Esther to save us from extermination while we were in exile.