To assure compliance with the ban, fines were threatened and special investigating officers were posted. As early as the beginning of the 18th century, the biblical Purim-shpiel reflected many trends of the contemporary European theater in its literary style, choice of subject, and scenic design. Previously marked by extreme brevity, not exceeding a few hundred rhymed lines and by the limited number of performers, the Purim-shpiel became a complex drama with a large cast, comprising several thousand rhymed lines performed to musical accompaniment in public places for a fixed admission price. Nonetheless, the plays maintained a connection with Purim and were performed during the appropriate season. Today, many communities and individual synagogues put on elaborate Purim musicals, creating parodies from Broadway shows.
Many synagogues encourage congregants to dress up in costumes.