For many, the Christmas season comes to a close on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. After all, there’s been holiday music and decorations everywhere you look since before Thanksgiving.
However, for some, Christmas isn’t over until Epiphany, which falls 12 days after Christmas Day.
Epiphany is the Christian celebration of when the Magi – also known as the three kings or three wise men – presented their gifts to the baby Jesus.
To retell that story and extend the holiday season, the Manchester Community Theatre Players will be touring with the operetta Amahl and the Night Visitors for the next two weekends.
In the opera, Amahl is a shepherd boy who lives with his widowed mother in a hut and walks with a crutch.
Amahl is also known for telling tall tales.
Meanwhile on their way toward Bethlehem, the Maji – named Balthazar, Melchoir and Kasper – are in search of a place to rest. They find themselves at Amahl’s hut and knock.
Amahl’s mother sends him to answer the door, yet doesn’t believe him that there are splendidly dressed kings outside. Once she sees the Maji and their entourage of shepherds and followers for herself, she rouses the neighbors to entertain the night visitors properly.
Without spoiling the ending, there’s some humor, deceit, repentance and a miracle.
Amahl and the Night Visitors was originally written as an NBC telecast, which was later adapted to a stage show with a live orchestra.
“While the music was written by a gifted and recognized operatic composer Gian Carlo Menotti, it is light-hearted and contains many comedic moments that will be appreciated by both children and adults,” said director Alan Kaplan in a statement.
In Concord, you can watch Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 180 Loudon Road, on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 and 7 p.m.
It will also be held at the North End Montessori School, 689 Beech St., Manchester on Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 13 at 2 and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children with a $25 per family maximum.
For more information, visit mctp.info or call 800-383-3006.