Chapter VII: The Dramatization of Queen Esther

The story of Esther involves a much more complicated situation than any of the others here described. It is not too difficult for dramatization, however, if it is taken after such stories have been worked out as _David and Goliath_ and _Joseph._

In the case of this dramatic club the story of Esther was told to the children after they had had much experience with other plays. The interesting plot and the beauty and richness of the court made so great an appeal to them that they were eager to begin the dramatization. The story was first simplified and adapted by the leader, and then told in such a manner as to emphasize the main events. The method of procedure followed that described in chapter iii in connection with the story of Joseph. After the telling of the story the scenes were selected. These were acted out very freely at first, little thought being given to the words. Many pictures were brought in, and descriptions of the court of King Ahasuerus were read by the children from the Bible and from books of Bible stories.

In the second scene the children decided to have the maidens dance before the King. Several little girls who were trying out the part of Esther made up dances for themselves. This feature made this scene especially attractive.

This play was longer than those that had previously been dramatized, and it therefore took a longer period of time to bring it into final shape. There is no reason to hurry a dramatization. If the aim of this kind of work is kept in mind, there will be growth on the part of the children at each meeting. The value lies, not in how many stories can be dramatized during a year, but in how thoroughly the children are reliving a few good stories.

The play of _Queen Esther_ made it necessary to construct several articles. Gold dishes of various kinds were made by covering cardboard with gold paper. These were used at the Queen's banquet. From the many scepters that were submitted the King chose the one for final use. Elaborate gowns and headdresses were gathered; beads and jewels of all descriptions were made from brilliantly colored papers.

The children took the responsibility of the costuming. The majority of them planned their own garments and either brought things from home or selected some suitable costume from those which the club had on hand. Two of the older girls took entire charge of the younger ones and saw to it that each had some simple slip to wear in the play.

The play follows as it was finally worked out by the children.

THE STORY OF QUEEN ESTHER

SCENE I

PLACE: The King's palace--Shushan.

CHARACTERS: King Ahasuerus (king of Media and Persia),
Haman (chief counselor), Persian Princes, Servants.

[_The_ KING _is seated on his throne, princes seated
before the_ KING, _and_ HAMAN _is seated by the_ KING'S
_side. Servants are bringing drinks in golden vessels._]

_King:_ The seventh day of this feast hath come, and on this
day will I bring my beautiful Queen, Vashti, before you. The
princes of my land must depart, bearing a good report of my
fair Queen as well as of the great riches of my court.
Chamberlains, come forth! [_The servants come before the_
KING _and bow._] I command you to bring Vashti, the Queen,
before my presence. [_Servants withdraw._]

_First Prince:_ O King, this is a great honor that thou
bestowest upon us!

_Second Prince:_ Yea, Vashti, the Queen, is already known
over the land for her wondrous beauty. We are most happy
that thou wilt allow thy servants to behold her.

_Third Prince:_ What wonderful tidings we will spread over
thy provinces, O King. Thy people do not know the half of
thy riches and thy wonderful greatness and generosity.

[_Enter servants. They bow low._]

_King:_ Rise; what is thy message?

[_They do not rise._]

_First Servant:_ O King, be merciful unto us!

[_They bow lower._]

_King:_ What meaneth this? Speak! [_in astonishment_] I
command thee. Where is the Queen?

_Second Servant:_ O great King, we delivered thy message as
thou didst command, but the Queen has refused to come before
thy presence.

[_All the princes and the_ KING _show surprise and
anger._]

_King:_ Refused to obey me? This is impossible! Are ye
certain that she understood the meaning of my command?

_Servants:_ We are, O King.

_King:_ She hath refused! It cannot be! [_He looks absently
away._] She must be punished.

_Haman:_ What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to the
law, because she hath not performed the commandment of King
Ahasuerus?

_First Prince:_ She hath not done wrong to the King only,
but also to all the princes of the land, for this deed of
the Queen shall become known unto all the women of Media and
Persia and they shall despise the command of their husbands:
"Because," they shall say, "King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti,
the Queen, to be brought before him and she came not."

_Second Prince:_ What shall we do? This will cause great
trouble and disobedience.

_King:_ What thinkest thou, Haman, my chief counselor?

_Haman:_ If it please the King, let there go forth a royal
commandment and let it be written among the laws of the
Medes and Persians that Vashti come no more before
Ahasuerus, and let the King give her royal estate to
another that is better than she. Then when this decree
shall become known all wives shall give honor unto their
husbands.

_King:_ This saying pleaseth me greatly. I shall do
accordingly. [_To servants_]: Send letters unto every
province to every people, which shall state this decree, so
that every man shall know it.

_Haman:_ O King, I pray thee, let there be fair maidens
brought before thee from which thou shalt choose another
which shall be thy Queen.

_King:_ So be it! See that fair maidens from every province
be brought here to my palace; and the one that pleaseth me
best, I will take her for my Queen.

[_All bow._]

SCENE II

PLACE: At Shushan, the palace.

CHARACTERS: King Ahasuerus, Mordecai, Maidens, Haman,
Servants, Courtiers.

[_Two servants are standing in the court room of the
palace. Enter a messenger followed by_ ESTHER _and_
MORDECAI.]

_Messenger_ [_announces to the servants in the room_]: This
maiden has come to see the King.

[_He goes out._]

_First Servant:_ This is the place. Wait thou here. [_To_
MORDECAI]: What art thou here for? Thou wilt have to depart.

_Mordecai:_ I only brought this maiden. I beg of thee let me
have a few words with her; then I will withdraw.

_First Servant:_ Speak then quickly, before the King cometh.

[_Servants withdraw to another part of the room._]

_Mordecai_ [_taking_ ESTHER'S _hand_]: Esther, my child,
thou art like my very child, for although I am but thy uncle
I have been as a father to thee. I bid thee farewell now,
for it seemeth to me that the King will surely choose thee
to be his Queen--thou art so fair. This one thing remember,
tell him not that thou art a Jewess. Fare thee well, Esther!
May the Lord bless thee!

_Esther:_ Farewell to thee, Mordecai!

[MORDECAI _goes out. Other maidens come in announced by
the messenger._]

_Messenger:_ These maidens would see the King.

[_The servants show them where to sit. Enter second
messenger._]

_Second Messenger:_ The King! The King!

[_Enter_ KING _and_ HAMAN. KING _sits on his throne._]

Second Servant [_bowing before the_ KING]: O King, the
maidens from all parts of the country have arrived and await
thy pleasure.

_King:_ Let them come before my presence one at a time, and
I will choose from among them the one that seemeth most
fair.

[_The musicians begin playing and, one by one, the
maidens come out. They bow and dance._ ESTHER _comes
last of all. As_ ESTHER _dances the_ KING _speaks._]

_King:_ What marvelous beauty! Surely this maiden is fair
enough to be my Queen.

_Haman:_ Yea, O King, thou art right; she should be thy
Queen.

_King_ [_takes_ ESTHER'S _hand_]: What is thy name, fair
maid?

_Esther:_ My name is Esther, O King.

_King:_ Esther, I do here take thee to be my Queen. Bring
the royal crown and the Queen's robes!

[_Servants come immediately and put them on her._]

_King_ [_leading_ ESTHER _out_]: Come unto the wedding feast
which is now prepared. All are welcome!

SCENE III

PLACE: The palace gate.

CHARACTERS: Haman, Mordecai, Servants, Esther.

[_Servants are standing and walking by the gate. Women
come by carrying water jars._ MORDECAI _stands apart
from the crowd._ HERALD _comes in._]

_Herald:_ Bow the knee, bow the knee. The chief counselor,
Haman, approacheth! Thus saith the King.

[HAMAN _comes in. All bow to him except_ MORDECAI.]

_Haman_ [_pointing to_ MORDECAI]: Who is this man who doth
not bow the knee to me?

_First Servant:_ He is Mordecai, the Jew, my lord. [_To_
MORDECAI]: Why dost thou break the King's commandment?

_Haman:_ Thou Jew! Dost thou think that thou art mightier
than I, whom the King hath set above all the princes of the
land? Thou shalt suffer for this. [_Turns to servant._] Send
letters unto all the King's provinces, to destroy, to kill,
and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little
children and women, in one day--even upon the thirteenth day
of the twelfth month, and to take the spoil of them for
prey.

[_Servant bows and goes away._ HAMAN _passes on,
leaving_ MORDECAI _with two servants._ MORDECAI, _in
deep thought, walks anxiously up and down._]

_Mordecai:_ I must see Queen Esther. Canst thou not take me
to the Queen?

_Second Servant_ [_laughing scornfully_]: Thinkest thou that
the Queen will see thee?

_Mordecai:_ Give the Queen this paper and say to her that I,
Mordecai, the Jew, bid her come to me.

[_Servant withdraws._]

_Mordecai_ [_walking, talks to himself_]: Israel, O Israel,
my people! You shall not perish. Esther, your Queen, will
save you.

[_Enter_ ESTHER.]

_Esther:_ Mordecai, my uncle, why art thou here? Thou
lookest unhappy. Hath aught happened to thee?

_Mordecai:_ Yea, Esther, I am unhappy. I have sorrowful news
to tell thee.

_Esther:_ Chamberlains, withdraw! Speak, Mordecai; tell me
quickly. It may be that I can help thee.

_Mordecai:_ Esther, thou canst help me, and thou art the
only one who can. Haman, the King's counselor, hateth the
Jews--thy people and mine. He hath sent a decree over all
the country commanding that every Jew, both old and young,
little children and women, be killed on the thirteenth day
of the twelfth month. Esther, thou must save thy people and
thyself? Thou must go before the King and beg of him that he
spare thy people.

[ESTHER _shows great distress._]

_Esther:_ Oh, what shall I do? Dost thou not know that for
one who dareth to go before the presence of the King, if the
King hath not called him, there is certain death; except to
whom the King shall hold out the golden scepter--he may
live? I have not been called to come in unto the King these
thirty days. He will surely put me to death for such
boldness.

_Mordecai:_ Thou must go unto the King even so. Think not
that thou wilt escape death from Haman because thou art in
the King's house. Who knoweth but that thou hast been made
Queen for such a time as this!

_Esther_ [_after thinking deeply_]: Go, gather together all
the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me,
and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day, I
also and my maidens will fast likewise--and so I will go in
unto the King, which is not according to the law, and if I
perish, I perish.

_Mordecai:_ May the Lord go with thee!

SCENE IV

PLACE: In the court of the King's palace.

CHARACTERS: King Ahasuerus, Esther, Haman, Courtiers,
Servants.

[_The King sits on his throne._ QUEEN ESTHER _enters
and bows before the_ KING. _The_ KING _looks at her in
astonishment._]

_Courtiers_ [_in loud whispers_]: The Queen! It is the
Queen!

_King:_ Esther, hast thou dared to come before my presence
when I have not called thee? Thou surely dost not know what
thou art doing! This act of boldness can mean thy death! But
thou art so beautiful, Esther, I cannot be hard with thee.
Rise! [_He holds out the golden scepter._] What is the
request that has brought thee here? It shall be given thee,
even though it be half of my kingdom.

[ESTHER _touches the scepter and rises._]

_Esther:_ If it seemeth good unto the King, let the King and
Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared
for them.

[_She turns and goes out._]

_King:_ Hearest thou, Haman? Make haste and let us do as
Esther hath said. Come, we will prepare for this banquet.

[HAMAN _bows. The_ KING _and_ HAMAN _go out. Others
follow._]

SCENE V

PLACE: The Queen's apartment.

CHARACTERS: Queen Esther, King Ahasuerus, Haman,
Servants, Mordecai.

[_The servants are preparing the feast. Enter_ ESTHER.]

_Esther:_ See ye that the feast is in readiness, for the
King will soon arrive.

[_Servants bow._]

_Servant:_ The King cometh!

_Esther_ [_going to meet the_ KING _as he enters_]: Welcome,
my lord!

[_The_ KING _sits upon a throne prepared for him._]

_King:_ I am happy to be with thee, my fair Queen. Thou must
have a request which thou desirest to make--speak, be not
afraid. I will grant it though it be half of my kingdom.

_Esther:_ If I have found favor in thy sight, O King, and if
it please the King, let my life be saved and the lives of my
people--the Hebrew people. We are to be destroyed, to be
slain and to perish.

_King:_ Thy people? The Hebrew people? Who is this and where
is he that dareth in his heart to do this thing to thy
people?

_Esther:_ The enemy is thy chief counselor, this wicked
Haman.

_King:_ Did Haman do this deed? How didst thou know of his
plan?

_Esther:_ O King, Mordecai, the Jew, my uncle, hath shown me
the letter which Haman hath sent over the country. The Jews
are to be killed on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month.
I am begging thee for my life and for the lives of my
people!

_King:_ Fear not, Esther; thy people shall be saved.
Mordecai, the Jew, hath once done me a great service. He
hath not been rewarded for this. He shall have honor, for he
deserveth it.

_Servant:_ The great Haman hath come, O Queen.

[HAMAN _enters; they seat themselves, and the feast is
served._]

_King:_ Haman, what shall be done unto the man whom the King
delighteth to honor?

_Haman_ [_aside_]: Whom would the King like to honor more
than myself? [_To the_ KING]: For the man whom the King
delighteth to honor, let the royal apparel be brought which
the King useth to wear, and the horse which the King rideth
upon, and the royal crown which is set upon his head; and
let these be given the man whom the King delighteth to
honor; and let him ride on horseback through the streets of
the city; and proclaim before him, "Thus it shall be done
unto the man whom the King delighteth to honor!"

_King:_ Make haste and take the royal apparel and the horse
as thou hast said and do even so unto Mordecai, the Jew,
that sitteth at the King's gate. Let nothing fail of all
that thou hast spoken.

[HAMAN _bows his head low and goes out to_ MORDECAI.]

_Servant:_ O King, Haman hath built a gallows upon which to
hang Mordecai, the Jew, this day.

[HAMAN _returns with_ MORDECAI _and puts on the crown,
etc._]

_King:_ Let him who hath made the gallows hang upon it!

[_Servant takes_ HAMAN _out._]

_King:_ Come near, Mordecai. Thou hast found great favor in
mine eyes. From henceforth thou shalt be my chief counselor,
and thou shalt rule the land in Haman's place. Thy people
shall be spared, and letters shall be sent over all the
land and into every province which shall state that the
Hebrew people shall not be destroyed, but instead they shall
be honored and have joy and feasting.

_Mordecai:_ I thank thee, O King and Esther, my Queen, for
the great deliverance and for this great honor to me. May
the Lord give me strength to deal wisely with these peoples.

_Esther:_ This is a great happiness which thou hast bestowed
upon me, O King.