About 50 residents, staff and family gathered at Katella Senior Living Community in Los Alamitos recently for a live radio play of the Christmas classic, “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
About 50 residents, staff and family gathered at Katella Senior Living Community in Los Alamitos recently for a live radio play of the Christmas classic, “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
“It’s our first time doing this, and we look forward to doing it again,” said Jennifer Champagne, move-in coordinator.
Many of the actors in the live reading of the script were either staff members or family members of residents who live in the senior community. They performed as though they had done this before.
“It’s A Wonderful Life,” by playwright John Landry, is a timeless Christmas classic about George Bailey set in the rural town of Bedford Falls. He loses heart, and needs the encouragement of his guardian angel, Clarence, in order to realize what life would be like if he never existed. Fortunately, Bailey comes to his senses while guardian angel, Clarence, helps him and also earns his wings in the process.
The play was originally performed on live radio, long before television was ever invented. Cast and characters for the live reading appeared to be experienced, and gave the audience a fine performance.
George Bailey was convincingly played by Alex Vazquez, 20, who is an acting and film major at Golden West College, and also is a prep cook at the senior living community. Other family and staff members who contributed to the live radio play included Rich Mott as Clarence, Warren Anderson as Joseph (the superintendent of angels), Natalie Maurta as George’s wife, Frank Cammack as Old Man Gower (druggist), Carrie Johnson as Violet Bick (town siren), Don Mauk as Henry Potter (the richest and meanest man in the county), Ralph Mauk as Dr. Campbell (on the board of Bailey Brothers Building and Loan), and Jim Cammack as Peter Bailey (George’s father).
Paul Edwards of Edwards Audio Research, who worked professionally in radio for more than 10 years, made the play possible with audio equipment, and by playing fictitious radio announcer for WBFR Play House in New York.
Everyone who attended the live play on Thursday night seemed to enjoy themselves immensely. Sound effects for the play were convincingly acted out by Mary Trine, foley artist, and by the actors using props to make them sound as real as possible.
For more information on Katella Senior Living Community, please contact Jennifer Champagne, move in coordinator, at 562-596-2773 or email her at jchampagne@katellaseniorliving.com.