This upcoming holiday season the Yorkton Paper Bag Players are looking to take fans back to the days families gathered around their radios for the latest productions.
Live performances are not possible with the current COVID-19 restrictions, which left Yorkton Paper Bag Players looking at how they could stay in the public eye.
“Not having our yearly show was a loss in revenues,” said group member Kelly Kacsmar, who added that left the group looking into options.
“We were kind of forced to do something creative,” he continued.
That process had Kacsmar reflecting on the radio shows of the 1940s with “people listening and kind of imagining it (the stories) in their minds.”
The thoughts evolved into the idea of the group doing a show that is essentially a radio production people will be able to access online.
The show they chose is ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ a show based on the film starring Jimmy Stewart.
“I think it’s a very under-rated holiday classic,” said Kacsmar, who is directing and acting in the show, adding at only 29, “I didn’t know a lot about it but it’s come to be a very wholesome Christmas classic in my mind.”
“It’s a homage to those nice family moments (of the past),” said Kacsmar.
For Paper Bag Players it is also an opportunity “to try something new and hopefully get back out in the community,” added Kacsmar.
Among local performers the idea has been met with much enthusiasm. Where typically the group might get a half dozen actors auditioning for roles, for the radio play they have 22.
Kacsmar noted that it is good they have more actors as there are 63 voice roles in the production, so some will be playing multiple people.
Kacsmar said it helps that performers don’t have to be on stage in front of a live audience.
“I think for some people it’s a great opportunity to put themselves out there,” he said, with less pressure. “It’s a chance for them to dip their toes in the world of community theatre.”
There is even less pressure in terms of learning lines, as actors can have the script in front of them, which Kacsmar said really allows actors to focus of creating a character’s persona.
Mix in music and sound effects and the production should be great seasonal fare.
The play will be available online Dec 18, 19 and 20, from 6 p.m.to 10 p.m. daily, the limited times to listen related to the licensing of the play.
People can simply go to www.paperbagplayers.comto register, and they will then be sent a password by email to tune in to a performance.
And, since the show is supposed to mimic the old radio shows. Kacsmar said they hope to raise a little money too, as they are selling advertising spots to interested businesses.
