"It's A Wonderful Life" Full of Wonder As Live Radio Play

It's A Wonderful Life

A Live Radio Play

Adapted for stage by Joe Landry; Directed by Russell Garrett; Musical Direction and Accompaniment by Fred Frabotta; Musical Underscoring and Songs by Kevin Connors; Costume Designer, Nicole Watson; Lighting Designer, Sarah A. Paulson; Sound Designer, Ed Thurber; Production Stage Manager, Steven R. Espach

CAST (in alphabetical order): Cate Damon, John Davin, Amanda Ferguson, Robert Najarian, Dee Nelson, Barry Press, Victor Warren

Performances through December 23, 2006  at Foothills Theatre Company

100  Front Street, Worcester, MA    Box Office 508-754-4018

www.foothillstheatre.com

If there is a person living in America unfamiliar with the film It's a Wonderful Life, he or she must have been sleeping a la Rip Van Winkle for the past 60 years.  The Frank Capra holiday classic starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, Henry Travers, and Lionel Barrymore can be viewed on television at this time of year, day or night, virtually on demand.  But let me suggest that you put down the remote, get up off the couch, and mosey on down to the Foothills Theatre Company to see a fresh take on the story, performed on stage as a live radio play.

A voice overhead announces "fifteen minutes to air" as the audience drifts in and begins to take notice of the set of an old-fashioned radio studio.  Several microphones hang suspended on booms in front of a row of chairs where the actors sit when it is not their turn to speak.  Above them are "Applause" and "On the Air" signs which light up at appropriate intervals and cue the playgoers to clap or be respectful of the need for quiet.  A table full of sound effects props draws our attention stage right, while a decorated Christmas tree stands in the corner upstage to furnish the feeling of the season. 

Enter Freddie Filmore (John Davin) to welcome the audience to the WTAG studio (with a nod to a local radio station and sponsor, suppliers of authentic equipment used on the set).  The other players wander in, greet each other, and immediately open windows into the personalities of their characters.  The play within a play concept requires each cast member to portray an actor who is playing multiple roles in the drama.  Sally Applewhite (Cate Damon) lives up to her stage name and the character of Mary Bailey, all wholesome and perky, in contrast to the vixen Lana Sherwood (Amanda Ferguson) who reads the part of femme fatale Violet Bick.  Her heat morphs into the sound of police sirens amplified through a small megaphone, as well as the sweet-voiced Zuzu, youngest Bailey daughter.  Such versatility!

Victor Warren is solid as Jake Laurents playing solid citizen George Bailey, showing Bailey's growth from an adventurous boy and young man to the stoic bank executive who keeps postponing his own dreams.  Harry "Jazzbo" Heywood (Barry Press) is up to the task of voicing George's brother Harry, the town constable Bert, entrepreneurial friend Sam, and Clarence, Angel Second Class.  They each have a distinctive tone, but Press makes Clarence sound like a cross between Truman Capote and Carol Channing.  The classy Margaret Cavendish (Dee Nelson) lets us know by her carriage and costume that she is the most sophisticated of this troupe.

I don't know if Joe Landry thinks everyone knows the story of It's a Wonderful Life so well that he wanted to spice things up by creating extra drama among the radio play cast.  However, paralleling the romantic triangle of George, Mary, and Violet, it adds to our fun to watch Sally and Lana vie for the affections of Jake and see which woman ends up with the guy and which one ends up apoplectic.  Still, they maintain their professionalism and their cohesiveness as an ensemble as the show must go on.

I've saved the best for last.  As seamless the acting, as stylish the costuming, and as heartwarming the story, one of the major attractions of this production is watching Robert Najarian run around and create the sound effects as the Foley Artist.  The term takes its name from Jack Foley (1891-1967) who developed and performed sound effects for films at Universal Studios in the nascent days of "talkies."  Najarian speaks nary a word in the play, but is heard from continuously.  He opens, slams, and locks doors, rings bells, blows a train whistle, and rattles sheet metal to mimic thunder rumbling.  His best visual bits are donning high-heeled shoes to indicate the footsteps of a woman and splashing about barefoot in a metal tub of water to illustrate Clarence and George plunging into the river.  It is very tempting to keep an eye on the Foley Artist throughout the broadcast, but his purpose is to paint sound accompaniment in much the same way that music plays under the action.  Najarian does it very well and credit goes to Ed Thurber and the Foothills staff for giving him the tools of his trade.

For those who desire more traditional fare, the Foothills Theatre Company is presenting three special performances of "A Christmas Carol" (Saturdays, December 9, 16, 23 @ 3 p.m.) with several of the actors doing double duty. Both plays offer a heartwarming story with a hint of darkness cast over the leading man.  However, in the end, George Bailey and Ebenezer Scrooge get the message that their lives touch so many others and each can claim the title "richest man in town."  We get to enjoy many good lessons and share in the richness of "wonderful" entertainment.  Happy Holidays!