Its A Wonderful Life: The Radio Play Review: Reimagine Tradition

Since that last piece of Thanksgiving turkey slid between two slices of rye, we all knew Christmas was coming. Tinsel is hung. Giant snowflake flags fly from every street light. A near constant scent of cloves, cinnamon and sage emanate from department stores we only visit a few times a year. The holidays are upon us. And sometimes a holiday just isn’t complete without the traditions we revisit dutifully each December.

If you grew up any time after the 1970’s, one of these traditions undoubtedly included turning on the television Christmas Eve – to basically any channel – and watching It’s A Wonderful Life. The film aired back-to-back from early evening through the night when I grew up, even airing on the Spanish language channel. It’s a Wonderful Life was the only thing to watch on Christmas Eve. It’s funny to think that the 1946 Frank Capra film, initially considered a commercial flop, would propel forth to be a holiday staple. The film gained such popularity the story even branched out into radio, musical theater, and stage plays.

For their tenth consecutive year, Chicago’s American Theater Company presents a delightful combination of these branches in It’s a Wonderful Life: the Radio Play. Capturing every bit of the spirit of the original film, ATC turns the tale on its ear and presents a hilarious, musical, theatrical performance focused on the actors performing a radio broadcast of It’s A Wonderful Life. A delightful twist on a classic tale performed by wonderful actors, It’s A Wonderful Life: The Radio Play makes a strong case toward establishing a new holiday tradition.

The play is totally immersive from the moment the audience walks into WATC studios and sees the beautiful old timey microphones lined up in a row at different heights. A foley table sits on one side of the stage piled with bells, whistles, poppers, even a miniature door (sound effects for the more digitally inclined). A dog-eared upright piano sits propped against the wall on the other side of the stage. Large “On Air” and “Applause” signs float above the stage to instruct the audience when to clap and when, well you get the idea. The stage manager introduces the radio cast, who come out bedecked in 1940’s garb, and begin promptly schmoozing with members of the audience. They also begin collecting Audiograms that are to be read live during the broadcast. Announcer Chris Amos, in a dashing smoking jacket, instructs the audience on the fineries of “On Air” etiquette, the light blinks on, and the radio broadcast begins.

Christopher McLinden plays George Bailey, a man who sidelines his own dreams to protect the dreams of his father, his neighbors, and his friends. A near tragedy at his building and loan almost forces George to suicide, until an angel intervenes and shows George a world where George Bailey doesn’t exist.  The script follows the original story of It’s A Wonderful Life, replete with the hapless yet warm hearted Clarence (voiced by Mike Nussbaum) mean old Mr. Potter (also voiced by Nussbaum), adorable little Zuzu (voiced by Margaret Graham), the pretty yet assertive Mary (Mary Winn Heider) and the hammy yet humorous Bert and Ernie (Philip Earl Johnson and Mike Tepeli, respectively).

Perhaps more impressive than delivering a genuine, sincere broadcast of It’s a Wonderful Life, is that the play is about the actors performing the broadcast, by 1940’s actors, in a 1940’s radio station. McLinden performs George Bailey a la Jimmy Stewart. Foley Artist Rick Kubes and Pianist Rhapsody Snyder are in near constant motion, providing wonderful sounds and songs that perfectly accent the narrative. Smart staging gives added visual stimulus to what would otherwise be a small group of men and women standing around a microphone in a smoky studio reading off a script. Light cues and great performances from the actors further enrich the concept that we are, in fact, watching a play. Of a radio broadcast. Of a story adapted from a classic film. This is good theater.

Now that the film is buried in a sea of satellite and cable channels, head out to the American Theater Company, from now through December 24, to get your Christmas fix, and join ATC in strengthening a new Christmas tradition.

Contact American Theater Company’s box office for tickets and show times by visiting www.atcweb.org or by calling 773-409-4125