Dramatizing a Story: The Gift of the Magi

by - March 10, 2019

H.S. English Project

Dramatizing a Story: The Gift of the Magi

The Gift of the Magi- Dramatisation

The Gift of the Magi

By O. Henry
A One-Act Play

Characters:
Mr. James Dillingham Young (Jim)
Mrs. Dillingham Young (Della)
Sofronie: The hair-dealer
Shopkeeper in a watch store

Time: Christmas Eve
Place: Jim’s plainly furnished flat in London at $8 per week.

Scene / Stage Decoration 
A letter box in the vestibule below. An electric button for coaxing a ring.
A card in the letter box bearing the name Mr. James Dillingham Young, contracting in ‘D’ only.
A shabby couch in Jim’s bed-room.
A peer-glass between the windows.
Another flat across the airshaft.
Della’s old brown jacket and hat.
A table near the entrance of the door. Della’s powder rags, curling irons etc.
In the kitchen a frying pan, a gas-stove, cooking utensils, plates, spoons, forks etc.
A stair to the ground floor.
London’s Broadway window, Store of Sofronie.



[H.S. English Project Dramatizing a Story: The Gift of the Magi]


Della: There’s only one dollar and eighty seven cents. Sixty cents of it is in pennies. How miserly I have saved one and two at a time! I have counted three times. How can it be changed? What can I do now? The next day would be Christmas. [She lies down on the shabby couch and howls.]

Jim: Oh, my heartiest Della! [Entered Jim.] I heard you had been crying and howling. Have I hurt you, my dear? Was it my fault? If it so happens I did not mean to hurt you. I am extremely sorry.

Della: The next day would be Christmas. Do you remember? What can be done by us?

Jim: Ah, mon Dieu! It is hopeless. We have nothing left. [He hugged Della who sobbed and sniffled for about 10 minutes.] Prey to God. You have the habit of solving your problem.

Della: Jim, my beloved, twenty dollar a week is nothing, you know. Expenses have been greater than I calculated.

Jim: They always are, my dear. How lavishly we had spent our life during the former period of prosperity when I was paid $30 per week! Oh! The income has shrunk to $20 now. But we have two priceless possessions – my gold watch of my father’s father and your rippling, shining, brown, cascade-like hair reaching below your knee.

Della: [Observed her reflection in the peer glass and at a glance saw her looks letting her hair fall to its full length] Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, she had been red with anger to see my hair more valuable than her jewels.

Jim: Really so. Had king Solomon been the janitor in the basement he would have plucked at his beard from envy to see my gold watch.

Della: We may be poor, but we are really proud of our two possessions.

Jim: Please do not cry any more. We must be happy on the eve of Christmas. [Exits Jim]

Della: [Puts on her old brown jacket and hat and goes down the stairs. She walked and stopped to read the sign: ‘Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds’] Madam, will you buy my hair?



[H.S. English Project Dramatizing a Story: The Gift of the Magi]


Sofronie: I buy hair. Take your hat off and let’s have a look at it. [Della did so and Sofronie lifted the mass with a practiced hand.] Twenty dollars you’ll get.

Della: Please give it to me quickly. [She got twenty dollars and she had one dollar eighty seven cents. With that she ransacked all the stores for Jim’s present and found a platinum fob chain valued by substance alone.] How many dollars do you ask for the beautiful chain?

Shopkeeper: Madam, only twenty dollars. We keep branded goods. You are like a shepherd who knows his ewe.

Della: Grand as my Jim’s watch, this chain will proclaim the value of his watch by substance. He uses an old leather strap. But this is made only for Jim.

Shopkeeper: Please take it and be merry. [Exits Della.]

Della: [After reaching home] Oh! What could I do with a dollar and eighty seven cents? I will repair the ravages by curling my hair which I sold for love. [She looked at the mirror long, carefully and critically. She doubled the fob chain in her hand and sat on the table.] Please God, make him think I’m still pretty. [Enters Jim]

Jim: [Opened the door and stepped in and closed. He fixed his eyes upon Della like a setter at the scent of a quail.] I am not angry, nor surprised, nor I have disapproval for you. But you’ve cut-off your hair!

Della: [Crying] Jim, darling, don’t look at me that way. My hair grows fast. How could I live without giving you a nice present on Christmas! Say, ‘Merry Christmas!’

Jim: But what have you done!

Della: Cut-off and sold it. I’m me without my hair. Don’t you like me just as well! Be good to me. Shall I put the chops on?

Jim: [Enfolding his Della] Eight dollars a week or a million a year – what’s the difference! If you unwrap that package you may see something rare.

Della: [Tearing the string and paper began to wail.] My hair grows so fast, Jim. The set of combs of pure tortoise-shell was my coveted ornament. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it.

Jim: [Without caring a little, tumbles down on the couch and smiles.] My watch has gone to buy your combs. However, our gifts are too nice to use just at present. Put the chops on. Lovers will say, ‘You are the true magi’.

SLOW CURTAIN.



You May Also Like

0 comments