By B. Ambrose Jones, Guest Reviewer
The traditional movie, It’s A Wonderful Life, many have come to know and appreciate, especially around the holiday season, was adapted for stage loving audiences by the late Joe Landry (June 19, 1922 – July 25, 2008) and premiered at the Globe Theatre in New York December 20, 1946. Under the direction of Dr. Corey Ewan and presented by Utah State University Eastern, the cast and crew have once again been able to invite the audience into their story with the talented cast and crew of students and community members of the Price area.
The beginning of It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play actually finds the audience being engaged before the show’s set start time. As in a live radio show of the 1940’s, a live studio audience (the actual patrons) receive instruction from a cast member in character on how being in a studio as a live radio audience is supposed to engage as part of the live nationwide broadcast, which immediately draws you in right away.
Set Designer Brent Innes has created a warm and inviting vintage 1940’s Art Deco radio studio in the Peterson Black Box. The set is surrounded by three quarters of elevated seating and makes so that there is no bad angle or seat in the house. Couple this with the actors’ abilities to engage to the front and sides, and the audience is immersed throughout the entire production as part of the space and story. From first glance, the set design captures the mind of the audience to prepare to be taken back to the old timey radio days. Radio actors of the day were still encouraged as today to be as theatrical as if in front of a live audience. The cast has made this part of the show of dual importance – being both actors doing this play and as actors portraying a show.
Freshman actors Landon Lee and Alicia Auston lead this ensemble cast playing George and Mary Bailey with wonderful chemistry and a tangible relationship while the other actors bounce in and out all of the supporting characters, bringing this production to life. The many intricacies, props, and staging of the set create the illusion and great sense of authenticity of what one might imagine a radio set of the 1940’s to be. This includes live sound effects foley artists as part of the show with authentic live effects. These working technicians are costumed and are as much a part of the show as the actors are, creating sounds such as walking on the snow by crunching Frosted Flakes with their hands. It was as much fun to watch what they were doing as it was to watch the actors. From the microphones on both stands and from the would-be ceiling, to the courtesy couches for the radio actors, to the sound room for the actors to wait until they are ‘live on air’, this production’s technical side is is a strong compliment and companion to the shining talents of these young actors.
Costume Designer Mandolynn Browning recreated the sleek looks of the 1940’s with her designs, highlighting the styles and silhouettes of this fashionable era. This show really plays the fact that it is indeed a radio drama but it also tells the story we all love so dearly. Although we are keenly aware of what’s going on in front of us, we quickly drawn to the story of George Bailey. What I thoroughly enjoyed about this show’s familiar adaptation of one of my favorite movies to the stage is how well the actors are able to move through the story with minimal ‘bumps’ that can so easily beset even the most practiced and rehearsed actor. The actors participating on this production have taken the opportunity of acting as actors putting on a live radio show and made it possible to offer another view of what is in my mind, a timeless classic.
From the littlest Zuzu (Teya Ambrose) who is all of six years old, to the blossoming students, and even more experience actors, there is no sympathy applause or need for hollow praise. This company is great. When all parts of a production can come together as well as this show has, one can’t help but leave with the reality of having been part of something special. The direction, the set, the lighting, the actors and talent will have this audience member thankful to have started the holidays shared with this company.
Utah State University Eastern presents It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, adapted by Joe Landry
Peterson Black Box Theatre – USU Eastern Central Instruction Building, 451 East 400 North, Price, UT 8450
November 29-30, Dec 1, 6-8, 2018 7:30 PM
Tickets: $10
Contact: (435) 613-5000, usueastern@usu.edu
Utah State University Eastern Facebook Page
It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Facebook Event
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