Description

This adaptation of the epic story of the orphaned Jewish girl who became the wife of the mighty Persian King Ahasuerus (Xerxes), faithfully sustains the narrative flow of the masterful text from the King James English translation. The story portrays a crisis of the Israelites, already scattered by defeat by the Persians, again facing the threat of annihilation. Esther, a secret Jewess, confronts the necessity to act to save her people. She does so courageously, with the guidance of her wise uncle Mordecai, utilizing her dazzling beauty and influence on the king to outwit their adversaries who are plotting the death of all the Jewish people within the 127 provinces of the sprawling, fifth-century B.C. Persian empire. In due course, the pogrom against the Jews is foiled and diverted back on to the enemies. The joyful Feast of Purim, celebrates this deliverance. Production is visualized on an open platform, whether in temple, cathedral or theatre, with nearly 180 degrees of accessible openness for staging the interweaving of scenes with sweeping props and costumes in processional. Approximate running time: 45 minutes.