Review by Tony Annicone
This year, GAMM Theatre’s holiday production is “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live A Radio Play,” adapted by Joe Landry. It’s their fifth presentation of this show. Seven performers plus a sound effects man deliver all the lines of all the characters in the Frank Capra movie. This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live radio broadcast in Warwick, RI. It is staged as an old-fashioned 1940s radio show. The audience is transported back in time as a radio audience watching an ensemble of performers bringing dozens of characters to life on stage. The “broadcast” is interspersed with live commercials about Greenwood Credit Union and Gamm Theatre. Before the show, there is a sing-a-long with cast members doing “Jingle Bells” and “12 Days of Christmas,” with the Foley Artist doing sound effects for each day while doing them faster and faster each time. Relive the story of the idealistic George Bailey as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. This is a fully realized version of the story initially brought to life by Frank Capra in the movie that starred Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Directed previously by Damon Kiely and remounted this year as well as last year by Tony Estrella, who molds these eight talented performers (including himself) into these iconic characters from the movie perfectly, obtains incredible performances from them, and blends the comedy and pathos to get them many laughs and tears on their journey. Tony plays George once again and also appeared in that role in the past three versions of this show. A spontaneous standing ovation is their well-deserved reward at the end of the performance.
Tony brings out the best in these performers as they move seamlessly from one role to the other. He not only directs the show but returns in triumph to play the lead role at the same time. Tony commands the stage in the huge role of George Bailey. He captures the warmth of the character as he helps his family and their business over many years. Tony also finds the comic moments, too, making George into a real-life character that the audience thoroughly admires. He garners the audience’s empathy from his first moment of saving his brother, Harry, from an ice-skating accident to the last scene when he realizes that no man is a failure who has friends. Tony’s tears at the generosity of his friends are beautiful to behold. I first reviewed Tony as a director of “Twelfth Night at URI back in 2000, and from that show to this current show, he delivers the goods in any show he directs. This show is more demanding than any other of his plays because he directed himself in it, too. Bravo!
Fred Sullivan Jr. plays several different roles in this show. His standout moments occur with two characters with opposite personalities in the show. He plays the oily, evil villain, Mr. Potter, who wants to own everyone and everything in town. This old man makes Scrooge look mild in comparison. Fred also plays the naive heavenly angel, Clarence, who is trying to earn his wings after 200 years. He changes his voice as each character splendidly. Tears flow when Clarence proclaims, “No man is a failure who has friends,” the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” completes the sentiments the appreciative audience feels. You can actually hear the voices of all the characters from the movie in this 90-minute radio play.
The beautiful Lynsey Ford portrays Mary, George’s beloved wife. She captures the essence of the character perfectly and never wavers in her interpretation. Mary supports George in all his endeavors and helps him gather the help of his friends to save himself by the end of the show. When the cast sings Auld Lang Syne, there isn’t a dry eye in the audience including mine. Lynsey also plays George’s mother, too. Milly Massey plays the WGAM radio host while playing the piano. She also delivers a splendid performance of Zuzu Bailey with a perfect childlike voice that captures your heart. Milly is also the musical director for the show.
Andrew Iacovelli plays Harry Bailey, Nick, the bartender, and Ernie Bishop, the cab driver that Clarence and George are picked up by right after the accident, and many other roles. He’s heroic as Harry when he shows up to help his brother out and menacing as Nick when he threatens them and throws them out of the bar when Clarence talks about being an angel. Andrew gives each character their distinct vocal quality and has fabulous facial expressions with each of them, too. He makes his debut at GAMM but is no stranger to theatrical roles; the first show I reviewed him in was “The Good Doctor,” where he played an over-eager assistant dentist in the “Surgery” scene, and the second was “Lost in Yonkers” where he played Jay, the elder grandson. Pretty Helena Tafuri is hilarious as the town flirt Violet Bick, who casts her eye on George at 12. Violet proves to be a pretty standup friend for George in his time of crisis. She also plays Janie Bailey, an older woman, and several other characters wonderfully. Helena’s voice as this older woman has to be heard to be believed.
Jim O’Brien also does an astounding job of portraying multiple characters, including Mr. Martini, Uncle Billy, and Joseph Bailey. I last reviewed Jim in “The Hangmen,” the previous show at GAMM. Rounding out the cast is Will Malloy as the Foley Artist, otherwise known as the sound effects man. This man creates each of the sounds from the movie onstage to create an awesome Christmastime show to lift everyone’s spirit up after all the trials and tribulations of the outside world. That includes the war in Ukraine and Gaza, the upcoming and probably contentious 2024 election, and the continued pursuit of justice for the trials for January 6th and other pending litigations occurring in the United States. Will Malloy does a magnificent job with over 300 different sound effects, I am sure. The incredible radio set is by Michael McGarty, the lighting design is by Noah Beauregard, and the gorgeous, authentic 1946-style costumes are by Jessie Darrell Jarbadan.
So, for a splendid alternative show to “A Christmas Carol,” be sure to catch “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” at Gamm Theatre to help usher in the holiday season. Tell them Tony sent you. Call them or contact them to get your tickets at gammtheatre.org. Hurry before this limited run is completely sold out.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, A RADIO PLAY (9 to 24 December)
GAMM Theater 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI
1(401)723-4266
