Luv Esther is a new musical based on the book of Esther, and is produced by New Generation Music and Mission.
It has already played to packed houses throughout the country, and will be arriving in the centre of London in 2006. I attended a London preview, which, although it took place in a church building without the full set, I could tell is an exhilarating and enjoyable show. The story of Esther is (in the most part) faithfully told through music and dance, using songs of varying contemporary styles combining rock, dance, rap and r’n’b. I had a number of the songs going through my head long after the performance had ended! The performances by the cast were superb, to a West End standard.
Missing the point
Where the musical is less successful, though, is in its attempt (implicitly throughout, but explicitly in the last few numbers) to apply the message of Esther by challenging the viewer to take courage and stand for the oppressed poor and sick in the world. This is an important challenge, and one which the producers of Luv Esther need to be applauded for bringing to the theatres. However, by using this particular biblical story to achieve this has the danger of distracting attention from the greater message of Esther — a call to actively trust the God who saves and protects and fulfils his promises to his chosen people, and through them, to the world.
