This year’s fall performance, led by students from the Gorham High School (GHS) Theatre, will be a little different this year due to continued restrictions from the coronavirus. Their performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” written by Philip Van Doren Stern and directed by Josie Tierney-Fife, teacher at GHS, will be streamed live on a Zoom webinar.

The live radio play, based in the 1930’s and 1940’s, will bring the culture of the time back during the performance and sound will be extremely important. Everything from style to attitude will shape the play.

The lead roles include: Freddie Filmore (Announcer, Potter, Sam, Ruth, and Mr. Martini), played by sophomore Andrew Goschke; Jake Laurents (George Bailey), played by senior Mason Hawkes; Sally Applewhite (Mary Hatch), played by sophomore Maddie Downey; Lana Sherwood (Violet), played by freshman Emma Smith; and Harry “Jazzbo” Heywood (Clarence), played by junior Annikka Mocciola.

Cast members will be seated in separate rooms and socially distanced from one another. Each student will have their own custom-made backdrop, setup, and will only be seen from the shoulders up. This year cast members will be required to set up by themselves whereas in previous years they would receive help with preparation.

“Everyone in the cast has their own responsibilities in the show, and being focused is the number one thing,” said Mocciola who plays Clarence.

Due to this year being different than previous years, there are a lot more challenges to overcome. These include Zoom not being able to pick up certain sounds, overlapping may or may not occur, and many physical movements cannot be done due to the Zoom performance. Instead, physical movements will be replaced by exaggerated facial expressions and vocals. 

“This year’s play has presented a lot of challenges, that personally, I never thought twice about during a normal year,” said Smith, who plays Violet.

However, there are a few advantages with not having to be in person, such as making sure the audience can hear, and entering and exiting the “stage.” Blocking (overall movements of the cast, i.e. walking, moving, jumping, etc.) may be easier too, in some cases, but has yet to be determined by the cast with the upcoming play.

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” is about George Bailey, who has many problems and is thinking about ending it all on Christmas day. As the angels discuss George, we see his life in flashbacks. As George is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence, who then shows George what his town would have looked like if it had not been for all his good deeds over the years.

The play will be live-streamed on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 15 at 2 p.m. Access to the performance link is $5 for students and $10 for adults. To reserve, email ghstheater@gorhamschools.org.