Christmas comes early with production of 'It's a Wonderful Life'
You’ve probably seen “It’s a Wonderful Life” before, but not the way the Old Rochester Regional Drama Club is doing it.
For their annual Christmas play, the club is putting on the classic story as an on-stage radio show.
“This is total virgin territory here,” said Director Paul Sardinha.
The play, adapted from the 1946 film about the generous but downtrodden George Bailey, was adapted into a radio show by Joe Landry and is meant to be performed by six people.
“Those six people are supposed to do all of the thirty-six characters in the play and do all the sound effects as well,” said Sardinha.
That isn’t really feasible when 80 kids want to participate, so Sardinha has taken some creative license with the original concept.
Eleven students take on the top characters in the play, while the rest make up a chorus for the smaller parts.
Being a radio play, there is only one scene, and the actors stay on the stage the whole time. Since characters can wait for long spells between speaking parts, Sardinha had them create persona to portray when they’re not up at the microphone.
“The characters have to develop something for themselves so they’ll stand out to the audience,” said Sardinha.
The students came up with bios to help out the audience. During downtime, they can also read books from the era or knit.
Beyond figuring out how to occupy their time on stage, the actors also have to make sure they keep pace with the play and portray a bevy of emotions with their vocal cords alone.
“You need to make sure that each scene has energy,” said Ian MacLellan, who has the lead role as George Bailey.
After contemplating suicide, George’s guardian angel, Clarence, gives him a peek into what life would be like without him. George has some frantic moments when he realizes he no longer exists to his own wife and friends.
The radio format, said MacLellan, requires, “focusing on putting all the emotions in your voice when moving around isn’t necessarily an option.”
Helping to set the aural scene are a small group of musicians who will also be on stage and several techies who will create the sound effects for which radio plays are famous.
Actors will be dressed in 1940s costumes, including a vintage dress worn in a Broadway production of “Guys and Dolls.” In addition to the outfits, Costume Director Helen Blake and volunteers will style each student’s hair and makeup to fit the era.
“I love period pieces like the 40s,” said Blake.
A pair of commercials round out the radio experience and breakup the drama of the play.
The experimental production is coming along nicely, said Sardinha.
“We’re having a ball putting it all together,” he said.
The play premiers Nov. 20, which is Sardinha’s only regret.
“I always promised I’d never do a Christmas show before Thanksgiving, and this one is being done before Thanksgiving.”
No doubt the kindhearted George Bailey would give him a pass.
“It’s a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play” will be performed at the ORR auditorium Thursday, Nov. 20 through Saturday, Nov. 22 beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23rd at 2 p.m.
In addition to MacLellan, the play stars Holly Frink (Jr), Kyle Costa (Jr), Patrick McGraw (Sr), Evan Roznoy (Jr), Sara Achorn (So), Michael Amato (Sr), Rikard Bodin (Jr), Brittan Brezeznski (Sr), Emily Faulkner (Jr), Evan Gillis (Sr), Levi Hartley (Sr), along with a supporting cast of eighty-one.
Tickets are $10 for students and seniors and $12 for adults, and are available at The Pen & Pendulum in Mattapoisett, The Marion General Store in Marion and Plumb Corner Market in Rochester. Tickets may also be available at the door. For information and reservations, call 508-951-5302.
