Gifts Freely Given

A production "about the real spirit of Christmas" is on stage this weekend at Fort Smith Little Theatre.

"The Gift of the Magi," based on a short story by O. Henry and adapted into a short play by Jon Jory, is an off-season production at the theater with first-come, first served seating. Director Micki Voelkel says the one-act show is about a couple (Victoria Jones and Ian Miller) who have been married for a short time at the turn of the 20th century. They face hard times and don't have a lot of money, but have been saving to buy each other Christmas gifts, she says. Come Christmas Eve, though, he has been talked into spending too much money with friends at work, and she has been too generous with giving her money to a neighbor in need, Voelkel adds.

"She has $1.87 and he has $1.40, and they have to try to come up with Christmas presents for each other," she says.

Acting as narrators, carolers stay on stage during the entire show, Voelkel says. They provide the couple props, set up the stage and sing traditional Christmas carols in between scenes. Staging that is normally hidden from audience members will be done right in front of them, she says.

"It's very funny, and it's different because of that staging," she says.

Voelkel says she wanted to direct "The Gift of the Magi" because it's a classic story, and she enjoys plays that are adaptations of classic works. Her last full-length productions as director were "Little Women" and "Emma."

"It's about figuring out how to give when you really don't have anything," she says of "The Gift of the Magi."

-- Ashley Batchelor

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