Gift: 7 Pounds, 3 Ounces
An emotional, heart-opening journey about love, friendship, family, sacrifice, and what it truly means to give begins with an enormous Christmas tree wrestled into the warmth of a Colorado cabin. The Britton family, Brad and Tina and their son Nick, are eagerly anticipating the joy of a fun-filled holiday vacation spent with their close friends, Kyle and Jan, who arrive bearing gifts of sentiment, sarcasm, and sass. The two couples merrily begin to share their laughter, their affection, and their memories of the good ol’ days, but too soon Jan begins to question Nick’s paternity. When the others are confronted with secrets, both past and present, the bonds of their relationships are made vulnerable. And just as it appears to all of them that their proverbial “happily ever after” is about to slip away, the real spirit of Christmas ultimately reminds them of their love and compassion for one another through a gift. A gift born sixteen years ago.
Productions
Behind The Scenes
PLAYWRIGHT GARY RAY STAPP TALKS ABOUT HIS PLAY
THE GIFT
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?
A: Typically this is an easy question to answer, but as I reflected upon what inspired me to write "The Gift..." nothing specifically came to mind. And then this made me wonder did my inspiration come from God? I think it did. After all, He gave me the gift to write.
Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?
A: The very last four lines shared between Nick and Brad. Because it demonstrates the strength of the father and son relationship, and speaks poignantly of the love within Nick's heart, and that he, like many teens, can be surprisingly mature, easily forgiving, and genuinely appreciative of the relationships they have with those who are their family.
Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?
A: To create a heart-lifting story with real-life characters that would personally engage people emotionally by tapping into the passion and compassion they have for their own family and friends.
Q: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
A: Having written only comedies, I wanted to delve into a dramatic work with a story line that could be relevant to a lot of people, and carried out by characters with whom one could easily and comfortably identify themselves. We all have our flaws and imperfections. We have all made mistakes. And bad things just happen. But often within the shadowy corners of regretful circumstances, are gifts that may not be fully appreciated until later in life.