Shushan Kingdom

Written by Rabbi Richard Agler and Cantor Stephanie Shore

PRELUDE
CinderEsther enters, screaming… Runs across stage, stops, screams, runs to other corner of stage, stops, screams:

CinderEsther: Help… help… It's after me!

Narrator: What's after you?

CinderEsther: It's a rodent… with a long tail, and whiskers, and sort of pinkish ears… It's so small I can barely see it… and it's after me!

Narrator: It sounds like it's just a mouse. Why does it frighten you so badly?

CinderEsther: Oh my goodness… I hate mice … but especially these little tiny ones. It's so incredibly small … it's – oh my goodness – it's a mini-Mouse!

CinderEsther screams again and exits.

Narrator: Oy vey. I have a feeling it's going to be a long night.

OPENING NUMBER

Full cast enters from both sides of stage.

SONG: "OUR SHOW" To the tune of "Heigh Ho"

Ensemble: Our show, our show
This is our Purim show
Whistle
Our show, our show
Our show, our show
It happened long ago
Our show, our show

Cast remains on stage.

Narrator: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and Mouseketeers of all ages… welcome to our 2012 Congregation b'nai Israel Purim Shpiel! Kids, if you don't know what a Mouseketeer is, ask your parents. Actually, you might need to ask your grandparents.

In any case, we're glad you're here at what tonight is surely the Happiest Place on Earth – Shushan Kingdom!

And just what is Shushan Kingdom? Why, it's a magical place where dreams come true and there's a happy ending in store for everyone – unless your name happens to be … Haman!

SONG: "NOW YOU'RE IN SHUSHAN"
To the tune of "Zipadee-doo-dah

Ensemble: Now you're in Shushan, a land far away
For tonight we are all here to stay
Lots of excitement comin' your way
Now you're in Shushan
All shout hurray!

We've got Kings and Queens and villains
Mordechai and Esther
Wait until they try to test her
Now you're in Shushan, a land far away
Lights, camera, action, all shout hurray!

Now you're in Shushan, a land far away
For tonight we are all here to stay
Lots of excitement comin' your way
Now you're in Shushan
All shout hurray!

We've got Kings and Queens and villains
Mordechai and Esther
Wait until they try to test her
Now you're in Shushan, a land far away

Let's get it started, all shout hurray!

Scene 1 - Mordechai's House

CinderEsther and Mordechai enter.

CinderEsther: What was all that hullabaloo about? Dancing
and singing and carrying on. I've never seen such a hoopla. Where
am I, Disney World?

Mordechai: No, CinderEsther… you're in Shushan… just
like you are every day. We don't have enough shekels to travel to a
faraway place like …Florida. No, we must muddle along here in
Shushan, making a living as best we can and practicing our faith –
even though we're surrounded by Persians.

CinderEsther: Persians aren't very nice, are they, Uncle
Mordechai? Sometimes they threaten us just because we're Jewish.

Mordechai: It's true, my dear. Sometimes they're not nice.
They can be mean and ugly and have very bad manners. They're
worse than the Pirates of the Caribbean, if you know what I mean!

But they're not all bad. King Ahashverosh is a
pretty good guy overall. I mean, he's no Moses, but he's no Captain
Hook, either.

CinderEsther: I wish I could meet the King. Heck, I'd settle for
a prince – as long as he's charming. But that sure isn't very likely.
I've just got to be happy with my ordinary hard-knock life – scrubbing
floors, shampooing magic carpets, polishing lamps…

Sings: Someday my prince will come.
I hope he's not a bum.
I would like it if he's a Jew,
But the king of Shushan will do…

Mordechai: Be careful what you wish for, CinderEsther.
Remember, this is a magical place where dreams come true…

They exit.

Narrator: We're going to leave CinderEsther and
Mordechai for a bit and take you to the big castle on the other side of
Shushan where King Ahashverosh lives.

It's not real easy to get there, by the way. You
have to go by boat, or take the monorail – or, of course, you can take
the bus if you're staying at one of the Shushan Resorts like the
Mediterranean Beach or the Grand Arabian.

There seems to be some sort of hullabaloo going on over there, too.

Scene 2 - Outside the Castle

Several women chorus members enter from left. Vashti enters from right, carrying a suitcase.

Woman 1: Queen Vashti, why are you carrying a
suitcase? Don't you have servants for that?

Vashti: I used to have servants – until the King
banished me from the castle – and from Shushan!

Woman 2: Banished… that's terrible! Why did he
banish you?

Vashti: I suppose it's my own fault. He wanted me to
dance for him and a bunch of strange little men who were visiting
from another kingdom. They had funny names, too. I think one of
them was called Sneezy, because he kept "aahchoo-ing" all the time.
I wish I could remember all of them. Gumby… Grizzly… Yogi… It
was humiliating.

Woman 3: That's just awful, Vashti. What are you going to
do now?

Vashti: Why, I'm going to do what any woman with a
shred of pride left in herself would do at this point in the show.
I'm going to sing my big number!

SONG: "WOMEN'S LEAGUE"
To the tune of "Bare Necessities"