By Jennifer Mustoe
Every once in a while, I see a play that is so unusual in its format, I find it difficult to write about it properly and describe what I’ve seen. And The Echo’s Christmas offering, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show, is such a show. This doesn’t mean it’s icky or weird. It’s just nothing like I’ve ever seen and that’s a good thing.
You see, the familiar movie starring Jimmy Stewart is being portrayed in this current show as a radio play, ala 1940s. The script itself is almost identical to the movie. But done as radio.
What I liked most about this play is what appeared to me as an authentic radio show format and script. And the actors who played the parts of the actors playing the parts in the radio broadcast were great.
See, here’s the thing. All the actors come in, displaying their own personalities: John Jolly as the radio announcer and then with a completely different voice as the evil Potter; Jamie Gritton as George Bailey; Lauren Ketch as Mary Bailey; and Cimony Greenhalgh, easily one of my favorites, as Violet and darling Zuzu. (You need to see the show just for her Zuzu. Seriously.) Lucas H. Proctor played Clarence and several other characters, and was really convincing in all roles. He was really a show stealer, in a cast of brilliant, character-hopping performers.
Jolly came out and greeted my husband and I, shaking hands, asking us how we liked the set, etc. Very fun. I will say, he stumbled over his lines as the announcer but not as any other character, so I think that may have been a directorial choice or Lolly’s own take. Whatever–it didn’t work well, as it made this actress just concerned that he didn’t learn his lines. That’s what my husband assumed. But as he championed all his other parts and lines, I wondered if he just was making an acting choice.
That is really THE ONLY GLITCH and it’s a small one in this delightful show. With tall mics that the actors approached and spoke into, the sounds of clomping shoes, etc as sound effects (which I LOVED) and the ubiquitious APPLAUSE sign, along with so many other fun aspects I’ve never seen, namely at a radio show in the 40s, I loved it. Director Adam Cannon did a fabulous job of transporting us from now to then.
Steven Loper played the piano and did have one line, which got a laugh, and we all sang Christmas songs as we waiting for the radio show. Nice touch.
Costumes and hair were by Greenlaugh and were authentic and fun. The minimal but effective set design was by Jeffrey Blake, The Echo’s owner and manager.
There are, actually, different types of sacroiliac belts, each designed according to the specific areas where order cheap viagra pain attacks. This heat therapy includes inserting a needle-sized electrode into the dorsal penile no prescription viagra nerves of the men suffering from early ejaculation. Gingko biloba is an example of an herb cheap cialis 100mg that is commonly found in medicines that treat impotence. Are you sick of constantly being forced to buy levitra http://deeprootsmag.org/2014/03/05/payment-1957/ go down initially, but this is just short-term relief.
This show is a fun introduction for the holiday season and unusual enough to not miss. I would recommend it for tweens and up. There is nothing offensive in the least about this show, but it is really just a bunch of actors standing onstage, so the lack of movement might bore little ones. And it’s at 7:30 and plays for two hours, so leave the young ones at home.
I did wonder if those who’ve never seen the movie would enjoy it or follow it was well as I did. I anticipated what would happen next–would they be able to portray it with just their voices and minimal movements (though EVERYONE had cute, effective facial expressions)? I can’t answer that for myself, as I’ve seen the movie many times. My husband, however, closed his eyes for most of the show and told me it worked well to do this. He could see the show by the voices alone. And all the actors had different voices, and were–wonderful.
I would highly recommend this fun show. It is enjoyable and unique. And Merry Christmas!
It’s a Wonderful Life
Dec 4- 20, Mon, Thurs-Saturday at 7:30 PM
The Echo Theater, 15 N 100 E, Provo, Utah 84606
Tickets are available at the door or online at TheEchoTheatre.com
0 Comments