By Carol Davis
SAN DIEGO — This is year number six for Cygnet Theatre and the radio version of the Frank Capra movie It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play adapted by Joe Landry and directed by Sean Murray with musical direction by Billy Thompson.
Once again a trip down memory lane is in order. The movie, which is a popular standard bearer during the holiday season, takes place in 1946 in the small town of ‘Bedford Falls’. George Bailey was born and grew up there. His father before him had a small building and loan business and the name Bailey was respected throughout the community.
George wanted to travel, see the world and go to college before he settled down. But life got in the way of his dreams and due to circumstances not of his own making, (his father has a stroke and passes and his older brother Harry is offered and opportunity for a great job and George cannot let him pass up) he remained in Bedford Falls married his favorite gal Mary, raised a family and took over the family business with some assistance from his uncle Billy.
Life was good to George and his family for a time. He was able to grow the business, ward off attempts from the money-grubbing big wigs (sound familiar?) and slum owners in the name of Mr. Potter and settle down.
Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse on this particular Christmas Eve when Uncle Billy misplaced an $8,000 deposit while kibitzing at the bank with Mr. Potter. When the bank examiners heard of the negative position George and his company were in and Potter refused to grant him a loan for the money (sound familiar?), George became despondent and wished he had never been born. He decides he is worth more dead than alive. He ponders suicide by jumping into the icy river below.
While standing on a bridge that spans the river, Clarence, his guardian Angel comes to the rescue. Clarence, who is an Angel in training, is assigned to save George’s life. If he is able to succeed in this mission, he will become a full-fledged Angel and thereby get his wings.
When George tells Clarence that he wishes he had never been born, Clarence takes George on a journey he will never forget proving that it is a wonderful life after all and that everyone’s life is worth saving and makes a difference to those you touch.
Now think about how this little scenario will sound as acted out for a radio audience and this is where Cygnet Theatre shines. Some might remember that once upon a time before TV there was radio. Radio did all the things TV does but those who remember know that we had to use our imaginations while listening. Fast forward to radio station WCYG in Manhattan where our play begins
Cygnet’s “Live Radio Play” gives us a backstage pass into all the mechanisms of what goes into mounting a radio play both technically and artistically. On the artistic side we have the wonderfully talented Tom Andrew as George Bailey. If you close your eyes, you can hear Jimmy Stewart (he is the movie persona of George speaking as George Bailey). Tim West, long time force in San Diego theatre, is simply wonderful as both Clarence and Uncle Billy. Both roles suit him well.
Jonathan Dunn-Rankin, a true to life radio and TV actor and announcer lends his deep resonant voice as that of Freddy Fillmore (the announcer of the show and Mr. Potter). Amanda Sitton is great as Mary the eager wide-eyed teenager smitten with George and later George’s devoted wife. Veronica Murphy as George’s mother, Patrick Osteen (a new addition this year), his brother and other voices along with Melissa Fernandes who takes on more than one voice all add to the overall sound of the production.
Murray’s direction is pretty much down pat by now, sure-footed and on target. Shirley Pierson’s costume design is spot on period. Matt Lescault-Woods’ sound design is, once again fine as is Michelle Caron’s lighting design. Jason Connors stepped in this year to become the radio sound guy adapting all the noise gadgets, like doors slamming, boots on the ground, bells twinkling and a plethora of other contraptions that make up the business of producing a bona fide radio show. While not as showy as past gadget guy (sound fix) Scott Paulson, it’s still a thrill to watch the ambidextrousness of someone doing three or four things at one time and making it work.
The holiday patterns of many of our local theatres run pretty true to form with The Old Globe mounting How The Grinch Stole Christmas (for the fourteenth year in a row), New Village Arts in Carlsbad has Santaland Diaries, Lamb’s Players Theatre has a variation of its very own Festival of Christmas, The Spirit of Christmas Present, North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach is presenting a musical comedy Mistletoe, Music and Mayhem and Cygnet has its own Wonderful Life with an exception:
This will be the last season that Cygnet Theatre will be mounting this holiday ‘classic’, according to artistic director Sean Murray. “At the end of this sixth year, I am also excited to bring something new to the stage. I think it’s time, but this show will always be an important part of Cygnet’s history.”
If you’ve never seen “The Radio Play” this would be your chance to catch it before it goes into the historical archives of holiday shows. Enjoy.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: Through December 31ast
Organization: Cygnet Theatre
Phone: 619-337-1525
Production Type:
Where: 2410 Congress Street San Diego, CA 92110
Ticket Prices: $29.00-$54.00
Web: cygnettheatre.com
Venue: Theatre In Old Town
*
Davis is a San Diego-based theatre arts critic. She may be contacted at carol.davis@sdjewishworld.com