"It's a Wonderful Life" theatre review

 

It’s a Wonderful Life, performed as a radio play broadcast from New York on Christmas Eve, was staged to a full house at the Grove Theatre in Eastbourne last night. I saw it last year, recommended it to all my friends, and was relieved when it was as good as ever. They all enjoyed it.

It was fascinating to see how five actors and a sound effects man could bring to life a film that has dozens of characters and, for me, one of the highlights was seeing Steve Scott playing three different parts using three different voices to reproduce a conversation, effectively arguing with himself, as it were.

Another highlight were the adverts when, in a word from our sponsors, the actors promoted (fictional) products and sang jingles. The interval was announced by telling the audience that the radio mast had stopped broadcasting and needed to be repaired.

But the main story was told with economy and verve by a brilliant team of actors (Claire Bolt, Michael Keegan, Holly Mason, Orion Powell, Steve Scott), many of them playing multiple parts, who were clearly enjoying themselves as much as the audience were.

A great night out.

This review was written by the author of Bally and Bro, Motherdarling  and The Kids of God