The Story of Esther

as retold by Walter Robin

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ahasuerus, King of Persia;
Haman, King's prime minister and villain;
Zeresh, Haman's wife;
Esther, beautiful Jewess;
Mordecai, her uncle and guardian;
Carshena, Shathar, Admatha, Meres, Marsena, Memucan, the seven princes;
Chamberlain;
Maid;

SCENE:

Shushan, the palace.

Scene I

{Ahasuerus, known to historians as Xerxes, is the king of Media and Persia, ruling from India to Ethiopia. Palestine, and the Jews, are also part of his empire. In this, the 3rd year of his reign, he has prepared a feast. The seven princes are in attendance. The king sits at the head of a huge banquet table.}

King:
     Go, boy, and bring the queen Vashti
     Her beauty her for all to see.
{Exeunt Page}
Chamberlain:
     A feast such as we've never seen
     Hangings of white and blue and green
     Our golden cups, his wealth to show
     And freely too, the wine does flow.
{Page returns}
Page:
     She will not come.
King:
                    What shall we do?
Memucan:
     She sins 'gainst you, and 'gainst us too.
     When word gets out in every house
     The wife will not obey her spouse.
     Give someone else her royal place
     Since she shows not her royal face.
King:
     Go forth and let it be declared
     And queenly tryouts be prepared.
{Stage Freeze}
Narrator:
     Then maids were found throughout the land
     And kept under Hegai's hand.
     In turn each maid went to The King
     But Esther asked not anything.
     Yet of her kindred she showed not
     And did what Mordecai had taught.

Scene II

{Scene: The King's throne room.}
Haman: {aside}
     The King has honored me in all,
     Commanded men to bow by law
     Yet one Jew still bends not his knee
     His insolence enrages me!
     His death alone can't ease my mind
     But I'll destroy all of his kind.
{to the king}
     Your Majesty, I wish to warn
     Thee of a folk who hold in scorn
     Your taxes, which we can't collect
     Your royal law they'll not respect
     These people do not profit you.
King:
     And what do you propose to do?
Haman:
     We'll call it Pur and cast a lot
     And kill the Jews with men we've bought.
     Adar Thirteenth give a decree.
King:
     As you say so let it be.
     And take and seal it with my ring.
Haman: {bowing}
     I thank you for your kindness, King.

Scene III

{Stage Left: The Queen's receiving room. She is attended by her maid and the Champerlain Hatach. Stage Right: Mordecai sits in sackcloth at the King's gate.}
Maid:
     He rends his clothes and walks the streets
     Proclaiming woe to all he meets
     So Mordecai sackcloth'd does cry.
Esther:
     Now, Hatach, go and ask him why.
{Hatach moves to stage right, delivering the message and exiting. Mordecai and Esther speak to the audience.}
Mordecai:
     For the decree I'm in the gate
     The queen must go and supplicate.
Esther:
     If to the King I go, I'll die
     Lest I find favor in his eye.
     The law is known to every kid
     Tis death to enter court unbid.
Mordecai:
     Think you'll be safe within your place?
     If you speak not to save our race
     Salvation else must needs arise.
     But power's purpose, I surmise,
     Perhaps you're Queen to help this way.
Esther:
     Then I will yet do as you say.
     Have Jews in Shushan fast for me
     And I will go after day three.

Scene IV

{Scene: Royal throne room. The king sits upon his throne, and Esther approaches humbly.}
King:
     Come touch the scepter; You shall live
     Ask half the kingdom, and I'll give.
Esther:
     Come you and Haman, that I pray
     Thee, to a banquet set today.
King:
     Bid Haman come and so in haste
     We have not one moment to waste!

Scene V

{Scene: A small banquet is set in a pleasant covered, open area, bordering on a garden.}
Haman:
     Oh! Quite a rich banquet of wine.
{to Esther{
King:
     Make your request and it is thine.
Esther:
     If I find favor in thy sight
     Banquet again tomorrow night.

Scene VI

{Stage left: Haman is leaving his home to visit the king. Zeresh is seeing Haman off. Stage right: The king lies on a spacious bed. Across the room are several chairs where the page sits.}
Haman:
     The king and I she does invite
     Today; also tomorrow night.
     My children and my wealth abound
     And second to the King I'm crowned.
     But, Mordecai sits in the gate,
     And turns my soul to bitter hate.
Zeresh:
     Make gallows fifty cubits high,
     On which you may hang Mordecai.

King:
     Read of the chronicles we keep.
     I'm sure THAT will put me to sleep.
Servant:
     Bigthan, Teresh, doormen they
     Together plot the King to slay.
     This plan that Mordecai had seen,
     And so he told it to the Queen.
King:
     What honor hath been his reward?
Servant:
     Nothing has been done, my Lord.
{turning}
     Behold, now Haman stands outside.
King:
     Then call him in and he'll decide.
{Haman enters, ignorant of the king's discussion}
     What to the man for whom the King
     Delights to praise with everything?
Haman: {aside}
     I came to hang that Mordecai
     But who to honor more than I?
{to the king}
     Clothe him in the royal thread
     Set royal crown upon his head.
     And set him on the royal steed.
     Send noble prince of birth and deed.
     "All the King's honor!" he will cry.
King:
     Do all you say to Mordecai.

Zeresh: {to Haman}
     If Mordecai be seed of Jew,
     Be afraid, your days are through.

Scene VII

{Scene: Similar to the Queen's earlier banquet.}
King:
     Now, Esther, what is your request
     Ask half my kingdom, take the best.
Esther:
     Preserve our lives, I beg you King.
King:
     Who's he that dares to do this thing?
Esther: {pointing}
     This Haman is the enemy
     He kills the Jews by his decree.
{The king exits into the garden in great agitation.}
Haman: {throws himself on Esther's lap, begging}
     I beg you Esther for my life!
{The king returns with Chamberlain}
King:
     Will now he force the Queen, my wife?!
Chamberlain: {helpfully}
     He'd gallows made for Mordecai.
King:
     Hang Haman then, himself, thereby.

Scene VIII


{Scene: The royal throne room. Mordecai has been elevated to Haman's former position and is present with Esther.}
King: {to Mordecai}
     Now take this ring that Haman wore.
     You'll have the place he held before.
Esther:
     Yet if the king is pleased with me
     Let us reverse the dark decree.
King:
     Write what you will in name of King
     Laws can't be changed sealed with my ring.
{Stage Freeze}
Narrator:
     And when the Thirteenth day appeared
     They stood up and the Jews were feared
     And of their enemies they slew
     But many folks became a Jew
     The Fourteenth also they did slay,
     But laid their hand not to the prey
     The law was sent both far and near
     Three days to keep of every year.
     But if to rhymes you are adversia
     Reread it in the books of Persia.
     So if this is not what you needia
     Reread it in the books of Media.
     Or if these rhymes are too ironical,
     Is it not written in the Chronicle?

Author's Notes

This can be played with 4 actors. Creative staging should be used to allow smooth and quick transitions between scenes, especially because the scenes are so short. This plays very well for or with children.

I set out to write something of a Shakespearean parody. As it turns out, I have scripted a play that is similar, both in subject and in style, to the early English mystery plays produced at the very birth of English drama.

I am continually amazed by the splendid drama and characterization in bible stories. My goal was to retell the story without altering any detail or characterization in the canon. In some places I was even able to lift phrases directly from the biblical text.

With this revision I endeavored to flesh out the dialog so that no foreknowledge of the story is required.

Copyright © 1995, 1999, Andy Borman (Walter Robin). All rights reserved. Contact to reprint.

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