They’re bringing out all the bells and whistles — plus cornflakes and pasta — to create extra auditory illusions within Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s new Christmas production.
Yes, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” but this isn’t a simple stage production of the beloved 1946 movie. They’re recreating the other version from that era, the radio story.
“This was such a meaningful radio play that Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed were in at the same time that the movie was released,” said Kate Bergstrom, director for “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.”
It opens Friday on ASF’s Octagon Stage, and runs through Dec. 31. It’s recommend for ages 7 and up.
“Jimmy Stewart was super active in radio play making with Lux Radio Hour,” Bergstrom said. “The live studio audience was a really important part, so I hope that it brings a lot of joy to people to watch all of the sound being made and to envision and imagine the story coming to life.”
Adapted by Joe Landry, “It’s A Wonderful Life” is the tale of George Bailey, a man with many problems on his shoulders. Someone is trying to take over the whole town, and Bailey’s business is what’s standing in the way of it. But when his Uncle Billy loses an $8,000 deposit, it seems only Heaven can help Bailey find his way.
The cast includes Jimmy Kieffer as Freddie Filmore, Cassandra Lopez as Lana Sherwood, Madeline Lambert as Sally Applewhite, William DeMeritt as Jake Laurents, and Evan Andrew Horwitz as Harry Heywood. That’s a little deceiving, because the characters are traveling radio play actors who take on all the roles from “It’s a Wonderful Life” — from the main character of Bailey (DeMeritt), to Clarence the angel, and dozens more.
“Some of them take on 20 different voices and different characters,” Bergstrom said.
In doing so, they bring the fictional town of Bedford Falls to life.
“These actors are performers building this world for everyone’s ears in the space,” Bergstrom said. “I hope it’s going to be really fun.”
For music, radio shows like this would have a live record player. The sound effects would come from many different kinds of objects. One example is people walking in the snow. That sound’s made by people munching on cornflakes, Bergstrom said.
“There’s an ice break, and we use pasta to break through the ice,” Bergstrom said. “It’s really fun.”
There’s a serious side as well. The play centers around Bailey not thinking his life matters, and considering a jump from a bridge to end it all.
“It’s a pretty significant story about mental health and wellness, and taking care of one another and ourselves,” Bergstrom said.
Clarence saves Bailey by shifting his perspective, and in doing so Clarence earns his wings.
Of course, a bell will ring.
“What’s really funny is that we’ve got bells and whistles throughout the show,” Bergstrom said. “At the end, when you hear that bell, I think it’s kind of special to remember that sense of delight, and that we all have the capacity to be Clarence.”
An extra bit of fun in this production, being a radio show, is that they’ve included commercials for Montgomery businesses from the 1940s.
“We’ve written jingles and used Christmas songs to bring some cheer and creativity to the world of the outer frame within the play,” Bergstrom said.
Are any of those businesses still around today?
“Yes they are, but I’m going to wait to tell those until you come see the show,” Bergstrom said.
Tickets are available online at asf.net/wonderful-life-51 or by calling the ASF box office at 334-271-5353.
Bergstrom said the show is super family friendly, and that audiences can become a part of it by clapping along.
“I think what’s really exciting is that people from different generations can share this together,” Bergstrom said.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com
