‘Radio’ show is heartfelt, fun

PLAY REVIEW /// ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’



ON THE AIR—Jen Ridgway and Kevin Ellis perform in a radio play version of “It’s A Wonderful Life” at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center.

ON THE AIR—Jen Ridgway and Kevin Ellis perform in a radio play version of “It’s A Wonderful Life” at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center.

Released 70 years ago this month, Frank Capra’s film “It’s a Wonderful Life” has become a Christmas season mainstay.

Tony Palermo’s stage adaptation gives the beloved tale a twist by presenting it as a 1940s-era radio broadcast. The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center adds a layer of hilarity to the classic tale of redemption and loyalty by having it performed by an ad hoc group of New York radio station employees, circa 1948, who take over after a snowstorm prevents the regular cast from appearing.

The arts center production, which closes tomorrow, features a terrifically talented ensemble that keeps the laughs coming while faithfully delivering the familiar, heartwarming story.

In the so-called “golden age of radio,” live dramatizations of popular films were commonplace, utilizing the magic of versatile voices, music and sound effects to create the illusion of a live stage play. The Simi production is faithful to this process. The actors gather around working standing mics appropriate to the period. A sound effects artist mans a crowded effects table, filled with all sorts of noisemaking gizmos.

Director Fred Helsel received permission from the playwright to invent 11 colorful characters to play the radio staff members who must put on the show without rehearsal. Each is assigned multiple parts in the broadcast, which results in madcap scrambling about, script pages flying every which way, and frantic slapstick that requires meticulous timing and the ability to improvise should something go wrong—which happened last Friday night during a brief power surge.

Ryan Neely, a founding member of the High Street Broadcast troupe, knows how to do this stuff. He plays Franklin Cummings, the stentorian station manager who steps in as the program announcer and also plays the detestable Mr. Potter. Kevin Ellis is great as Arthur Randolph, the station’s stuttering weatherman who somehow gets it together to play the story’s earnest hero, George Bailey.

Jared Price is Eugene Wallace, the bumbling copy boy who plays Clarence, the angel-in-waiting who helps George redeem himself. Price uses his pratfall abilities to great effect and has some terrifically funny moments.

The versatile Kyle Cooknick is program manager Gordon Fitzgerald, who plays friendly cabbie Ernie and George’s Uncle Billy. Character actress supreme Sharon Gibson is the station’s harried stage manager, Gladys Murphy, who plays George’s mother and a variety of supporting roles.

The fabulous Kathleen Silverman gets the juicy role of self-important “thee-uh-tuh” actress Virginia Darwell, who derisively complains when she doesn’t get to play the lead. As Virginia sulks, she takes surreptitious swigs from one of several flasks she stores in her purse. Jen Ridgway, a skilled actress with a flair for comedy, is Virginia’s timid niece and personal assistant, Betty Parker, who plays the winsome Mary Bailey.

Tatiana Cantu is Cummings’ secretary, Maggie Jenkins, who sings a mellifluous “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” when the only remaining record in the music library is broken.

The station’s sound effects table is normally manned by the earnest Buddy Marshall (Levi Gotsman), but when Buddy injures his hand, the station’s irascible Italian cleaning lady, Elisabetta Michelini (Carla Lombardo Bambo), is called on to assist, resulting in hilarious miscues.

Live music is supplied by Gary Poirot, seated upstage as ancient station organist “Pops” McGee.

The addition of Helsel’s lovable characters makes this production just as “wonderful” as the story they are telling, and a sleigh-full of fun.

The play wraps up its run with 8 p.m. shows Thurs. and Fri., Dec. 22 and 23 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *