The Gift by Lindsay Price inspired by O. Henry - Theatrefolk

The Gift

Recommended for High Schools

The Gift

by Lindsay Price inspired by O. Henry

A teen transforms from shallow and selfish to giving and selfless. How did it happen? A wonderful holiday play inspired by The Gift of the Magi.

 About 90 minutes
Act 1: 45 minutes, Act 2: 45 minutes

Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks

 22
4 M | 13 W | 5 Any Gender

Simple set

 96 pages

Dramedy Character Study

“You totally ruined my birthday. First you won’t let me have a party and now this? It’s not the right bag at all. Take this back and get me the right one. Get me the Louis Vuitton.”

Kymberdee has gone through a transformation. Her family life has been turned upside down and because of that she has changed from a selfish materialistic hollow human being to someone who puts people ahead of things. She’s changed her name, her friends, her outlook.

But what are the events that have lead to this transformation? And when given an opportunity to return to her materialistic friends, has she changed enough to resist? And why are those foreign exchange students wandering west looking for Meester Staaahr?

Inspired by the short story The Gift of the Magi.

Awards and Accolades

  • Winner of the 2013 Ronald Ruble New Play Festival
22 Characters
4 M, 13 W, 5 Any Gender

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

Kim [W] 155 lines
16. Trying to change. Ex best-friend to Malinda.
Kymberdee [W] 210 lines
15. A past version of Kim. Best friends with Malinda. Shallow and materialistic.
Malinda [W] 144 lines
16. The biggest fish star in a very small pond. Shallow – a straw man surrounded by crows. Ex best-friend with Kim.
Bob [M] 87 lines
17. Brother to Kim. Real name is Killoran, which he hates. Easygoing and very giving.
Laura [W] 94 lines
17. Cousin to Kim. Has cancer. Facing her situation. Sarcastic.
Paige [W] 130 lines
16. Girlfriend to Caleb. Grounded.
Caleb [M] 107 lines
16. Goes by Cal. Boyfriend to Paige. Friendly and more perceptive than he seems.
Wyatt [M] 49 lines
16. Seems to be a star-struck snob, but really is opportunistic.
Swan [W] 46 lines
15. A star-struck snob, and will learn that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
Erica [W] 65 lines
15. Not so secretly desires to be Malinda’s friend.
Dixie [W] 93 lines
15. Not so secretly desires to be Malinda’s friend. Has an odd home life.
Harper [M] 40 lines
15. He is in constant misery because Dixie is sort of blackmailing him.
Tanner [A] 51 lines
16. A fraternal twin with Taylor.
Taylor [A] 49 lines
16. A fraternal twin with Tanner. These twins can be two guys, a girl and a guy, or two girls.
Blue [W] 3 lines
16. A somewhat silent secret weapon.
Ceecee & Ceelee [W] 20, 15 lines
15. Two girls who are essentially ‘crows.’ They flock around Malinda, agree with everything she says and constantly croon for shiny things.
Bal / Gas / Melchi [A] 3, 4, 5 lines
17. Three foreign exchange students. They sometimes appear to speak very little English and sometimes appear to be quite wise. As in the three wise men. And they always seem to be searching for something…
Kandace [W] 48 lines
Kim’s mother. Used to be quite like Kymberdee but has changed.
Ms. Gullickson [W] 41 lines
Known as Ms. G. The drama teacher.

Subgenres
Christmas/Holiday Adaptation

Settings
Present day

Dress
Contemporary costumes Elaborate costumes

Audience
Pre-teen Teen

Features
Character study

Set
Simple set

Themes
Friendship Parenting/Family Religion Individuality Economic issues Theatre

Cross-Curricular Uses
Economics English

Other uses
Competition Monologues Audition material Class work Scene work

Awards & Accolades
Plays with Awards & Accolades

Prop List

large acting award, small bag with cupcakes, punch card, hole punch, pile of folders, couple of bags, clown wig, earbuds, blanket, plate with cupcakes, notebook, a large bowl. (Inside the bowl there is a package of flour, a mixing spoon, a package of sugar, some measuring cups) stirring spoon, plastic bag, wig

Related Titles

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