At WaterTower Theatre, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Earns its Wings

Comments (0) By Elaine Liner Thursday, Nov 29 2012

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Lydia Mackay, looking splendid in an emerald green skirt suit, plays Mary Bailey with just enough oomph to make her sexy, and she does the sounds of various crying infants (the way she mimics upset babies is pretty adorable). Jessica Cavanagh, with a voice as warm as a cup of cocoa, gets the roles of Mary's bossy mother; George and Mary's little girl, Zuzu (the one with the petals); flirty Violet Bick and several others. In the main role of George Bailey, reed-thin Matthew Laurence-Moore avoids any hint of Jimmy Stewart's stutter-y delivery and yet shares with the actor a way of delivering dialogue that makes it fall on the ear just right.

Scott Eckert handles the constant array of sound effects from his table stage left. Erin McGrew gives him an able assist on piano, organ and slamming door.

Mark Oristano

Jim Johnson, Lydia Mackay, Matthew Laurence-Moore, Jessica Cavanagh and B.J. Cleveland do all the voices in Bedford Falls in It's a Wonderful Life, radio style, at WaterTower Theatre.

Details

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

Continues through December 16 at WaterTower Theatre, 15650 Addison Road, Addison. Call 972-450-6232 or visit watertowertheatre.org.

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It's all perfectly lovely and sweet. You'll probably remember how it looked in the movie as these "radio" actors go through the scenes. But unlike watching it on TV, you'll be able to clap for these performances. No applause sign needed.