It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
Adapted by Joe Landry
Directed by Kate Bergstrom
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
December 12, 2023
Melissa Harlow, Michael James Reed
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Most people know It’s a Wonderful Life as the classic Frank Capra film starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. A lot of people my age have probably seen that movie on TV dozens of times by now, as ubiquitous as it is. Now, courtesy of the Rep, audiences get to see this familiar story in a different way. Joe Landry’s adaptation It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play isn’t new, but the way the Rep is presenting it, it’s a fresh, entertaining production set featuring some welcome local references and a strong energetic cast.
This isn’t a straightforward adaptation of the film story. It’s based in a local radio station sometime in what appears to be the late 1940s. The announcer, Freddie Fillmore (Eric Dean White) provides the introduction while the rest of the cast–including actors and technicians–assembles and star performer and World War II vet Jake Laurents (Michael James Reed) arrives a little bit late. Fillmore announces the cast of characters. Sally Applewhite (Melissa Harlow) plays Mary Bailey and others; Harry Heywood (Deanté Bryant) plays Clarence the angel, Harry Bailey; Rosa Ramos (Carmen García) plays George and Harry’s mother; Lana Sherwood (Aria Maholchic) plays Violet Bick; and Dr. Richard Ross (J. Samuel Davis) plays Joseph the angel supervisor and the villainous Henry Potter. These performers play a variety of roles in addition to their main ones, as well, except for Laurents, who plays George Bailey. Fillmore himself also plays a few roles, including Uncle Billy Bailey, and the stage manager (Jailyn Genyse) and sound engineers (Daisy Held, TJ Staten, Jr.) also contribute to the voice cast at times. Also, as was the case with actual “Old Time Radio” broadcasts, the cast and crew provide the live sound effects as necessary using a variety of devices.
The story plays out as expected, with Clarence observing George’s life up until a point of crisis, in which the angel is enlisted to help George see the importance of his life and the effect he has had on his family, his neighbors, the town of Bedford Falls, and even the world outside the town. What’s different about this production, though, is that we’re not seeing a straightforward telling of the story–we’re seeing the radio actors performing the story in a meticulously re-created 1940s studio in St. Louis. So we get to see the different actors transition between different roles, doing the sound effects, and singing at various moments, including in some truly entertaining mid-Century styled commercials for real local businesses, like Schnucks and Crown Candy Kitchen. The original film of It’s a Wonderful Life already has a degree of nostalgia about it considering it’s almost 80 years old, but all the old-time radio trappings add another layer to that nostalgia. Also, while the radio studio setting is always there, there are many moments when the drama of the story being told takes over, effectively transporting the audience to the fictional town of Bedford Falls and into the midst of George Bailey’s plight.
The performances are excellent across the board. Reed makes an ideal George Bailey, bringing a lot of depth to the character and making me (at least) even more sympathetic to his situation than Stewart’s in the movie. It’s refreshing that none of the actors here are doing impressions of the movie characters–their performances are their own, although there are a few occasional moments when Reed’s vocal delivery gives a subtle nod to Stewart. Reed’s chemistry with Harlow’s Mary is excellent, as well. Other standouts include Bryant, who is especially memorable in his role as the determinded, kind-hearted Clarence; and Davis as both the wise Joseph and the scheming Potter. White also makes a memorable, amiable host as Fillmore. It’s a strong cast all around, with much energy and enthusiasm in their roles as radio actors and as their characters in the drama.
The fun of a show like this is getting to see the authentically re-created workings of a 1940s radio station, with An-Lin Dauber’s marvelous set and meticulously detailed costumes adding to the overall ambience, along with excellent lighting by Christina Watanabe and sound by Michael Costagliola. There’s also great atmospheric music, supervised by music director Ron McGowan.
Overall, this is a truly delightful holiday presentation from the Rep. It’s a Wonderful Life is already a well-known story, but adding the extra layer of local nostalgia and old-time radio atmosphere adds even more appeal to the familiar drama. It’s a Wonderful Life, indeed, and a wonderful show, as well!
Cast of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
Repertory of St. Louis
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is presenting It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play until December 23, 2023
