About the "Spiel"

The re-enactment of the Esther's story is one of the highlights of any Festival of Purim. One particularly fun re-enactment tradition is known as the "Purim Spiel, or "Sphiel." "Spiel" is pronounced "speel," and is the Yiddish/Jewish word for a comic or satirically told story. In a Purim Sphiel, congregants dress up (many quite outrageously) as characters in the story and participate both on the stage and in the audience. The idea is that the people of God can laugh in the face of evil, knowing that God wins, and will be faithful to us -even in the face of our ridiculous humor natures. 

Summary of Lesson Activities

Students will re-enact Esther's story in the comedic style of a "Purim Sphiel," in a way that does not require they read a script, but rather, comically act out what's being narrated as they hear it, and pretend to say the words. The Sphiel (drama) follows scripture and serves as the scripture reading. 

Scripture

The Book of Esther. The following "Sphiel" is your scripture re-telling for this lesson.

Materials and Preparations

• Read the Bible Background and Book of Esther.
• Noisemakers to be used whenever Haman's name is spoken
• Costumes for the characters
• Bright makeup for Esther
• Fake hair and beards (fun fur and/or duct tape works)
• Crowns for the King and Queen
• A sword for Haman 
• A noose for Haman's gallows
• Some food for the banquet
• A table and throne (chairs with cloth thrown over them will do).
• A simple backdrop (a fake window painted on butcher paper, or a large canvas drop cloth.
• Video camera on a tripod, with screen to view it on afterwards.

How to Present this particular Purim Sphiel

In this Sphiel, an adult narrator dramatically and comically reads while the actors try to keep up by acting out what they're hearing. The script is full of "actions" that the narrator will read. The narrator should pause a beat to make sure the actors act it out and then keep reading.  Part of the comedy is that the actors don't know what's coming. They have to be quick and encouraged to be uninhibited.

• It helps if one of the main characters (Xerxes, for example) is really good at improv. With younger children, you might have an adult serve as Xerxes so they can work at getting actors to interact as the narration is read.
• If you have a large group, split into two performance groups. If you have time, switch roles and do the Sphiel again (the second time is always better because they have learned from the first). 
• If your church is "ok" with it, it's common in Purim Sphiels for males to take a female role, and vice versa. It adds to the comedy.
• If you're short on time, you can comically "speed read" through various parts --having the actors move really fast as you read fast.

There are several key parts to assign: 

1. The Narrator:  An adult with a flare for the dramatic and great sense of humor.
2. Queen Esther: A student who knows how to primp and fuss for the camera.
3. King Xerxes: A student who can talk in a whiny voice and thinks he's a hotshot.
4. Haman: A student who knows how to stomp around and look menacing.
5. Mordecai: A student who can look and walk "old." 
6. Doof-Faz is a made-up character. His/her job is to watch what's going on and be somewhat exasperated. Doof does appear as the servant in one of the scenes, otherwise, it can just be a student who didn't get a part but is good at reacting.
7. God: This can be an older volunteer if you don't have enough students. Wrapped in a white sheet, they lurk in the background of the story, SILENTLY making approving/dismaying motions and facial expressions. We've not included many actions for God in the script because God will know what to do!
8. Audience Members: Audience members have a very important role in a Purim Sphiel. They boo, hiss, clap, and cheer,all prompted by what they see and hear. The audience can include the narrator, helpers, the pastor, and any student uncomfortable with being a main character.  
   
   **Audience members cheer when they hear Esther's name, and Boo! when they hear Haman's name.**
   
   For small groups: If you don't have enough students, eliminate Doof-Faz and/or God.

Quickly costume your characters. Crazy hair, bold make-up and a couple of simple costumes or swaths of colorful cloth will do. Haman needs something like a sword to look menacing. The King needs a crown, as does Esther. The crowd needs things to make noise with.

Use Scene 1 to have everyone practice acting out their parts as narrated. Then restart the drama and videotape it for posterity!

During rehearsal, tell each character that they must have a funny voice, and a funny walk that they must use all the time. Practice these and offer suggestions.

As you rehearse Scene 1, they'll catch on that they have to ACT OUT what the narrator is saying. For example, when Xerxes is introduced as handsome, the actor has to look handsome. And when Xerxes is introduced as a break-dancer, down goes Xerxes to the floor. The narrator should PAUSE and EMPHASIZE action words and act as a director. The Narrator can repeat key phrases if necessary, and should otherwise speak in an excited tone.   Tell your students that in Purim Sphiel, the characters are supposed to be cartoonish, so there's no danger of over-acting.

Script:

Queen Esther Saves Her People

Narrator:  This is Scene 1 in the Story of Esther.

A story which happened a long long time ago in a palace far far away in the land of Persia.

About 2500 years ago, there was this swaggering king named Xerxes.  He was handsome. He liked to party. He liked to break-dance.

And he liked girls. So he chose the most beautiful woman in the land to be his wife, a Jewish woman named Esther. 

She was gorgeous, with blindingly white teeth, and amazing hair.

She had grown up in the house of her Uncle Mordecai, whom she loved. And when he introduced her to the handsome King Xerxes, she was thrilled, and winky around him.  Xerxes was captivated by her beauty, and couldn't keep from jumping up and down.

Esther, however, had a secret. On her uncle's advice, she told no one at the palace, including her new husband, that she was Jewish.  They knew there were people in the King's court who hated the Jews for not bowing to the King, so they tried to keep Esther's faith a secret.

Now, Doof-Faz knew they were Jews, and he wondered deeply why anyone would hate some one because of their religion. He paced a bit thinking about it, then he prayed to God who was listening. God was just as much perplexed and as disappointed as Doof-Faz who was now snoring.  Fortunately for everyone, God doesn't sleep, and God had a plan. 

One day, Esther's Uncle Mordecai was walking through the palace, when he came to sudden stop. Leaning way over a balcony, he could hear two of the king's guards plotting to kill the king!   Mordecai ran to tell Esther, who listened really well. And then Esther ran really fast to tell King Xerxes.  It wasn't very far, but she ran really fast anyway.

Xerxes was OUTRAGED that someone would try to kill him, and really in love with Esther for revealing the plot. He ordered an investigation and the two guards were put to death. And Mordecai's name was written into the King's official records as the Hero of the Day!  

Give me an "M" 
Give me an "O"
Give me an "R"
Give me a "DECAI"
What's that spell? 
And all the people cheered wildly.

Narrator: So now we present Scene 2

Unbeknownst to the King, his Prime Minister was a vain and evil man. His name was Haman. And Haman wanted everyone to bow to him when he walked by. And he walked by quite a lot, and kind of funny too.

But Esther's Uncle Mordecai would NOT bow down to Haman OR the King. Mordecai said "I bow to no man, I worship only my God."  This made Haman very angry. He stomped. He threatened. but nothing worked. So he hatched a plot to get rid of Mordecai and his un-bowing people.

Walking kinda funny, Haman went to King Xerxes and said with great gusto: "O Great King, there are people in your land that do not follow your rules. They are too different and I think we should get rid of them."

The King was tilting his head side to side --looking a bit clueless, so he said to Haman in his funny way of talking with his face, "Do whatever you think is best." So Haman wrote up a law and had the King sign it with his ring. It was an official proclamation condemning to death all those who would not bow to the King. 

Haman began planning the slaughter of Mordecai and his people, and cast "pur" lots to decide on the best date. Then he made an official proclamation to his troops with great fanfare: "On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, kill all the Jewish people."

Give me an H
Give me an A
Give me an M
Give me another A and N.

And that's when Doof-Faz stepped forward confidently, and interrupted smirkily, saying: "I'll tell you what it spells, it spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E for the people who believe in God!

Narrator: Which brings us to Scene 3:

When Mordecai heard the news, he was outraged, and terrified, and sent a pleading message to Queen Esther, saying, "Please talk to the king. You must try to save your people."

When Esther got the message, she was aghast and terrified herself. She sent a message back to Mordecai, saying, "You know I cannot go to see the king unless I am summoned. Anyone who goes to see the king without the king having first called for them is killed. Kind of a crazy rule I know, but that's the rule!" 

When Mordecai heard her excuse, ....er, I mean "message,"  he replied STERNLY with some of the most famous words in the Bible. He stood proudly and waved his hands around a whole bunch before writing:  "Don't think that you are safe just because you are his wife. Remember that YOU TOO are a Jew, and the King's Law is the Law of the Land."  

And then he thought some more with his hand massaging his beard and face, and then added: "And who knows, my dear, MAYBE you have been PUT HERE for just such a time as this."

When Esther got the message and read it, her face popped open, then snapped back. She was terrified. But then thinking to herself, stroking her hair and beard, she realized Mordecai was right. She stood up straight realizing she needed to do the right thing and try to protect her people.

So after three days of prayer and not eating, and fighting off really loud stomach growls, Queen Esther put on her best royal robes, and then her crown, and some makeup, and some more makeup, then extra perfume, ...and she slowly walked into Xerxes' throne room UNINVITED.

When she got there, the King's frown was turned upside down. He was thrilled to see his beautiful bride. "My dear wife, what can I do for you?" he said excitedly, trying to hug her.

But breaking free from his hugs, she pleaded her case, Esther stood straight, and proud, and then said with a bow:  "Your Majesty, please come to a banquet I am preparing tonight. And bring Haman." And feeling hungry, the King was cool with that. 

So that night King Xerxes and Haman arrived together to share a fine meal which the Queen had prepared.  And they all ate quite a lot. 

Afterwards, Haman was feeling quite full and proud himself. I mean, who gets to dine with the royal couple like this? He was looking and feeling mighty important, but inside, he was growing more and more angry because Mordecai the Jew wouldn't bow down to him or the King. He smile at the Queen, and then to the King, and then growled so they couldn't see him.

Haman got up and rolled on home. And when Haman got home, he told his wife and friends how angry he was about the whole Mordecai and Jews not bowing to Xerxes thing. And they said to him: "Why don't you build a gallows and ask the king for permission to hang that won't-bow-down-good-for-nothing-Mordecai tomorrow?"   

Haman thought this was an excellent idea, so the next day he ordered a gallows to be built in the King's courtyard. He evil-ly rubbed his hands laughed a really evil laugh, knowing that soon he would have Mordecai hung on that gallows. O what a laugh he had!

But that same night, King Xerxes could not sleep. God perhaps?  He tossed and turned. Sat up, then laid back down, and sat up again. Then he called for his servant Doof-Faz to read him official records. That always put him to sleep! And as Doof-Faz read to the King, it just so happened that the records held the story about how Mordecai had uncovered the plot to assassinate the King and saved his life.

Astonished and sitting up abruptly, the King waved his hands wildly and asked Doof-Faz, "How did we honor and reward Mordecai for saving my life?" And Doof said, with a very doofy look on his face. No, even more doofier than that.... yes, that's it:  "I don't believe we did, sir."   The King was shocked again. He was very surprised, and then he and Doof-Faz started to pace about -thinking about how to reward Mordecai for saving the King's life.

Narrator: Which brings us to Scene 4, the one where the King has a bright idea, and Haman gets what's coming to him...

Later that morning, Haman visited the King. He came in bowing down again and again. But before he had a chance to speak, the King started talking very excitedly:  "Haman, there is someone I wish to honor. What should I do?"

Thinking the King was talking about HIM, Haman stood up and replied with a great flourish, and acting out everything he was about to say, he said: "I would put your royal robes on the man, and place him on your best horse, and have your TOP official lead him around the city announcing how much you appreciate the man."  

"Great idea Haman," the King exclaimed with several pats on his back, and high fives, -- "Now go get Mordecai the Jew, put him in my royal robes and lead him around the city on my finest horse --announcing what a great guy he is for saving the King's life!"

Haman nearly exploded. "Mordecai?" He thought. And Haman was disgusted and humiliated, but had to do what the King commanded. And he walked out of the King's presence, bowing and bowing, and looking really angry.

That evening, after having led Mordecai around the city, Haman was once again eating dinner with King Xerxes and Esther in the palace. Feeling quite full, fat, and happy, the King rubbed his belly and said, "And now my dear darling, lovey-dovey, Esther baby, what can I do for you?  Anything you want is yours, up to half of my kingdom!"

Esther smiled at the offer, and then pleaded her case to the King: "I need you to save my people, the Jews from being killed!

Shocked, babbling, and in a bit in disbelief, Xerxes babbled, "Who would do such a thing!?"

Esther stood up, pointed angrily, and repeatedly, letting out shrieking noises as she did, and shouted, "Haman would! ...your prime minister! He tricked you into signing a law permitting him to kill all my people on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. Me, Mordecai, babies, every single Jewish person!"

King Xerxes was furious. He was foaming at the mouth. He burped up a little dinner. And then he turned to a cowering Haman, and ordered his guards come drag Haman away.  And the King said in his annoyingly high pitch, "Hang Haman on the gallows Haman had built for Mordecai."

Haman shrieked. He got on his knees and pleaded!  But that was it for him. And King Xerxes made Mordecai the Prime Minister in Haman's place.

Narrator:  But that's not the end of the problem. We still have one final scene to go, and I gotta warn you, it ends with a lot of hugging...

So.... Nervously pacing, the King announced one TINY LITTLE problem. He said, "Once I sign a law with my royal ring, l cannot undo the law. So Haman's soldiers can still attack the Jews."

Doof-Faz and God heard this and let out a loud GUFFAW. They also rolled their eyes ....a lot, and then stood there with their arms folded like this was the craziest thing they'd ever heard of.

Esther and Mordecai couldn't believe their ears either.  They looked at each other, then at the king, then at each other again, and then back to the King, and then back at each other again. You get the idea.  

Then the King came up with a bright idea... like the only good one he had ever had, except for the idea he had to marry Esther. Pinching his beard, he said, "Of course, I could sign a law giving your people the right to DEFEND THEMSELVES, couldn't I?  --he said with a wink, and another wink. In fact, the King started winking alot and everybody else winked back at him.

Then Esther ran to the King and hugged him. They hugged, and hugged, and hugged some more. Then Mordecai ran to the king and hugged him, and then Mordecai hugged Esther. And then all three hugged together. 

And then God joined in, hugging the King, Esther and Mordecai, --even though they didn't realize he was there and wondered who was hugging them. And then Doof-Faz tried to join in the hug, but the King waved him off. So Doof-Faz hugged himself!  ...and then God gave Doof a hug. 

And a cheer went up in the room!  Everyone shouted: The Jews are saved!  They can freely practice their religion! And everybody hugged everybody else!

And after all the hugging.... Mordecai, the King's new #1 adviser, issued a proclamation that every year the Jews should celebrate the bravery of Esther, and their freedom to worship and bow down only to God. And that party became known as Purim.

The End.
High Fives All Around.
Hugs Not Thugs.

Written by the Rotation.org Writing Team
Based on a script developed by Amy Crane and Neil MacQueen. 
Lesson copyright 2016, Rotation.org Inc.

Image Attributions:
Man with mask close-up from the Shapiro Purim mural.
Purim images/photos licensed for public use:
Charleston Chabad Purim party and Hayfos Hebrew School