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It’s A Wonderful Life:
A live Radio Play
Based on the film by Frank Capra
Directed by Marty Higginbotham
At American Theater Company (ACT)
1909 W. Byron
Chicago, IL
Call 773-929-1031, tickets $40
Wednesday – Friday at 8 pm
Saturdays at 4 PM & 8:00 pm
Sundays at 3 & 6 pm
Running time 95 minutes with no Intermission
Through December 30, 2007
It’s A Wonderful Life becomes a spirited wonderful theatrical event
Now in its 5th year, Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life is performed on stage as a 1940’s radio broadcast complete with head-high microphones, piano and Foley artist with the actors sporting authentic 40’s dress and hair styles. This is technically a well-crafted, interesting to watch production that is so warmhearted, so enchanting that it completely engrosses us.
Capra’ s story of self-sacrifice and integrity by the All-American mentsh, George Bailey, played with deep emotions by the marvelous James Leaming, resisted being a Jimmy Stewart parody and emerged as a sincere portrait of the lovable S & L owner who helped everyone in Bedford Falls. This is a tear-jerker that director Marty Higginbotham got his versatile and talented cast to perform straight up without the hint of satire.
Doing this show as a live radio show worked to add the visuals of the amazingly interesting sound effects from Foley Artist Sean Okerberg and the crafty cast who (except James Leaming as George Bailey) each played several characters and offered human sound effects and calls and cries to underscore the story. From the time we enter the theatre, we see a radio broadcast in progress as the cast are doing Christmas carols to get us into the spirit of the season. This show is as engaging in how it is done as what is done. I like the radio show format.
We see the desperate George Bailey, who seems alone and defeated after a lifetime of sacrificing his dreams to help others, on Christmas Eve contemplating suicide. Clarence, an angel, second-class (played by the fabulously versatile veteran John Mohrlein) is sent to help George by making him save the angel who fakes drowning. Clarence shows George what the world would have been like if he had never been born. George realizes that he has indeed lived a “wonderful life” with a loving wife and children and the respect of the community. This worthy message is delivered with deft skill by Kate Berry, Casey Campbell, Kevin R. Kelly, John Mohrlein, Sharyon Culberson and Ben Dicke in support of James Leaming.
I’d take the entire family to see this faithful to the movie live radio show. Kids will marvel at the production values of the ATC cast as much as they will relate to the wholesomeness of this American fable. It’s A Wonderful Life presents 95 minutes of holiday joy. It’ll leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2007
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