Entertainment :: Theatre
It’s A Wonderful Life: The Radio Play by Blythe Landry
EDGE ContributorSunday Dec 14, 2008 American Theater Company (ATC) is a company whose productions engender deep-thought, controversial debates and introspection. "It’s a Wonderful Life" isn’t necessarily a piece that suggests deep-thought, but under the ATC’s artistic director PJ Paparelli and the direction of Damion Kelly, this stage version offers an innovative approach to the film classic as interpreted as if it were a period radio play - the type of crossover programming popular when the film was released in 1946.
Now in its sixth year, It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play puts the audience in the "live" recording session of the radio airing of this classic Christmas tale. Audience participation takes the form of solicited "holiday wishes" collected prior to the show and read at appropriate scene breaks throughout the performance. This simple, but playful strategy is only one way ATC has sought to maintain the original sentiments of human connectedness and relationships so embedded in the story to begin with.
And to keep the production from getting stale, especially to repeat visitors, ATC promises new text to the radio show, new music, a new design and cast.
"It’s A Wonderful Life" is of course, simply as sappy and sweet as always, but remains somehow refreshing and inspiring during the holiday season. The production has the effect that those audience members who entered with dour expressions left singing songs and enjoying milk and cookies after the show and most likely thinking "Hey, I DO have friends and a purpose after all."
The only "outliers" to the original script are some fun "commercial announcements," that are presented in the antiquated radio style with appropriate sound effects (bell rings, foot stomps and door slamming) thanks to the expertise of the play’s Foley Artist Sean Okerberg); what’s different is that they advertise modern products (not surprisingly those who have endorsed the performance).
ATC’s performers are solid as always, with true standout work from veteran John Mohrlein, Casey Campbell (this guy is hilarious), and Stef Tovar (George Bailey).
All of the actors astutely play various roles and bring to life both the playful and, sadly, forgotten art of radio performance.
Through December 28. For more information visit the American Theater Company’s website.
If you like to argue over who knows the most show tunes ever written, marry me. Otherwise, relish in the fact that I can argue over this with my alter ego enough for the both of us.
Please go to http://creativelifeforblythe.blogspot.com for resume,stats and other writing stuff.
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