Purim: The Story of Esther

Puppet Script

Summary of Lesson Activities

Children will use puppets to perform the story of Esther --the girl whose faith and action saved her people. The script is a narration that contains "cues" for the puppeteers to follow.

Scripture

The Book of Esther. The puppet script is this lesson's scripture reading. In the tradition of Purim celebrations, it is retold in a humorous way.

The Setup

Overview

The script takes a minimum of four puppeteer to perform.  Because there are several minor characters with limited roles, one person can do two or more puppets. If needed, recruit extra hands. Ideally, the performance will have an audience. Either split your class and have one perform while the other watches, then switch, ...OR, invite another class to come watch the performance. The kids will enjoy watching themselves perform, so videotape it if you can (playback is also another opportunity to drive home the story).

Puppets

You will need a total of 12 puppets --or objects that can be used like puppets (5 Female, 6 Male, 1 Horse).  But please note: You do not need 12 puppeteers. See the puppet assignment notes below.

Puppets can be anything from traditional hand or rod puppets, to dolls you have fastened to sticks. For example, Vashti could be a barbie doll on a stick, and Xerxes could be Mr. Potatohead, or a real potato with eyes and a robe strapped to a yardstick.  (Such humor is In keeping with Purim tradition.)  

The following four puppets have major roles, and need their own puppeteer:
1. Esther
2. Xerxes
3. Mordecai
4. Haman

The following puppets have very minor roles, and can be done by the same puppeteers doing the major roles, or by one of two students doing all the minor roles.

5. Vashti
6. Horse Puppet
You just require two male and two female puppets for the following parts:
7. Vashti's Servants (Two)
8. Esther’s Servant
9. Two Persian Girls
10. King’s Servant
11. Two men (courtiers ‘Bigthan’ and ‘Teresh')
12. Two Guards

Props Needed for the Story

• Sceptre (optional: we didn't include in script)
• Royal Robe
• Mini sign on wooden dowel which says “I’m #1!”.
• Mini sign on wooden dowel which says “King’s #1, Go to Guy!”
• Mini – Scroll (Court Records)
• Gallows (rope)

Scene Backgrounds for the Stage

• Palace Background
• Banquet Table
  Both of these can be drawn on paper and hung behind the stage.
  
  

Teacher Prep

• assemble stage, sound and lighting
• gather all necessary puppets
• make required props
  • Scroll – white cardstock & 2 wooden 3/8” dowel rods
  • Signs – white cardstock & 2 wooden 3/8” dowel rods
  • Sceptor  – 1” wooden dowel cap (1/8” hole) inserted/glued onto wooden 3/8” dowel rod.
  • Royal Robe - clip a piece of red or purple cloth to your puppet.
• make backgrounds (optional)
• arrange for audience and/or videotaping

Puppet Script: The Story of Esther

About the Script

The following script is designed to be acted out by the puppets as they hear what the narrator is reading. The puppeteers listen for their puppet's name and "action cues."

With younger children, it's a good idea to have a "stage manager" sitting behind the stage and whispering instructions to the puppeteers.

We've added some explanatory and life application thoughts in the script.

Rehearsal:
You can rehearse everyone together by sitting in a large circle and walking through the script --offering suggestions as you go. If you are splitting into two performance groups, each should rehearse separately.  

The Narrator:
The narrator's role is both to read and to direct, so this is a role for an adult. Though the script does not contain "pauses" the Narrator will want to make great use of them so that the puppeteers have time to react. The Narrator should use different "voices" for the characters. This will help the puppeteers know when their puppet is supposed to be moving. The Narrator should plan on repeating certain key lines and words to prompt the puppeteers. The Narrator will probably need to "ad lib" directions, such as, "Okay Xerxes, you're supposed to go off stage now."   Interjecting humorous observations is definitely in keeping with the Purim tradition of "Purim Sphiel" (fun storytelling).

Script Options:
For younger children, or to save time, delete scene 1 with Vashti.

Scene 1 – King Zerxes & Queen Vashti

PUPPETS: King Xerxes, Vashti, and Vashti's servants
PROPS: Sign "I'm #1"

NARRATOR:

Welcome to the Story of Esther. It takes place in the Kingdom of Persia where the Jews had been living ever since they had been conquered in war and taken there to live in about the 5th Century Before Christ.

Let's begin by introducing, the one, the only, the Big King himself: Xerxes!  Yes, there he is, the King of Persia strutting his stuff in his throne room. So handsome. So strong. And so sure he always does the right thing.

Hey Xerxes, we hear you like parties!    "That's right, that's right, I love to give parties, I'm rich and famous and love to strut my stuff, and show off, cause' you know I'm number 1,  See my sign? I'm King of the World!"  (Puppet Action:  hold up a sign that says “I’m #1!")

What a cool king. And what a cool wife he has. Her name is Vashti --and here she comes now!

Isn't she beautiful, ladies and gentleman? Hello there Vashti!

"Hello there little people.  And you're right, I am soooo beautiful.  I love to strut around in my beautiful gowns showing everyone how bea-u-ti-ful and  queenly I am. I'm number 1, Queen of the World!   (Puppet Action:  hold up a sign that says “I’m #1!")

Who's that coming into the throne room now?  It looks like two of the Queen's servants are bringing her a message.  Uh-oh, Vashti doesn't like what she's hearing. "The King wants me to come to his party and parade my beauty around the room in front of everyone? How dare he treat me like a Beauty contestant. I'm the Queen!"

And.....they dragged her off, and that was the last anybody ever saw of Queen Vashti.

Poor Queen, and now look at the Poor King. He needs a new Queen!  But who will he get? Where will he find someone beautiful beyond description? And where will he find someone to do everything he commands? And as the king thought about that as he walked away.

Scene 2 – A New Queen (Esther)

PUPPETS: King Xerxes, Servant, Esther
PROPS: None

NARRATOR: A little while later, King Xerxes summoned his servant to his throne room to give him an important announcement.

"Servant," said the King to the servant, "I want you to search far and wide for the most beautiful girls in my kingdom, and bring them here for me to choose from." And while the servant left to go searching throughout the kingdom, King Xerxes paced excitedly back and forth.

Pretty soon, the servant returned and approached the King with good news.
"King Xerxes, Sir, may I introduce to you the most beautiful woman in your kingdom, Esther."

Now Esther walked in like a cool breeze, her face beaming like sunshine, her hair waving in the wind like waves on the ocean, her breath like the morning dew. She bowed to the king like a graceful willow tree, and twirled around like a leaping deer.

The king stood there mesmerized and love-struck. He ran to embrace her, but she acted shy. And very soon, they were married, and Esther became the new Queen of Persia.

Little did he know, however, that she was also Jewish, and followed only the One True God.

Scene 3 - Mordecai

PUPPETS: Mordecai, the Two Bad Men, and the Servant
PROPS: Mini Scroll (Records Book)

Now Esther had an uncle, and his name was Mordecai. And it just so happened that Mordecai was an advisor to the King and he was also a Jew who obeyed the One True God.

One day, when Mordecai was out for a walk, he came upon two men. And he overheard them plotting to get rid of King Xerxes.  Mordecai stayed out of sight but was quite shaken. "They want to kill the king!"  he said. And as soon as the two men were done talking, Mordecai snuck off back to the palace.

Back at the palace, he reported what he had heard, and the two men were immediately arrested. And because Mordecai had saved the King’s life, a servant wrote Mordecai’s good deed in the Kingdom’s record book. 

Scene 4 – Haman

PUPPETS: Haman and Mordecai
PROPS: Sign "Kings #1, Go to Guy!"

Now there was this guy in the palace who thought he was hot stuff. In fact, here he comes now. Here comes the King's closest advisor strutting around the palace like he owns it. See how important he thinks he is?  Look at him, he thinks he's the “King’s #1. He thinks he's more important than anyone! (hold up sign) --and he really likes to remind everyone of it.

The man's name was Haman (Boo!)  That's right BOO Haman!  ...because evil should always be boo-ed.

I say Haman --you say boo) HAMAN --BOO,  HAMAN!!!  --BOOOO!!!   Oh you're good.

And what makes him so evil?  It's because Haman (boo!) hates the Jews and their God. And Haman (boo!) especially hates Mordecai, and I'll tell you why:  Mordecai will not bow down to Haman (boo!) or the King. He will only bow down to God. And that made Haman (boo!) jump up and down A LOT.

Now here's a Flashback!  There's Mordecai by the palace gate. and here comes Haman (boo!). Mordecai was supposed to bow to Haman every time he walked in through the palace gate, just like everybody else did, but Mordecai would not bow. Mordecai only worships the Lord God.  

And when Mordecai didn't bow, it made Haman furious, "I'm the King's #1, Go to Guy!," (hold up sign) he shouted.  But Mordecai would not bow. So Haman decided to have Mordecai killed.

Scene 5 -Haman Hatches a Plot

PUPPETS:    King Xerxes and Haman
PROPS: Sign "Kings #1, Go to Guy!"

A few days later, King Xerxes was in his throne room and Haman walked in, bowing of course.  Actually, bowing quite a lot.

And then he spoke to the King:   "King buddy, did you know there are people in your Kingdom that don't obey your law?  They're called Jews and they will NOT bow down to you, or to me, as you have decreed. They say they worship only their own God, and will bow down to no man as your law demands!  They need to be taught a lesson that the King is #1!" (hold up sign).

The King whispered back to Haman – “What should we do about this?,” and Haman whispered back to the king, "Let’s put out a decree that all Jews can be killed on the 13th day of the month of Adar."

The king stupidly agreed to Haman’s evil plan by nodding his head yes, and then he left the throne room not realizing that he had just sentenced his OWN WIFE to be killed.

After the king was gone, Haman (boo!) did a little happy dance, then he rubbed his hands together in glee – now, not only could he get rid of the Jews he hated, them and their stupid rules and fake God, but he'd also be able to get rid of Mordecai who refused to bow down to the King’s #1, Go to Guy! (hold up sign)


Scene 6 – Esther Gets Bad News

PUPPETS: Servant Girl (Middle)  Esther (Right)   Mordecai (Left)
PROPS: None

Well, you can imagine how Mordecai reacted when he got the news that his people, the Jews, were about to be attacked by Haman's soldiers and the King had approved it!  In fact, Mordecai was quite shaken.

So he rushed to go see Esther thinking that perhaps she could convince the King to change his decree and save his people.  However, there was just one problem.  When Mordecai went to see his niece Esther, he knew he couldn't be seen talking to her, or she too might be killed because she hadn't yet told anyone in the palace that she was a Jew. She had kept her faith a secret!

So Mordecai spoke to Esther using one of Esther's servants as a "go-between."

Mordecai whispered his message of danger to the servant girl, and she went and whispered it to Esther. Esther whispered back a response, and the servant girl ran back to Mordecai and whispered Esther's answer to him.

Back and forth they went SEVERAL TIMES. Esther whispering to the girl, the girl whispering to Mordecai, Mordecai sending a message back to Esther.  The servant girl was kind of getting tired!  And here was the problem: Esther was afraid that if she SPOKE UP to the King, that she would have to reveal that SHE TOO was a Jew who was going to be killed. And she didn't want to risk her life.

Finally, Mordecai whispers this message,  ...and it's really the whole point of this long story, so listen carefully.

Mordecai's message to Esther was this, "Look here Esther. did you ever stop to think that perhaps you have been PUT HERE for just such as time as this  --to SAVE your people???? Hmmmm???

It was like a lightbulb went on over Esther's head, even thought they didn't have lightbulbs back then. She realized her Uncle was right. That she needed to stand up for her faith in God and for her people. She needed to do the right thing. She needed to go tell her husband the King not to let Haman kill the Jews, because if he did, SHE would be killed too.

Scene 7 - Esther talks to the King

PUPPETS: King Xerxes & Esther (opposite ends of the stage)
PROPS: Optional: Sceptor

NARRATOR:  King Xerxes was sitting on the throne when Esther entered the room.  And she stood there trembling & shaking because she knew the king always said he would kill whoever entered his throne room without an appointment. But he loved her so much, he welcomed her.

"What's up, honey?" he said. And she nervously asked him, "King Husband, I, I...., I need you to come to dinner tonight and bring Haman."  The King thought that was a curious request, but he loved Esther, you could see it in the way he acted around her, and loved a good party too.

Scene 8 – A Surprise for Haman

PUPPETS: King Xerxes & Servant (holding record book), and then Haman
PROPS: None

The dinner was very nice, except for one thing: all the pounding!   Outside in the courtyard, all during dinner, Haman's (boo!) men were building a gallows on which Haman was going to have Mordecai killed because he would only bow to God.

Dinner was soon over and Haman and Esther left. King tried to go to bed, but was unable to fall asleep. So he got up and called for his servant.

"Servant, bring me the official court records and read them to me. That always puts me to sleep."  So the servant brought the records and started reading them to the king as he laid down and tried to fall asleep. But then the King popped up --because the servant had just read from the records the story of how Mordecai had stopped a plot to kill the King!

The King jumped out of his bed and said, "Did we ever reward Mordecai for his good deed?" And when the servant answered NO, the King came up with his own great idea for a reward.

"Summon Haman!" he yelled. And in walked Haman.

The King approached Haman and said, "Haman my #1, what should be done for the man that the king wishes to honor?”   Thinking the king was talking about him, Haman excitedly waved his arms and said, “The man should be dressed in the king's royal robes and led around on the king's royal horse, while a herald calls out: "See how the king honors a man he wishes to reward!" 

"Excellent!" waved the King. "I want you to do that ----for Mordecai!"

Bum, bum Bummmmmmmm!   Haman was stunned. He was shocked! But he left to do as the King had commanded --knowing that if he didn't, he would be killed himself.  Yes, those were dangerous times in those days, which made Esther and Mordecai's decision all the more amazing.

Scene 9:  Mordecai on a Horse

PUPPETS: Mordecai on a Horse with Haman and various puppets in the "crowd"
PROPS: None

And here he comes!  Mordecai dressed in the King's robe, riding the King's Horse, and being led by Haman (boo!) the King's #1 guy.

"Hail Mordecai, a great guy, beloved by the king," Haman mumbled and scowled.

...And Mordecai loved every minute of it. He waved to the crowd. The crowd cheered!  

And Haman shrank smaller and smaller.

Scene 10: Mordecai gets what's coming to him

PUPPETS: King Xerxes & Haman & Esther, later 2 guards
PROPS: None

Later that night, Esther threw another party for Xerxes and Haman.

"King Xerxes, Loverboy husband of mine," she said, "I understand that you have signed a law authorizing Haman to kill all the Jews."  "Yes," he replied, "so what?"

"So.... I'm a Jew too, my husband."

The King freaked out and ran off, and that's when Haman panicked and grabbed Queen Esther by the arm.  But just as he did, the King came back in the room and saw Haman touching his wife. And that was simply s-o-m-e-t-h-i-n-g you DID NOT do.

"Guards!"  Shouted the King. "Arrest Haman!"

Now it was Haman's turn to be grabbed.

The King ordered Haman to be hanged on the gallows, the one Haman had built for Mordecai. Oh, the Irony!  

And as a reward for being such a good guy, Mordecai came to the palace and became the King's new #1 advisor. Then.... both he and Esther tried to get the King to change the law he had signed allowing the Jews to be attacked because they refused to bow before the King.

"Can't change the law," said the King, "but I can make a new one."

And so the King signed a new law allowing the Jews to defend themselves against their attackers, and because nobody dared, they became free to worship God as they desired, and the King respected their faith.

And so, Mordecai decreed that every year on that day, his people should dance and celebrate their freedom and Esther's bravery. That day is known as Purim, and every year we tell the story of Esther and Mordecai standing up for their faith instead of hiding it, and fighting for the freedom to worship their God.

(Dance party of all the puppets, except Haman)

THE END