Purim Play
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"Esther-May
and the
Shushan
Hillbillies"
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PURIM
Celebrations
2013
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2009
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2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
Additional
Purim Plays
Esther O
Esther
A Traditional
Purim Story
PURIM
WARS
A Sci-Fi
Parody
The Wonderful
Kingdom of AZ
A Wizard of Oz
Parody
Esther-May &
the Shushan
Hillbillies
A Beverly
Hillbillies
Parody
Here on
Shushan Isle
A Gilligan's
Island
Parody
PURIM
Around the
WORLD
Esther-May & the Shushan Hillbillies
Granny, Jethro, Jed Mordechai and Esther-May Mordechai
Esther-May is introduced
Esther-May - at home in the cabin
Jed & Esther-May
Granny with Jed
A family discussion about Esther-May going to the king's palace in Shushan Hills
King Dash-u-erus is introduced
Queen Vashti-Jane Hathaway is introduced
Haman Drysdale - the villain of our story
Zeresh Drysdale is a little "uppity"
And of course their son, Sonny
King Dash-u-erus' butler, Ravenswood
The King with Ravenswood
Ravenswood tells Vashti-Jane that King Dash-u-erus want her to come to the party he is hosting
But, she refuses. Ravenswood shares the news with KingDash-u-erus
Haman Drysdale has been elevated to a position of power and authority.
He suggests that the King look for a new queen.
Haman Drysdale escorts Vashti-Jane "out" of the kingdom
Ravenswood tells Jed Mordechai that he must send his cousin to the palace of the king
The family doesn't think it's a good idea,
but decides that perhaps God has a plan for Esther-May at the palace
Esther-May prepares to go to the palace
Granny tells her that she can't go unchaperoned. That she will go with her.
... and of course Jethro wants to go, too
Esther-May hugs Jed & grabs suitcase.
She, Jethro & Granny get in car and Jethro drives to palace in Shushan Hills
King Dash-u-erus notices Esther-May after she arrives. "Who is that good looking girl?"
Granny tells Esther-May that she is fortunate to be chosen by the king
Haman brags to Zeresh & Sonny about his accomplishments
The Jew, Jedediah Mordechai, refuses to bow to Haman
Haman hatches a scheme - with a gullible King Dash-u-erus
Jed sends Jethro to talk to Esther-May
Granny has her opinion about Haman
Esther-May gets on her knees and put s hands together as if praying
Esther-May goes before King Dash-u-erus
Esther-May prepares a banquet
Haman tells Zeresh that Granny shot a hole in his new hat
Haman & Zeresh devise an evil plan to get rid of Mordechai - and all the Jews
But the King plans to honor Mordechai for saving his life
Haman robes Jed Mordechai and drives him through the city
Esther spills the beans about Haman
Haman is hanged on the gallows he'd built for Mordechai
Mordechai is honored by the King - Esther pleads for her people
Esther-May gets a new decree saying that the Jews can defend themselves
The King rewards the entire family
The King asks Granny to be Queen Esther-May’s confidant and advisor
Jethro wants to be a "Double-Naught-Spy" and shows off his ciphering skills
Zeresh realizes that perhaps it is time for she and Sonny to get out of town!
NARRATOR: The Jews in Shushan-Hills came together on the 14th day of the month of Adar, and they put to death 300 men in Shushan, but they did not take the plunder. Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king's provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed 75,000 of them but did not take the plunder.
NARRATOR: The city of Shushan-Hills held a joyous celebration. For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. Many people of other nationalities became Jews because of the favor they had found with King Dash-u-erus and Queen Esther-May. All the nobles of the provinces helped the Jews. Jedediah Mordechai was prominent in the bank and the palace and his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.
NARRATOR: The Jews established the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should observe these 2 days every year, in the way and time prescribed by Mordechai. The 14th and 15th of Adar should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews.
Mordechai the Jew was second in rank to King Dash-u-erus, and was held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all his people.
NARRATOR: Esther 9:28 These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province, and in every city. And these days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews, nor should the memory of them die out among their descendants.
Shushan-Hills Play Cast
Narrator
Esther-May Mordechai
Jedediah Mordechai
Granny Daidy Mo'she
Jethro Bodine Mordechai
King Dash-u-erus
Queen Vashti-Jane Hathaway
Haman Drysdale
Zeresh Drysdale
Sonny Drysdale
Ravenswood
Purim Play Costuming
Many of the costumes for this particular play were acquired at the local Good-Will store - but can be provided by actors with pre-planning.
Esther-May: Blue Jeans (rolled up), barefoot, hair in pig-tails, appropriate shirt, rope belt, crown
Jed Mordechai: White T-shirt, Old hat, Old Jacket, work boots, Jeans (over-alls can be used)
Granny: Long skirt, long-sleeved shirt, apron, work boots, hair in "bun" (I made a hair "bun" out of braided gray yarn & hot glue), shawl
Jethro (Joel): Jeans (rolled), barefoot, white t-shirt, old coat (a little too small), old hat
King Dash-u-erus: Fancy clothes cause he used to be a "Movie Star", sunglasses, robe, scepter, signet rings
Vashti-Jane: Jumper & long-sleeved white shirt or turtle neck shirt, book-work style glassed, book, crown
Haman: Black pants, black shirt, black jacket, black shoes, black Derby-style hat (from Party City)
Zeresh: Fancy dress and BIG hatSonny: Khaki pants or shorts, plaid shirt, dark jacket, a "beanie-hat"
Ravenswood the Butler: Dress pants & shoes, white shirt & bow-tie, coat, serving trayStage Layout Scenes & Props
(4 Scenes) Mordechai Country Home Food Table with Bench & 1 wooden chair
Large Family Truck painted on card-board & cut out
Toy or stuffed-animal type Dog
Stuffed-animal critter for Esther-May to carry (I found a racoon)
Log, Pot & Spoon
Pocket knife & whittling stick
Oil Lamp, Rocking Chair, Baskets
Checkered Table cloth for tablePalace Room 2 nice chairs as thrones
Table
Table & Lamb
Chronicles of the King - Book
Area rug
Light-weight painting for wall
Vashti/Esther's Room Nice chair (Wicker if possible)
Table & Lamp
Commerce Bank
Sign for wall "Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills"
Table, Play Money
2 Chairs behind table
Cash Register if possible
Purim Play Notes
Our congregation is fairly small. Since the group is small, parts are not memorized beforehand, but instead are frequently assigned on the evening of the play as the Narrator reads his/her part. Everyone is always willing to take a part and it's always interesting to see who will be portraying the character each year. With this particular play, parts were assigned confidentially before the night of the play, but actors still didn't see the play until the evening of the Purim Celebration. Actors were costumed just before the play began in order to save time.
Purim Songs
The music for all of the songs I used in the Purim play can be found on the internet, usually in midi form, sometimes in MP3 form.
