An O. Henry Christmas

Critiqued by Holly Bartges

There are moments when it appears the commercialized-over-scheduled Holiday Season steals away the Magic.

Tyler Collins as Jim and Aimee Carlisle as Della in Gift of the Magi Photo Credit: Sarah Roshan

Something wondrous happened at Miners Alley’s production of An O. Henry Christmas, a Christmas Musical.

Somewhere during The Last Leaf, a sensation filled the theatre saying quietly and in sync with the production, “Magic is alive and well”.

Maybe it was Cat Smith’s eyes as Narrator Dr. Catherine Blackwell reflecting the story of two young artists moving into a Greenwich Village studio apartment. Maybe it was the eager trepidation of Sue, a sculptor and Johnsey, an oil painter, wondering if they would like each other, get along with each other, become friends. Maybe it was the high spirited elfin German painter living across the hall singing with “gustoed”, visiting the girls, dance in his soul, hiding a terrifying depressing secret.

Maybe, in The Last Leaf, it was the combination of everyone, Smith opening herself to the story, becoming an integral part, rather than just a narrator. With a soft spot on her, eyes glistening with soul-spirit, she became as much a part of the story as did Kellie Rae Rockey as Sue, Jade A. Tiller as Johnsey, and Wade Livingston as Behrman.

Maybe it was the dual spark in the eyes of Aimee Carlisle as, Della, and Tyler B. Collins as Jim in The Gift Of The Magi, sharing love, fighting disappointment of not having money to buy gifts.

Directed by Robert Kramer, Miners Alley Playhouse’s production moves beyond theatrical expertise into the realm of sheer, total, unadulterated Magic swirling around the theatre.

Boni McIntyre directed the music, blending the strong, high-powered voices into a crystallized unit accompanied by Pamela Wong. With the keyboard just off to stage right, Wong’s intent captured the music in her eyes, and music in the notes.

Both O. Henry’s well-known and beloved stories, The Last Leaf, and The Gift of the Magi, take place in 1905. Richard H. Pegg’s simplistic set provides the illusion of the time period. Sharon McClaury’s time period costumes become character and actor friendly.

When Sue and Johnsey move into the small Greenwich studio apartment for The Last Leaf, they worry about the little things, singing from their heart while uncontrolled thoughts rambunctiously ran through their heads pondering, “What’s She Like?” ““Never had a roommate like you”, “always wanted someone to confide in”. Carefully, tenuously they reach out to each other, discovering friendship.

Boisterous, happy, charming Behrman introduces himself smelling of juniper berries, bringing flowers. The girls only have coffee to offer. No problem. He knows how to doctor it up. He’s an artist working on something very important, locking himself in his apartment for days at a time. With gorgeous voices and honest personas, Tiller, Rockey, and Livingston wrap themselves snugly in their characters painting a portrait of cohesiveness that takes the breath away. As the winter months bear down, leaves fly, and one by one the ivy outside their window lets its leaves fly, and Johnsey becomes ill. Smith moves graciously from the role of narrator to Dr. Blackwell. In her illness, Johnsey begins counting the leaves as they fall. She knows something will happen, and it will happen tonight. Behrman notices he hasn’t heard Johnsey’s happy laugh for sometime. In a moment of truth, this delightful effervescent German elfin reveals truth to Sue giving more dead weight to her already heavy heart. The last leaf falls, and a miracle transforms the two strangers into two overwhelmed, grateful close friends.

Jade Tiller as Johnsy and Kellie Rae Rocky as Sue in The Last Leaf Photo Credit: Sarah Roshan

In The Gift of the Magi, newlyweds Della and Jim struggle to keep up with the rent. Tomorrow is Christmas. No decorations, no tree, not even a little one. The songs in their hearts blend with the notes their voices sing. It matters not, they say, there is no money for gifts. Yet each one comes up with a plan. It calls for sacrifice of their most prized possession. The love they have for each other diminishes the sacrifice. The songs are romantic, fun, delightful, even funny, but they reach down into their souls identifying that which is most important. Carlisle and Collins bring Della and Jim to rich life as 1905 reaches across the years to 2008 gently reminding all of us that which is most important during our troubled economic times. And it’s Magic; sheer, total, unadulterated Magic.

Miss Miners Alley’s magnificent production of An O. Henry Christmas, and you’ll miss the greatest gift this Holiday Season has to offer no matter who you are, where you stand, what you believe. Grab the phone now. Call for reservations. It will be a Grab you won’t regret.

An O. Henry Christmas: A Christmas Musical
The Gift of the Magi and The Last Leaf
Adaptation, Music and Lyrics by Peter Ekstrom
Directed by Robert Kramer; Musical Direction by Boni McIntyre