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Howard Burman
THEATRE SCRIPTS
Article XXIV
Ampersand
The Author of the Iliad is Either Homer or Someone Else of the Same Name
Whistler's Play
James McNeil Whistler on trial
On the Beach
The Third Lie
The Puccini Project
The Miracle of Piaf
Elfriede's Story
Georgia Peach
An O. Henry Christmas
Willie, Mickey & The Duke
The Boy's of Summer
Open Fire
Tannhauser's Gift
The Bird of Quintain
After escaping wrongful imprisonment, a mysterious storyteller enters an abandoned railroad spur on the outskirts of New York City, Christmas Eve, 1893. In exchange for some hobo stew, "O.P." entertains a rag-tag mix of seemingly lost souls by spinning a few tales, and in the process rekindles the spirit of giving. He magically transforms the crew into players to stage O. Henry's "The Last Leaf" and "The Gift of the Magi," and others. Wordplay, trickery, sentimental holiday fare, this is a heartwarming alternative to all of those Christmas carols.
"Poignant and comically ironic stories make for a stirring family offering." --The Los Angeles Times
Based on an actual incident, the play concerns a scandal involving Puccini, his jealous wife Elvira and Doria, a young serving girl who's dismissed and publicly humiliated by Elvira, who accuses her of having an affair with Puccini. When the girl, actually a virgin, subsequently drinks a lethal dose of poison, Elvira winds up being tried on criminal charges.
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