Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors is a retelling of the tale of the Three Magi (Wise Men or Kings)  from the perspective of Amahl, a young, crippled boy.

Amahl and his widowed mother live near Bethlehem. He sees a giant star in the night sky and begs his mother to come see but she dismisses him, caught up in her own concerns over their impoverished state. Amahl, after all, tends to tell tales.

Three kings, Kaspar, Balthazaar, and Melchior stumble across the small house as they seek shelter for the night. They have traveled a long distance following a great star and can only stay a little while. While the Mother gathers wood for the fire, Amahl, ever curious, asks the kings about themselves. He proceeds to tells them that he used to be a shepherd, but his mother was forced to sell their sheep, so now they must beg to earn a living.

​

The Mother instructs Amahl to call the other shepherds and ask them to bring whatever they are able to offer the visitors. While he is away, the Mother remarks on all the packages the kings have been carrying. They explain that the gifts are for the Child who will be born a king. The shepherds arrive with olives, apples, chestnuts, figs, and an assortment of gifts for the kings. They all bid each other good night.

​

Tempted by the lure of all of the kings’ riches while everyone sleeps, the Mother tries to steal some of the treasure but is caught by the kings’ page. The loud disturbance wakes everyone up and Amahl rushes to his Mother’s side and tries to fight off the page. King Melchior discerns the situation and allows the Mother to keep the gold, stating that the Christ child will not need human gold to build his kingdom. This King will bring life, he will receive our death, and the keys to his city belong to the poor.

The Child is spoken of with such tenderness that the Mother begs the kings to take back the gold and offers to find a gift of her own to give to such a king. The boy, Amahl, also wishes to give a gift to the Child, and offers his handmade crutch.