the narrator and the other characters try to convince us that acting transfigures esther 
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT the) (NN narrator)) (CC and) (NP (DT the) (JJ other) (NNS characters))) (VP (VBP try) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB convince) (NP (PRP us)) (SBAR (IN that) (S (VP (VBG acting) (VP (NNS transfigures) (NP (NN esther))))))))))))
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT ) (NN )) (CC ) (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (NNS ))) (VP (VBP ) (S (VP (TO ) (VP (VB ) (NP (PRP )) (SBAR (IN ) (S (VP (VBG ) (VP (NNS ) (NP (NN ))))))))))))