The Bucyrus Little Theatre will be presenting a two-act performance beginning this Friday.
The Little Match Girl is a one-act adaptation by Ann Horner of the children’s story by Hans Christian Anderson. It is a melancholy tale set in a place and time when poor families put their children out on the streets to sell matches, flowers, trinkets, whatever could bring in money to help put food on the table. In keeping with the season, however, the story ends with a message of hope and enduring love.
A small girl makes her living selling matches on the streets of New York. It’s winter, and the hustling crowds ignore her — some are outright rude. She takes shelter and, to try to stave off the cold a bit, lights a match. It gets blown out; this happens again, then on the third try, she falls into a dream. Sadly, when the dream is over, the match has burned out for the sweet little girl.
The Gift of the Magi is the second one-act, this one written by Anne Coulter Martens and based on a popular short story by O. Henry. Della and Jim, the main characters, are a young married couple who are very much in love, but have very little money, certainly not enough to give each other the “perfect gift” for their first Christmas together. Nevertheless, they find a way to surprise each other with a gift that expresses how truly deep their love is.
Directed by Jonny Price, the second show of the regular season will be comprised of both one-act plays. These heart-warming stories will be presented to Bucyrus Little Theatre audiences on Friday and Saturday evenings Dec. 5, 6, 12, and 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoons Dec. 7 and 14 at 2:30 p.m. Adult guest tickets are $15 and student guest tickets are $10.
The Box Office is open Monday through Thursday evenings between 7 and 9 p.m. two weeks ahead of opening night.