The Full Cast of It's A Wonderful Life
My “step” daughter and her young Navy husband are expecting, which means that life is unfolding on a limited budget right now. But what amazes me is how this young woman, who during previous Christmases only seemed interested in the number and value of presents with her name on it under the the tree, has managed to match her long praised exterior beauty with a warmth and inner beauty that brings balance and happiness to the world.
The other morning we got an excited phone call to make sure we would be ready on Saturday morning at 11am to go to Jacksonville for a surprise Christmas gift from the two of them to us. My wife and I, usually quite busy with a variety of tasks on Saturday morning looked at each other and wondered what this could possibly entail. We played around with several thoughts as if we were shaking the Christmas present for hints or clues and finally settled on the assumption that it would be a Professional Photo Session of some sorts. Now my wife photographs beautifully, but I on the other hand, am happy if one out of a 1000 pictures turns out usable and does not need to be burned upon seeing daylight.
Still we were not happy about the idea as it would mean dressing up, hair treatment, shaving and a trip to Jax on a Saturday morning. Not good.
That same evening, she and her husband come over with a big Christmap wrapped cardbox and a big smile on their faces. The box is big but featherlight, so we look at eachother trying to stay upbeat and happy, but with a look of recognition in our eyes. Slowly we open the box and yes…. there is an envelop in that big box. As we try to mimick a smile of gratitude and surprise we rip the envelop open and find …two matinee tickets to the Alhambra on Beach Blvd for the Radio Show “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
Sheer delight, surprise and …yes, elation was the result. We had dodged the bullet of family portraits and we both enjoyed the several shows we went to in the re-opened Alhambra Dinner Theater. So yes, we had a date for Saturday even though “It’s a Wonderful Life” the movie, is an annually returning item on the Holiday Season movie menu.
Billy, Violet, Mary and Potter
The bigger surprise however was the performance. How can a “simple” Studio Radio Show these days manage to keep an audience glued to the stage? In a time when entertainment is so over the top that even the best musical performers in the world need visual floor shows, light effects and fireworks to keep the customer satisfied, how does a movie script interpreted as a Radio Show on Stage, even remotely expect to keep the audience interested for 2 hours? Imagine 7 voice actors representing 31 movie characters and their dialogues and quick witted one liners, populating a 1948 radio station studio, decked out with a circle of special sound effect paraphernalia, operated by a true master of emotion and the coolest mother figure chick on piano. She was actually knitting during the dialogues. Imagine the inside of a studio like Letterman’s Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway and a bunch of microphones, intended for each of the seven actors. Imagine big lighted signs pointed at the audience that lit up when Applause is required and a stage director who warns about on air time. Absolutely magnificent.
Even though I have seen the movie on quite a few occasions, I don’t think there was one moment in this radio play, that created confusion as to the logic of the story line. The actors, clearly stage performers as well, were so into character, even body shape and facial expression wise, that I could sometimes take my eyes of the action and see how they – even as their presence was not required – deeply lived each and every aspect of the play. George and Mary Baily, Billy, Mr. Potter, they were exceptional and I’m not saying this just because it is expected during the Holidays. They managed to put me back into our family’s living room when I was a kid and gave me both an amazing audio and video experience of a movie I know pretty much by heart.
Unfortunately the table in front of us had several young kids constantly studying their smart phones and not surprisingly never returned after the break. I think it is sad that they absolutely could not bring the creativity and respect to try to understand and admire how in 1948 radio brought entertainment and education. I’m all for technology, but these kids had all the signs of becoming victims of witless entertainment, delivered on a screen the size of a couple of postage stamps.
Multiple Character Man, Harry and fabulous George Bailey
Radio in 1948 was very much in your face. There were the performers and there was the studio audience and both had a role to play, to add to the atmosphere, which was delivered to family rooms across the nation.
I hope a Director will take it on to restage Orson Welles “War of the Worlds” from 1938, and I will stand first in line for tickets, even though I will miss the wonderful live commercials that sparsely intercepted the dialogue. I could actually see my father putting BrylCreem in his hair so many years ago.
I am sorry if this story makes you want to go and see the show, it is sold out solidly until it closes on Christmas Eve. As for the gift, it was by far the best Christmas present I ever received…and frankly I did get some great ones. It was an out of the park home run and knowing that it came from two young adults with a baby on the way and not too many pennies to rub together…well that made it special beyond plain gratitude.
