“Everybody loves this story, but the more we’ve worked on it the more it dawned on me how similar it is to ‘A Christmas Carol,’” said director/founder Teresa Connair. “For example, the Mr. Potter character is very much like Scrooge. Clarence provides spiritual intervention much like the three ghosts. George Bailey is reminiscent of Bob Cratchit as well. Some of the lines are even similar to ‘A Christmas Carol.’
“But above all, the story itself reminds us that each person in our lives is important and how different our lives would be if we didn’t make a contribution. I think this is important to remember as this point in time. We need to keep up the good fight in order to keep the bad at bay.”
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Connair particularly recognizes the challenges inherent to the production, one of the largest the troupe has produced. The play contains 63 speaking roles (every actor in the play, with the exception of Shawn Kalis as George Bailey, will play multiple roles) and capturing the technical magic associated with the live Foley sound effects, especially the timing, is not an easy task.
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“The challenging part of staging a radio show is the live Foley sound effects,” she said. “This show has a lot of sound effects that, if one is to stay true to the 1940s era, has caused us sleepless nights working through what appropriate objects will make the right sounds for the effect since no suggestions are listed in the script. This is our third radio show at Undercroft, but the sound effects needed are different than the other shows. There are a lot of bells in this show, as one might imagine. Door bells, phone bells, cash register bells, angel bells, but all must have a different ring to them. Those are the easy things to figure out. The Model T car engine, the splashing water and the train pulling into the station are a lot more difficult. But we’re definitely having fun working through all the possibilities.”
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In addition to the aforementioned Kalis, the cast includes Allison Clark, Rachael Clark, Abigail Kalis Jonathan Kalis, Abby Lachman, Jennifer Lockwood, Terry Morris, Dave Nickel, Patrick Santucci, Sarah Saunders, Cate Shannon, Mandy Shannon, Sophia Shannon, Jim Sipos, Melissa Sokol, J. Gary Thompson, and Cassandra Wigginton-Hayes.
“I’m one of the millions who watch the movie every year so this show certainly resonates with me,” said Nickel, who portrays Henry F. Potter among others. “I (enjoy) the idea that we’ve all touched many more lives than we might realize (as well as) the reminder of the value of friends and the message that there are things more valuable than money. Plus, there’s the reaffirmation of the magic of the Christmas season.”
“If you love the movie, you’re sure to enjoy this presentation,” Connair reminded.
WANT TO GO?
What: "It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play"
Where: Basement of First Lutheran Church, 138 W. First St., Dayton
When: Nov. 16-19; 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Next Sunday
Cost: $10 for adults; $5 for youth (17 and younger); Cash only at the door.
More info: Visit https://undercroftplayers.weebly.com or send an e-mail to theundercroftplayers@outlook.com.
FYI: Commercials for local businesses will be featured in the production. Anyone interested in purchasing an ad for the program will receive a commercial performed by the cast in the show. If interested, visit the donation/sponsor tab on the troupe's website at https://undercroftplayers.weebly.com.; Also, Undercroft's season continues with a youth production of Oscar Wilde's "The Selfish Giant" in April 2018 and concludes with Sandra Fenichel Asher's "Little Old Ladies in Tennis Shoes" in August 2018.
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