It's a Wonderful Life - The Radio Play

In my last review of an Ormskirk Theatre Company production I stated that it was my first visit as District 6 Rep to them and my first visit to The Toby Carvery and I hoped it would not be my last...well it will not be the last time I see the company, but it may well be my last visit to The Toby Carvey as Ormskirk Theatre Company have now returned to an ‘old stomping ground’ ... The Upmarket Theatre above the Market Cross Public House in Church Street, Ormskirk.  The society have obviously worked extremely hard re-decorating and re-modelling the upstairs room at The Market Cross to re-affirm it as a theatrical venue...so congratulations on all you’ve achieved so far and I look forward to seeing future productions here in your ‘new home’.

“It's a Wonderful Life – The Radio Play” is a radio drama adapted by Tony Palermo from the timeless classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” penned by Frank Capra, one of my all time favourite Christmas films. For those of you that don’t know the plot (where have you been)....George Bailey spends his entire life giving up his big dreams for the good of his town, Bedford Falls. But on Christmas Eve 1945, George is a broken man, suicidal over the misplacing of an $8000 loan and the scheming of the evil millionaire Mr. Potter. His guardian angel, Clarence arrives on Earth and shows him what his town, family, and friends would have turned out like if he had never been born. George meant so much too so many people; should he really throw it all away?

In the stage version we, the actual audience, are involved from the beginning, acting as the “studio audience”; the production ‘being transmitted live’ by the BBC to radio listeners, a very interesting experience! Having learned lines, as I have for many years, I was rather envious of the fact that all the cast were able to have their scripts to hand as indeed would happen in all radio broadcasts!

The play was well directed by Pat Baker and Gary Simpson, both of whom also had integral roles in the production.  The cast totalled nine, five ladies, the majority dressed in evening gowns and four males in dressed in black evening suits...  Angela Johannsen, Pat Baker, Lesley Roper, Ann Todd, Jackie Roscoe, Dave Smith, Paul Harding, Joe Coyne and Gary Simpson formed the cast, with most of them playing multiple roles.

There is little or no doubt that this was very much an ensemble piece - the success of which was totally reliant on ‘team togetherness’ which is what we got in abundance!  So, I now find myself in the difficult position of wanting to try and detail individual performances without possibly doing injustice to others!  So, what I can say, with total honesty and confidence is that everyone on that stage worked so hard, both individually and collectively, showing versatility and created some very believable characters!   When I got home, I looked at ‘Palermo’s suggested cast list, a total of 35 cast members were named – the writer suggesting that no more than eleven would be involved in any one scene,
so multiple roles would be possible...and for sure...multiple roles we got!  If I am honest, I did on occasions find it really difficult keeping tabs on who was playing who... a change of hat or the inclusion of an apron was all it took, but I do think that it is worth re-iterating that no matter what character was being played, everyone on stage ‘pulled out all the stops’ to create something memorably different.....so well done to one and all!

Having said all that, it would be remiss of me not to highlight the person who I felt ‘stole the show’...  Gary Simpson’s portrayal of George Bailey was outstanding.  His diction, accent, mannerisms and characterisation were perfect... with wonderful stage presence he made this part his own and there were times during the performance his performance when Gary sounded so much like and had the mannerisms of James Stewart portrayal in the film, it really was uncanny.  Well done sir, be ever so proud!

The set was minimal with just four ‘BBC Stand Mikes’, nine chairs placed around the performing area and a strategically positioned ‘Sound Effects Desk’ directly behind the stage and manned by an ‘enthusiastic sound effects team’ aka: Kevin Green and Lisa O’Reilly whose ‘actions and efforts’ added so much to the atmosphere...well done guys!  The lighting was uncomplicated ...yet provided all that was required to make this play work.  Some great props, hats, aprons etc were used – and again added to the atmosphere.

So can I just say thank you for the inviting my wife and I we did enjoy the show, we look forward to seeing you all again soon – and please accept on behalf of NODA, my wife and I ... Season’s Greetings...have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year and we hope to see you all again in 2020.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.