Old Time Christmas Radio Shows

4/10

Nothing feels quite as Christmas-y as a cozy small town, complete with a Main Street running down its center. To accentuate that Christmas coziness, the High Springs Playhouse presents Old Time Christmas Radio Shows. HSP takes different approach this year for its holiday spot, eschewing a full length show for two one-hour radio shows. The World War II Radio Christmas Play  functions as Act 1, while Act 2 gives audiences Christmas Thieves: A Small Town Radio Play.

The first show is set during Christmas at the height of World War II and is intended to create the atmosphere of watching a radio show of that era. In between the stories are radio ads for real products from the time and warm wishes to soldiers on the front from their loved ones. The stories are heartwarming and the advertisements add a sense of nostalgia, but the structure of Old Time Christmas makes it difficult to capitalize on these warm moments.

There seems to be confusion within the cast about whether this production is a standard theatrical play set during the performance of a radio show or an actual radio show, like Prairie Home Companion. A radio show implies the audience is basically watching the behind the scenes of a radio program, complete with sound effects made live by one or two people in plain sight. This production attempts to create that dynamic, but falls short since some sound effects were made through the soundboard while the actor on stage often appears non-committal. Another aspect of a radio play is having the actors dramatically read from the script on stage. This technique is utilized, but without great effect because the actors stumbled, missed, or stepped on lines despite having the script in front of them. When mistakes occur, it’s common for the actors to break character so completely that there is little semblance of acting.

While there are certainly struggles onstage, this critique does not apply to the performance of Victoria Gregory, who breathes life into the first act. Ms. Gregory stands out with her performance as a woman in the Army who reads letters to redact sensitive information. She meets a sailor and for one night they dance, kiss, and fall in love, promising to write to one another while he is overseas. Ms. Gregory brings innocence and hope to her character and makes the ebb and flow of emotion believable and compelling. Ms. Gregory’s performance is a triumph and leaves the audience wishing for more of her story.

The costumes by Pat Thomson should also be applauded, as they fit each character and match the time period nicely. Her combination of holiday velvets on the adult actors, paired with simple cottons on the younger actors tells the audience each character’s story without words. Ms. Thomson’s efforts are evident as details down to the accessories and hair styles transport the audience back to the 1940s.

The second act features Christmas Thieves: A Small Town Radio Play. This portion of the play focuses on a Minnesotan radio DJ as he attempts to save his polka station through a masterpiece theater radio program performed by a classic British acting troupe. When the acting troupe is incapacitated, the station’s employees fill in and chaos ensues. The story seems promising, but flubbed lines and broken character make it difficult to feel immersed in what is happening to the characters. Additionally, the second act struggles with the same issues surrounding the sound effects that plagued the first act. Without effective sound effects, which are indicative of a radio play, it is hard to feel like this is an actual radio play. Unfortunately, Ms. Gregory is largely left out of the second act, which would benefit from her emotional range.

As seen in its last two productions, High Springs Playhouse is certainly capable of putting on successful productions that hold their own with the larger theaters in the area. The quaint atmosphere of the Playhouse is perfect for that old-timey feel of a radio play, but unfortunately Old Time Christmas did not feel polished or complete. The show runs through December 21st and tickets can be purchased at highspringsplayhouse.com.