In anticipation of the performance, audience members enter through the opened doors and check in with their tickets. Unlike a typical play, however, this presentation of It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, based on the film, begins with pre-show singing as the actors prepare on stage, Dec. 4.
The popular Christmas movie has come to the stage at California State University, Fresno, in the form of a delightful radio show. The actors tell the story into microphones, while sound effects artists Jacob Sharar and Dominic Bettini add to the auditory experience.
However, the actors also act with the help of the sound effects crew. There are many different sound contraptions, designed by Dan Carrion, which are used in the play, including tapping heels when a woman character walks, a creaky door box and a thunder noise-maker.
The play tells the story of George Bailey (Justin Ringhofer) and the help he receives from his guardian angel, Clarence (Magnus Chhan), that saves his life. George faces certain problems in his life, like keeping peace with wife Mary Hatch (Caitlin Stevenson), protecting his business against the rich man in town, Mr. Potter (Edward Anderson) and financial struggles with his Uncle Billy (Miguel Angel Gastelum).
As George is on the verge of committing suicide, Clarence comes to Earth to help him realize he actually does have a wonderful life — but it may take turning it all around before George can truly see this.
The rest of the plot consists of George’s journey to finding happiness in life and how Clarence can help him reach that point. The heartwarming and touching ending is the best part of the whole show, leaving no dry eyes in the theater.
Ringhofer and Stevenson were by far the best actors in the production, portraying the characters of George and Mary spectacularly. Also, Sharar and Bettini created the majority of the humor, which kept me laughing throughout the entire show.
Despite my being familiar with the story after watching the 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life, I was still able to thoroughly enjoy this creative and unique play. Although it has a viewpoint different from the original storyline, the play was much better than I had expected and gave audiences a different feel for the classic Christmas story.
I highly recommend It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play as a worthwhile experience during the holiday season. It serves as Fresno State’s first attempt at a radio play, and the drama department has proved itself worthy of portraying such a wonderful production to audiences.
The show will be performed from Dec. 8-11 at 8 p.m. at the John Wright Theater, located in the Speech Arts Building of Fresno State’s campus. Tickets cost $17 for general admission; $15 for faculty, seniors and the alumni association; and $10 for students. Tickets can be purchased online at the University Theatre box office.
Future Fresno State shows include Servant of Two Masters, performed March 25 through April 2, and The Glass Menagerie, May 6-14. For more information on CSUF productions, visit the campus Department of Theater Arts.
For more coverage of holiday productions, read the Dec. 8 article, ‘Wonderful Life’ heralds holiday season.
