‘O. Henry’ Fun for the Whole Family

Trading stories for a bit of broth, a mysterious stranger transforms the lives of an ill-assorted “family” of society’s refuse that is camped out under a bridge in 1883 New York on Christmas Eve in “An O. Henry Christmas” at the Candlefish Theatre in Hollywood.

Are you looking for a heartwarming alternative to all those “Christmas Carols”? This is it. A versatile cast, assured staging by Blake Steury, and Howard Burman’s creative adaptation of O. Henry’s poignant and comically ironic stories make for a stirring family offering (children should be about age 9 and up).

Jamieson Price plays the storyteller who persuades the homeless group to act out his tales--they agree, if only to distract a gravely ill prostitute (Dawn Worrall) from thoughts of impending death.

The “actors” become a variety of vivid characters who give of themselves in one way or another, touching the role players with their spirit. The three stories they act out revolve around the author himself, and a fourth ultimately involves an unselfish act by the most unlikely of the group (Armando Duran).

Michael Pacciorini’s tattered period costumes, the set design by Short Story and Tall Tale, with its evocative painted backdrop by Chris Bible and Andy Bernet, Art Street’s sound design and Dario Cueva’s lighting all contribute to the affecting seasonal mood.

* “An O. Henry Christmas,” Candlefish Theatre, 1540 Cahuenga Blvd., Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. through Dec. 22. $12-$15. (213) 460-2080.