Holiday classic retold through radio in Breckenridge

BRECKENRIDGE — Sometimes, a show trying too hard to quench that holiday spirit can miss the mark as entertainment, or the effort can simply be too saccharin for most tastes.

But “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” is a hit.

The show opens tonight with a comforting old-timey feel and a classic story.

The Frank Capra holiday standard is told by five actors (with the help of a stage manager), as a live radio broadcast in front of a studio audience. The play’s telling encourages the viewer to relax into the slower pace of radio, which works well through several layers of entertainment.

Stage actors dressed to the nines in 1940s garb act out multiple voices and the mind goes to work imagining the story. It’s impossible not to see Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed from the original wonder, although the cast does an admirable job portraying classic roles.

Rich Mayfield shines as Freddie Filmore, the broadcast’s host, along with the voice of a plethora of fun characters from the film, including George Bailey’s Uncle Billy, the angel Joseph, Mr. Potter, and even young Pete Bailey, among others.

Jimmy Stewart’s role is played by Joshua Johnson, Katryn Kinser plays George’s love interest, Mary, and Leslie Ann Pyron plays the voices of George’s mother and Violet, among others. Dustin Murphy plays Clarence, also among other characters.

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” works to bring back to life the messages of the classic film with an emphasis on George Bailey’s humanity. Although he makes noble decisions to help his family and town, they are often forced upon him.

His dreams of making it out of Bedford Falls are consistently shot down. George doesn’t realize the results of the intuitive kindness he has shown in his life until he confronts a challenge he cannot bear.

While it is his guardian angel who intervenes, it is his wife and brother who bring together the town’s warmth for the man.

Sound effects, including the windy nights, doors opening and closing, bells and whistles, and anything else you can imagine from the film, take place on stage by the actors and with the help of the broadcast’s stage manager, played by Chris Willard.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” isa show full of warmth and redemption — a perfect antidote for uncertain times.

Leslie Brefeld can be reached at (970) 668-4626 or lbrefeld@summitdaily.com.