You will need yourself plus six volunteers. The following action words are to be printed in large print, one word/words per page: way to go, aah!, ooh!, boo!, clap, uh-oh!, yum-yum!. Each person needs a copy of the story plus the action word/words they will be holding. The volunteer will be holding the story (so they can follow along) with their action word on the back facing the floor until your clue word is spoken. When your clue word is spoken hold your action word up so the audience will respond. The clue word will appear just before the action word in the story:
Read the story
Many years ago, in the kingdom of Persia, a beautiful young Jewish orphan named Esther (AAH!)was raised by her cousin Mordecai (WAY TO GO!). When Esther(AAH!) was a young woman, King Xerxes needed a new wife (OOH!). The king had removed Vashti as queen because she refused to be displayed in front of a lot of drunken men at a party (BOO!). To find a new wife, Xerxes held a kingdom-wide beauty contest (OOH!). Esther (AAH!) was pretty enough to be a part of the contest. In fact, Esther won (WAY TO GO!). She became the new queen (OOH!).
Now Esther’s cousin Mordecai (CLAP) worked in the king’s palace. Haman (BOO!) also worked in the palace. Hamam (BOO!) was promoted by the king to a high position, and the king wanted everybody to bow down to Haman (BOO!). Mordecai (CLAP) was a Jew who did not believe in bowing down to men. (WAY TO GO!) So he refused to honor Haman (BOO!) that way. (UH-OH!) Haman (BOO!) was not very happy about that (UH-OH!) and decided that he would get even with Mordecai (CLAP) and all the Jews. He wanted tham all dead. (UH-OH!) He tricked King Xerxes into signing an order allowing all the Jews to be killed on a certain day. (UH-OH!) When Mordecai, (CLAP) heard about Haman’s plan (BOO!) he and all the other Jews were very upset. Esther (AAH!) did not know about Haman’s plan, (BOO!) but she did find out that Mordecai (CLAP) was very upset about something. She sent a messenger to find out what the problem was. (WAY TO GO) Mordecai (CLAP) sent the messenger back with details of Haman’s evil plan. (BOO!) He also urged Esther (AAH!) to go to the king to try to stop Haman’s plan. (BOO!)
Esther (AAH!) had a difficult choice. (UH-OH!) The king had a rule: no one was allowed to come see him unless he invited him or her to come. Anyone who came without being asked was subject to be executed (UH-OH!) unless the King held out his scepter to show that he accepted the visitor. He had not asked to see Queen Esther (AAH!) for a long time. (UH-OH!) Esther (AAH!) sent word back to Mordecai (CLAP) reminding him of this law. He anwsered back that the situation was life or death for her anyway because she was just as Jewish as the rest of them. (UH-OH!) Mordecai (CLAP) told Esther (AAH!) that he believed God had allowed her to become queen, so she could help save her people. (OOH!) Esther (AAH!) knew what she needed to do, but she was still very scared.
She asked Mordecai (CLAP) and all the Jews to join her in three days of fasting and praying about the situation. (WAY TO GO!) After three days, Esther (AAH!) was ready to act. She boldly went to the king (WAY TO GO!) and knelt anxiously before him. Would he ignore her? (UH-OH) Would he hold out his secpter to accept her? She looked up and saw the king’s hand slowly reach out and extend the scepter to her. (OOH!)
Esther (AAH!) invited the king and Haman (BOO!) to a fine banquet (YUM-YUM!). Then, she held a second banquet for them (YUM-YUM!). By this time, the king was feeling pretty good about Esther (AAH!). He sat back and offered to give Esther (AAH!) anything she wanted. That was her chance. She revealed the plot against her people, and asked the king if he could stop it (WAY TO GO!). He asked, “Who would do such a thing?” (UH-OH!) She told him it was Haman (BOO!).
The king did not like someone messing with his queen, (UH-OH!) so he had Haman (BOO!) executed (WAY TO GO!) and signed a new order allowing all the Jews to defend themselves from any attack.
Because Esther (AAH!) allowed God to use her, her people were saved. (CLAP)