Group Presentation

Here's the script we used for our group presentation, on the Book of Esther:

      THE BOOK OF ESTHER

                    JIMMY and SALLY are sitting on the floor, GRANDPA
                    is sitting in a chair.

                    Throughout the play, unless otherwise stated, the
                    actors will act out what Grandpa says.

          JIMMY
               Grandpa? Would you tell us a story?

          GRANDPA
                         (considers for a moment)
               No.

          JIMMY
               But Grandpa, it's Purim.

          GRANDPA
               Ugh. Every year, you kids ask for a story, and every
               year I tell you the same one. I'm 88 years old and my
               body is falling apart, can't you just leave me to die
               in peace?

          JIMMY
                         (Chanting)
               Purim story!

          SALLY
                         (Chanting)
               Purim story!

          GRANDPA
               All right, all right already! I tell you a story.
                         (mumbles in Yiddish.)
               [CHANGE SLIDE/PALACE]
               Well, many years ago, in the Kingdom of Persia...

                    As he begins the tale, the two children turn, and
                    become MORDECAI and ESTHER. GRANDPA continues to
                    narrate.

          GRANDPA
               There was a Jewish man named Mordecai. He was a wise,
               and honorable man.

                    MORDECAI/JIMMY flaunts about, looking very
                    honorable and wise. [CHANGE SLIDE/FIREPLACE] He
                    then stops, and addresses Grandpa.

          JIMMY
               Mordecai has a laser gun, right? And his name is
               Mordecai von Destructionburger, right?

          GRANDPA
               No.

          JIMMY
               This story sucks.

                    MORDECAI/JIMMY becomes MORDECAI one again. [CHANGE
                    SLIDE/PALACE]

          GRANDPA
               He had a niece, who went by the name Esther. Esther was
               very wise and beautiful. She was also Jewish.

                    ESTHER/SALLY also flaunts, looking very wise and
                    beautiful.

          GRANDPA
               The king of the land had recently misplaced his wife,
               so he was currently looking for a new one.

                    Enter KING, looking for a wife.

          GRANDPA
               So, he had all the beautiful women of the land brought
               before him, and he chose Esther to be his wife, because
               she was the most virginal.

                    ESTHER and MORDECAI break character, and become
                    the children again. [CHANGE SLIDE/FIREPLACE]

          SALLY
               What does virginal mean?

          JIMMY
               Yeah, what does that mean?

          GRANDPA
               I'll tell you when you're older. Anyway, Esther didn't
               reveal to the king that she was Jewish.

          SALLY
               This society seems to be rather misogynistic. And
               intolerant.

          GRANDPA
               Hush, you.

                    The two children once again become ESTHER and
                    MORDECAI. [CHANGE SLIDE/PALACE]

          GRANDPA
               They were happily married, but soon, Mordecai
               discovered a plot by two eunuchs (no, I'm not going to
               tell you what that means) to kill the King. He tells
               Esther, and Esther tells the king, and the king is very
               happy with her. Everything is great.
                         (To himself)
               My life is a massive disappointment.

                    Enter HAMMON.

          GRANDPA
               Now, soon, a man rose in the ranks of the king's
               advisors. His name was Ham--

                    JIMMY once again breaks character. [CHANGE
                    SLIDE/FIREPLACE]

          JIMMY
               Do him and Mordecai have a swordfight?

                    HAMMON and MORDECAI/JIMMY brandish swords/sticks
                    at one another.

          GRANDPA
               No.

                    They lower the sticks dejectedly.

          JIMMY
               Is there a car chase? With lasers?

          GRANDPA
               No.

          JIMMY
               Does Hammon have a lair?

          GRANDPA
               NO! Hammon was just an advisor to the king who happened
               to hate Mordecai!

          JIMMY
               Did Mordecai kill his father?

          GRANDPA
               NO! Mordecai refused to bow to Hammon, so he decided to
               kill Mordecai and all the Jews!

                    SALLY breaks character now too.

          SALLY
               Sounds like he has quite the inferiority complex.

          GRANDPA
               Do you kids want me to tell this story or not?

          SALLY
               Yes.

          JIMMY
               Yes.

          GRANDPA
               Then keep quiet. This isn't one of your TV shows or
               video games. You kids might not realize this, but
               stories used to be interesting without explosions, gun
               fights, the internoodle--

          JIMMY
               You mean the internet?

          GRANDPA
               Never mind!

                    The kids return to their characters. [CHANGE
                    SLIDE/PALACE]

          GRANDPA
               Where was I? Oh, right, Hammon decides to kill
               Mordecai. Well, the king is pretty happy with Esther,
               and she, being Jewish, hatches a plan to save her
               people. She asks the king to throw a big feast, and
               honor Mordecai.

                    SALLY breaks character. [CHANGE SLIDE/FIREPLACE]

          SALLY
               This king's not too smart, is he?

                    SALLY returns to character. [CHANGE SLIDE/PALACE]

          GRANDPA
               Hush. The king summons Hammon, asking him what he would
               do to honor someone who had done well. Hammon advises
               him, thinking that the king is talking about him.

          JIMMY
               [CHANGE SLIDE/FIREPLACE] But he's not.

          GRANDPA
               Thank you, you're really an astute child. Hammon then
               goes out and builds a gallows, to hang Mordecai on.
               [CHANGE SLIDE/PALACE]

          SALLY
               Gross.

          GRANDPA
               The banquet comes around, and there's much food and
               revelry.

                    Hand out treats.

          GRANDPA
               And not a surprise to us, the king honors Mordecai. Of
               course, Hammon is angry, but when he's about to leave
               and plot revenge, Esther asks for another favor. She
               knew of Hammon's plot, and she tells the king. The king
               then hangs Hammon on his own gallows.

                    Both children stand, mouths agape.

          GRANDPA
               And then Esther helps the Jews kill 75,000 people. The
               End.

                    They still stand there, lips quivering.  [CHANGE
                    SLIDE/FIREPLACE]

          GRANDPA
               Now leave me alone, I want to take a nap.

                    He promptly falls asleep. The two children plop
                    down on the floor, scratching their heads.