Stories, skits and plays by M. Sweetsur.

Monologue - King Neb.

One of the best ways of making a Bible story really come alive is to dress up as a character, and tell the story from his (or her) viewpoint. Remember -Be dramatic.

When teaching on the "Fiery furnace" I usually tell the story, and then recap it by dressing up as King Nebuchadnezzar to give a monologue.

"I am King Nebuchadnezzar. My friends call me 'Neb'. But you must call me 'Your Highness', or 'Your Lordship', or 'Oh Great one'. I am the greatest, most magnificent king that this world has ever known. Do you see all this land, as far as you can see in every direction - it all belongs to me. And do you see this magnificent golden statue? I had it made in honour of me.

I made an order - which everyone must obey - that when anyone hears the music, they must bow down and worship my statue. Well, I could hardly believe my ears when my servant came to me one day and reported that three Hebrew men - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down to my statue. I had them dragged before me straightaway. I said "Is this true what I hear - that you refuse to bow down and worship my statue?" They were so insolent. They replied "Yes it is true. We will only worship the one true God." I said "I will give you one last chance. You either bow down and worship my statue right now, or I will have you thrown into the fiery furnace." They still defied me and said "You can do that Oh King, but if you do, our God will rescue us from the furnace. But even if He doesn't we will still not worship your statue."

I was furious. I ordered my servants to heat the furnace up seven times hotter than normal. Then I had Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego thrown into it. But then I saw an amazing thing. I said to my servant "How many men did we throw into that fiery furnace? Was it three or was it four?" He replied "Three Oh King." I said "But look. There are four men walking around in the furnace, and the flames don't seem to have harmed them." I then realised that the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had sent an angel to protect them from the flames. I ordered the men to be brought out straightaway - and they were completely unharmed. There was not even the smell of smoke on their clothes.

I now knew that the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was the greatest of all. So I made a new order - that nobody, but nobody must ever say anything bad about the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, for He is surely the greatest of all.


Monologue - Esther.

I always enjoy acting in front of my classes, but the following skit, based on the story of Queen Esther, probably gives me more fun than any other.

Although I have called this a monologue, you actually play four different characters - Uncle Mordecai, Esther, King Xerxes and Prime-Minister Haman. Using four different voices may seem a hard task, but I am sure most of you could manage it. I use the following "voices" :-
Mordecai - My normal voice.
Esther - High pitched voice.
Xerxes - Deep voice.
Haman - "Sneaky" (mocking) voice.

I use a scarf as a prop, placed in four different positions as the characters are speaking :-
Mordecai - Held around my waist.
Esther - Placed over my head.
Xerxes - Draped over my shoulders.
Haman - Held on side of face (which I tilt to the side for greater effect).

Introduction.

I introduce the lesson by explaining how the Israelites came to be captive in Babylon, and that they were in great danger of becoming extinct. But God wasn't going to allow that to happen. He still had great plans for them, including the birth of His Son into an Israelite family many years later. He found two 'ordinary' people (Mordecai and his niece Esther) that were willing to be used by Him to rescue the Israelites from their danger.

Monologue. (This may appear to be rather long at first sight, but that is because the sentences have been deliberately kept short to enable rapid change of 'character'. It should only take six or seven minutes to perform, and you will probably find the lines fairly easy to memorise).

Mordecai. I am Mordecai. I am a Jew, and I am very concerned about the great danger my people are in.
Esther. I am Queen Esther. I won the 'Miss Babylon' beauty contest because I am so lovely. Don't you think I am lovely? The first prize was to get married to the King. I wasn't his only wife, but I was his favourite because of my great beauty. However, I thought it best not to tell him that I was a Jew.
Xerxes. I am King Xerxes. And if I make an order, everyone must obey it.
Haman. I am Prime-Minister Haman, and I hate the Jews. The Jews must die, the Jews must die.

Narrator. One day Haman plotted against the Jews. He went to the king and said.

Haman. Oh kingy.
Xerxes. Yes Haman.
Haman. Guess what those Jews are doing now?
Xerxes. I don't know. What are those Jews doing now?
Haman. They disobey your orders.
Xerxes. They disobey my orders!
Haman. Yes, they disobey your orders. You have to do something about it, kingy.
Xerxes. What do you think we should do about it Haman?
Haman. Sign an order saying "The Jews must die".
Xerxes. The Jews must die!
Haman. Yes. They disobey your orders. Come on kingy, sign an order saying "the Jews must die".
Xerxes. Very well, I shall sign an order saying "the Jews must die".
Haman. Ha Ha. The king's signed the order. The Jews must die! The Jews must die!

Narrator. When Mordecai heard what had happened, he was mortified. He was terrified. He was horrified. He was petrified. Well, he was very upset. He called for his niece.

Mordecai. Esther! Esther!
Esther. Yes, my uncle.
Mordecai. Guess what Haman has done now?
Esther. I don't know. What has Haman done now?
Mordecai. He has tricked the king into signing an order saying "the Jews must die".
Esther. The Jews must die!
Mordecai. Yes, the Jews must die.
Esther. What can we do about it, Uncle Mordecai?
Mordecai. You are our only hope. You must tell the king.
Esther. But, he doesn't even know that I am a Jew.
Mordecai. Well this is the time to tell him. Who knows that you have come into the Kingdom for such a time as this.
Esther. Very well, I shall tell the king.
Mordecai. But, wait.
Esther. Wait?
Mordecai. Yes, wait. We need to make sure that the king is in a good mood. We need to work out a plan.

Narrator. So Mordecai and Esther worked out a plan. That night Queen Esther went to see the king.

Esther. Oh, my great and glorious Lord and Master, my wonderful King.
Xerxes. Yes Esther.
Esther. I am having a party tomorrow night. Would you like to come to my party?
Xerxes. Oh yes Esther, I would love to come to your party.
Esther. And can we invite Haman as our special guest?
Xerxes. Very well. If that is what you want, my dear. Haman shall be our special guest.
Haman. Ha Ha. I am to be the special guest at the Queen's party. I am so important, I am. I am to be the special guest at the queen's party.

Narrator. The party was going really well, but Mordecai wanted to know what was happening. He crept up to the open window.

Mordecai. Esther! Esther!
Esther. Yes, my uncle.
Mordecai. Have you told the king yet?
Esther. No the time is not right. But get away from this window, the king may hear you.
Xerxes. Esther!
Esther. Yes, my great and glorious Lord and Master, my wonderful King.
Xerxes. What was that noise at the window?
Esther. Oh, that was just the wind.
Xerxes. Just the wind!
Esther. Yes, just the wind.

Narrator. But Mordecai couldn't keep away. For a second time he crept up to the window.

Mordecai. Esther! Esther!
Esther. Yes, my uncle.
Mordecai. Have you told the king yet?
Esther. No, the time is not right. But get away from this window, the king may hear you.
Xerxes. Ester!
Esther. Yes, my great and glorious Lord and Master, my wonderful King.
Xerxes. What was that noise at the window?
Esther. Oh, that was just the wind.
Xerxes. I am sure it was more than just the wind.
Esther. No, it was just the wind. But I have something to tell you.
Xerxes. Something to tell me?
Esther. Yes, something to tell you.
Xerxes. What is it you want to tell me?
Esther. I'm a Jew.
Xerxes. You're a Jew?
Haman. The Queen's a Jew!
Esther. Yes, I'm a Jew.
Xerxes. - - - - Well, that doesn't matter my dear. You are still my Queen, and I still love you.
Esther. Oh, thank you my Lord. But, I have something else to tell you.
Xerxes. Something else to tell me?
Esther. Yes, something else to tell you.
Xerxes. What else do you want to tell me?
Esther. Haman has tricked you into signing an order - The Jews must die.
Xerxes. Well, I did sign the order my dear.
Haman. That's right. The king's signed the order. All Jews to die. All Jews have to die.
Esther. But that means that if all Jews have to die, then I have to die.
Xerxes. Oh No! No harm must come upon you, my dear.
Haman. Ahhh. But you signed the order. All Jews to die. All Jews have to die.
Xerxes. I know!. I will sign a new order, saying that nobody can harm the Jews!
Esther. Oh, thank you my Lord. The Jews have been saved.
Haman. But that's not fair. You promised. You signed the order. All Jews have to die.
Esther. What shall we do about Haman?
Xerxes. I don't know. What do you think we should do about Haman?
Esther. I'll ask my uncle. Uncle Mordecai! Uncle Mordecai!
Mordecai. Yes, Esther?
Esther. What shall we do about Haman?
Mordecai. Hang him.
Esther. Hang him.
Xerxes. Hang him?
Haman. Hang me!
Mordecai. Hang him.
Esther. Hang him.
Xerxes. Then Haman shall hang.
Haman. No. Don't hang Haman. Don't hang cuddly old Haman. Hang the Jews. Hang the Jews. Hang the Jews.

Narrator. But Haman was too late, and he was taken out and hanged. (Wrap the scarf around your neck as a noose).

Therefore, because of the obedience and courage of Ester and her uncle, the Jews were saved from extinction. And shortly afterwards the King allowed them to return to their homeland of Israel.