For the Jimplecute
Jefferson’s Opera House Theatre Players kicked off their first performance of the season with a highly anticipated production of “It’s A Wonderful LIfe – A Live Radio Play” by Joe Landry.
The radio style show played to a full audience on the Dec 9 opening night and a nearly full audience on the following night in the final weekend of the Candlelight Tour of Homes.
Featured in the role of the George Bailey was Cheyenne Mobbs of Texarkana who brought the house to laughter and tears as he read through the story in front of the microphone in the studio of WMBR Radio.
Assisting him admirably was talented Lisa Daye of Shreveport who played his wife Mary as well as young Mary.
Moving the radio play along ably was the well known Joe Todaro also of Shreveport who has played many roles with the Players and has directed and been in much theatre work in that city for years, His several roles included being the Announcer plus numerous other small roles in the play that required a change of voice and character as the play moved along.
In addition, he operated the digitally arranged special effect sounds from a table provided by fellow actor Jane Maddox and her husband Joe Coady. Jane Maddox was featured primarily as Violet but she also played a number of other roles. As Mrs. Hatch and Mrs. Thompson, Players senior actor Angela Martinez presented each character in a separate characterization that was charming and relevant to the story.
Also taking multi roles was Jim Blackburn, a veteran actor of several plays with the Players and who created new in-depth characterizations for each. Joe Wardlaw of Longview played the role of the Guardian Angel, Clarence, to the hilt. Dressed all in white accented with long white hair and a white beard, he filled the role with empathy and wisdom as he “saved” George from suicide.
Director Marcia Thomas played a small role as Sadie, the state bank examiner who goes after the bad guy Mr. Potter.
Following the performance, theatre director Thomas thanked the audience for being in attendance in a somewhat unusual setting and thanked the leaders of the VFW Post 10373 for letting the group use the facility for the play.
She also asked the audience to let their friends and neighbors know how much they enjoyed the play and how much the theatre group needs their support to continue their 34th season.
She announced that the next item on the list was the groups annual fund raiser, “Chocolate Sunday”, which will be held in February near to Valentine’s day as possible and following that another radio play in April to be entitled “Casablanca”. based on the 1940s movie of the same name.
For information on the season or any of the activities of the group please contact them through their web page www.JeffersonOperaHouseTheatrePlayers.com.Membership renewals and new remain open throughout the year.