The Gift of the Magi & A Violet in the Snow
Dates: 27-30 December, 1997
Location: MacKenzie Theatre, Charlottetown
Producer: Mark Knudson
Stage Manager: unknown
The Gift of the Magi
Written by: Peter Ekstrom,
adapted from the story by O. Henry
Director: Lori Linkletter
Cast: Greg Ellard and Erin Crosby
A Violet in the Snow
Written by: Scott Ellsworth
Director: Scott Ellsworth
Cast: unknown
The idea was to offer a family-friendly show during the Christmas-holiday week. Violet in the Snow played in the afternoon, and The Gift of the Magi in the evening.
The Gift of the Magi was an adaptation of a short story by O. Henry, about a young husband and wife buying Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. Della sells her hair in order to buy Jim a watch-chain; Jim sells his watch in order to buy Della a set of hair-combs. The theme is sacrifice out of love, with allusion to the original gifts brought by the three magi.
Violet in the Snow - regrettably we do not have information about this original play which Scott Ellsworth wrote and directed.