Esther: The Feast of Masks
363 views · Published 29 May 2014 · 1:11:03 · Indexed 29 October 2026
Channel: GBH Forum Network · 2014 · Education
In Esther: The Feast of Masks, author and narrator Ellen Kushner brings to life the Bible story of Esther by juxtaposing it with the stories of four modern characters, all dealing with their own issues of identity. As Vashti, queen of Persia, defies her husband, so Rita, a New York wife defies hers. As Esther, new queen of Persia, struggles with her hidden Jewish identity, so too Ida, a quiet schoolteacher, struggles with questions of "passing" in America. As Esther decides whether or not to speak out, Natalie, an American diplomat in Rwanda, views a mounting tragedy and must make a difficult choice. As Esther saves her people, Nate, a high school student, must stand up to his homophobic friend. This performance includes original music, folk, blues and African songs. This project was funded in part by the Jewish Outreach Institute.
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