With Christmas less than three weeks away, every theatre company in Edmonton’s Greater Metropolitan Region is getting ready to host a holiday show. Walterdale Theatre is no exception.
Most people have seen the Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart. The 1946 black and white film follows a frustrated businessman who attempts suicide. However, an angel is sent from Heaven to show him what life would have been like in his town if he never existed.
Walterdale is giving audiences a chance to experience this beloved classic in a different way. This year it presents It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play running Dec. 4 to 14 at the Old Strathcona playhouse.
“This play is a timeless, feel-good classic Christmas story that people still love decades later,” said director Travey Wyman. “Presenting it as a radio play adds a different twist that audiences will enjoy hearing and seeing.”
Set in a 1946 radio station, the 11 actors including St. Albert’s Rob Beeston, have taken on diverse roles and created 30 plus voices for the radio broadcast’s parade of characters. One of the actors, Dustin Berube, is designated as the Foley Artist, a crew member who devises all sound effects.
“It’s a play within a play – the actors portray actors that create characters to tell a story. The live sound effects and shenanigans that went on in a radio station back in the golden age of radio will be on display to entertain the audience,” Wyman said.
Beeston landed the role of Freddie Filmore, the station’s pretentious radio announcer.
“He’s the elder statesman and he’s been part of the radio world the longest. I’m the guy who walks around and thinks he owns the place,” said Beeston, a St. Albert Dinner Theatre staple recognized as an actor who takes risks and pushes boundaries.
“Freddie as a character is amazing. He’s such a goofball and so stereotypically 1940s. He thinks he’s God gift to everything.”
Beeston has also been cast as a Man of Many Voices. There lay his voice challenges.
“You try to make each voice distinctive to the ear so people listening don’t confuse the characters.”
Developing one character per production is a challenge every actor relishes. But creating multiple characters may be overwhelming. However, Beeston credits Wyman for allowing the actors to develop their own style and build cast chemistry.
“She’s a very artistic, focused director. She brought a lot of ideas. She had a structure in mind from Day 1. But she allowed us to develop the characters and gave us carte blanche on how we think the characters would be in the world.”
Joe Landry, a professional writer of radio play adaptations, based A Wonderful Life on Philip Van Doren Stern’s book The Greatest Gift.
“It’s based on the book and most of the dialogue is lifted from the book. Some of the lines in the movie are longer, but it’s all very recognizable,” Beeston said.
“It’s such an easily identifiable story. The radio actors do a phenomenal job of bringing to life what they love most about their characters. Every character is important to the resolution of this radio play performance. And Tracy put together a cool way to tell an iconic story.”
Walterdale Theatre is located at 10322 – 83 Ave. Tickets range from $17.50 to $25. Visit walterdaletheatre.com.
