In Breckenridge, a quiet Christmas musical of love and sacrifice

Set to chamber music ‘The Gift of the Magi’ fills out the original story with more detail

While many a holiday-themed production goes for big and/or funny, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre is taking audiences for a quieter ride this month with The Gift of the Magi. Based on the well-known short story by O. Henry, this musical version features just three characters and two chamber musicians on stage playing violin and cello.

Henry’s story may be the quintessential tale about the value of love over material possessions. In this telling, the author himself is a character who shares his thoughts on why and how he composed the story while also filling a few other roles. BBT’s Artistic Director Jacqueline Stone directs the show with a keen eye for symmetry as the characters make their entrances and exits from either side of a beautiful wooden set designed by Keith Parham.

BBT draws its talent from a mix of local and out-of-town talent, and in this case all the players are imports from Stone’s previous home in the Chicago area. Matt Miles, who appeared in their production of Airness earlier this year, plays O. Henry as a semi-detached, avuncular observer who both guides and narrates the action. Hitting the right notes of wisdom and curiosity as the author, Miles is also a strong singer as the show moves through a series of musical numbers with minimalist choreography.

Our couple is played by James Fagan as Jim and Courtney San Pedro as Della. The scene is the very first decade of the 20^th century in New York City, and we find the desperately poor pair on Christmas Eve trying to figure out how to gift one another with something special. The twist ending may not be a surprise to anyone who’s ever taken and American literature course, but the upshot is that they each sacrifice something dear to them to show their love for the other.

Providing the music are Morgan Tapp on violin and Rebecca Jonas on cello. Tapp also plays a busker at times, revealing a singing voice so lovely that I wished we’d heard more of her. The two are accomplished musicians, but I found many of the musical numbers created by Josh Schmidt rather wanting. Other than a rousing “Moxie” and a rendition of the old hymn “Nearer My God to Thee,” most were devoid of a melody to hang onto and largely forgettable — other than being in service to the plot.

Morgan Tapp and Matt Miles in ‘The Gift of the Magi’ | Photo: Curtis DeVore

DeVita’s book provides some more detail into the lives of Jim and Della than the original (very) short story. We learn of Della’s skill at gently conniving merchants into giving her just a bit more for her pennies, and of Jim’s earnestness in pleading with a shopkeeper to hang onto his gift for her until he has enough money. O. Henry doesn’t even tell us what the couple does for a living, but here we learn Jim is a tailor hoping a wealthy customer will give his usual Christmas bonus, and that Della washes clothes in exchange for groceries.

But when all of Della’s scrimping doesn’t add up to much and Jim’s bonus evaporates upon news that his would-be benefactor has been ruined, extreme measures are called for. At the end, the big reveal that both negates their gifts but reaffirms their love is indeed a touching moment that could perhaps have been more impactful.

With the heart of the story aimed at demonstrating the kind of deep, young love that enables great sacrifice, I never truly felt the connection. Fagan and San Pedro are both strong actors, but the necessary chemistry, that requisite spark to make it all ring true, has yet to fully materialize. No doubt that will grow beyond what I saw on the final preview Thursday night, but grow it must to fully realize this touching little story.

Breckenridge this this time of year is, of course, snowy and lit up and a perfect backdrop for a Christmas tale. The theatre is decked out for the season and The Gift of the Magi is a warm and welcoming musical that will appeal to anyone looking for affirmation of the power of love and, as some would say, the real reason behind all the yuletide fuss.