Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen
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| Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen | |
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 DVD cover |
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| Directed by | Mike Nawrocki |
| Produced by | Jennifer Combs |
| Written by | Mike Nawrocki, Phil Vischer |
| Starring | Phil Vischer, Mike Nawrocki, Jessica Kaplan, Pamela Thomas, Eric Metaxas, Charlotte Jackson, Kristi Bramlett |
| Music by | Kurt Heinecke, Phil Vischer, Mike Nawrocki |
| Distributed by | Sony Wonder |
| Release date(s) | 2000 |
| Running time | 40 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Preceded by | King George and the Ducky |
| Followed by | Lyle the Kindly Viking |
| IMDb profile | |
Esther... The Girl Who Became Queen is the 14th episode in the VeggieTales animated series. Subtitled "A Lesson in Courage", it conveys the message that you do not need to be afraid to do what is right.
The story is taken from the Book of Esther in the Old Testament, in which Esther becomes Queen and must tell King Xerxes that his prime minister Haman is plotting to commit genocide against the Jews. The violent undertones are, of course, removed for this VeggieTales production; murder is replaced by banishment to the "Island of Perpetual Tickling", and the intended victims are limited to Esther and her family without reference to their race or creed.
The presentation of the story was inspired by The Godfather and Casablanca and has stylistic elements of a Film noir. The dramatic lighting, deep shadows, dark plot elements, and narrative voiceovers all contribute to the effect. The palace windows are even hung with Venetian blinds, an iconic element of the genre.
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[edit] Synopsis
The story opens at a palace in Persia where Haman, the King's right-hand-man, is throwing the Queen out onto the street for insubordination (refusing to make the king a sandwich at 3 am). A search is initiated to find a new Queen.
The following day, Esther and her cousin Mordecai are talking on the street. Esther is asking for Mordecai's advice, but his questions reveal that Esther knows what to do but that she lacks the courage to do it. He tells her that she should not be afraid to do what is right.
When Haman drives up in a luxury "car" to collect the eligible maidens, Mordecai hides. Haman despises Mordecai and is determined to do him harm. They confront each other, but the relationship between Mordecai and Esther is kept secret, and Esther is taken to the palace with the other young women.
At the palace, King Xerxes and Haman audition the girls for a new Queen. When Esther takes the stage and sings, the King is left in awe and the decision is made. However, Esther does not wish to be the Queen; she is crowned and ensconced in her new life against her will.
One day in the throne room, the King is visited by one of the Peaoni brothers who has brought him a large cake. Unannounced visitors are not permitted, but the King allows him to be heard. Peaoni convinces him to come look closely at the cake. Meanwhile, Peaoni's brother is hanging onto a rope, the other end of which supports a grand piano suspended above the cake. Mordecai, who is hiding in a corner to avoid Haman, observes the plot and informs Esther. Esther warns the King in time and the piano crashes harmlessly onto the cake. The King thanks her for saving his life, but she indicates Mordecai, saying that the credit should be his.
With the Peaoni brothers behind bars, the King believes he is safe, but Haman convinces him that a greater threat awaits. Mordecai and his family cannot be trusted, he claims, and pose an imminent danger to the King. The King unwittingly authorizes a decree to have Mordecai and his family banished to the Island of Perpetual Tickling.
Mordecai finds the decree posted in the street and visits Esther on her balcony at the palace. He appeals to his cousin to reveal Haman's evil plans to the King, but she is afraid. She lacks the courage to confront the King and struggles with what to do. She knows she need not fear to do what's right, but action does not come easy for her. Twice she attempts to inform the King, and twice she fails, lamely inviting him and Haman to dinner instead.
Meanwhile, the King has instructed Haman to throw a parade in honor of the man who saved his life, not realizing that this is Mordecai, the same man whose family Haman wishes to destroy.
On her third attempt Esther is able to muster up the courage to face the King. She reveals that Mordecai is her cousin and that Haman has been plotting to destroy him and his family, which includes her. The King, who respects Mordecai and loves Esther, believes her and turns on Haman. He banishes Haman to the Island of Perpetual Tickling.
Mordecai ends up filling in Haman's former position as the King's right-hand-man.
[edit] Cast of Characters
- Esther as herself
- Mr. Nezzer as King Xerxes
- Mr. Lunt as Haman
- Pa Grape as Mordecai
- Jean Claude as Bigthan Peaoni
- Phillipe as Teresh Peaoni
- Scallion #1 as Host of the Miss Persia Pageant
- Larry the Cucumber as Markus the Scribe
- Miss Achmetha as herself
- Queen Vashti as herself
[edit] Segments
This episode consists of a single uninterrupted story and therefore has only one segment.
[edit] Songs
This episode does not include the usual "VeggieTales Theme" and "What We Have Learned" songs. It does contain the following songs:
- Tell Me Why, sung by Esther
- The Battle Prelude, sung by Esther
- Haman's Song, sung by Haman with King Xerxes
- The Battle Is Not Ours, sung by Esther
- Lost Puppies, sung by Miss Achmetha
[edit] DVD Content
Big Idea has consistently packed the VeggieTales DVDs with a variety of additional features intended to appeal to both children and adults alike. This section itemizes the content of the DVD.
[edit] Chapters
- 1. Just an Ordinary Girl
- 2. The New Queen
- 3. A Piano On My Cake
- 4. "Haman's Song"
- 5. "The Battle Is Not Ours"
- 6. A Dinner Invitation
- 7. Honoring a Special Guy
- 8. Esther's Courage
[edit] Bonus Features
Audio Commentary – Behind the Scenes – How to Draw Esther – How to Draw Mr. Lunt – Art Gallery – Progression Reel – Previews – Esther Sing-Along – Rack, Shack, and Benny Storybook – Esther's Trivia Challenge – Palace Maze – The Persia Factbook – Family Fun Activity – DVD-ROM Fun
[edit] Notes and Trivia
- This is one of a few episodes that spurn the usual VeggieTales format: there is no opening or closing countertop sequence, no "VeggieTales Theme" or "What We Have Learned" songs, no Qwerty, and no Silly Song with Larry.
- This is one of the only VeggieTales videos in which Bob the Tomato does not appear in any segment.
- As stated in the Audio Commentary, a countertop segment was written for this episode but was cut from the script on account of the episode's length.
- The scene in which King Xerxes auditions new brides is a parody of the Miss America Pageant, with potential wives representing ancient Persian cities. We see "Miss Achmetha" play the accordion and sing, and "Miss Babylon" (Esther) sing.
- Miss Achmetha's song "Lost Puppies" was intended to stand in for the usual Silly Songs with Larry, but also had to be cut short due to the length. The full song can be heard during the credits.
- This is Miss Achmetha's debut; she subsequently appears in the Silly Songs "Larry's High Silk Hat" (Lyle the Kindly Viking), "Sport Utility Vehicle" (A Snoodle's Tale) and "My Baby Elf" (Lord of the Beans), usually with her trademark accordion.
- Flyers posted on the wall in the streets of Persia include:
- A plug for King George and the Ducky ("Now on Video").
- An advertisement for Stuff Mart from Madame Blueberry.
- A flyer bearing the image of Jonah's camel Reginald from the then-unreleased Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie.
- "Wanted" posters for the Peaoni brothers who try to assassinate the King in this episode.
- This is the only episode that is narrated by a human man (credited as Eric Dymes).
- Esther is one of the few characters in the series who seem to be just a generic vegetable, as her design is raher vague, and she could easily fit into multiple categories. Big Idea producers have expressed a desire to reintroduce this character, but due to the complexity of her hair design, she was a very expensive character to render, thus Esther did not reappear in any VeggieTales episode since.
