| “This Is The Beginning Of A Beautiful Friendship” |
Casablanca - A Live Radio Play |
| Lighthouse Theatre & Pontardawe Arts Centre , Aberystwyth Arts Centre , November 23, 2025 |
Lighthouse Theatre returns with its seasonal format and tours all points Pwllheli to Newport by way of Aberystwyth, Newport, Blaengarw and elsewhere. The scene is an immaculately recreated studio for a live drama broadcast from the early era of radio. The date is an ominous Saturday night. It is 6th December 1941 on the East Coast, the location a specially made studio on Ellis Island. Although not mentioned the air force of Japan is in last preparation for its attack on Hawaii. From Europe refugees cluster in semi-security in the French colonial city of Casablanca. The Playhouse of the Air company dramatises its tale of high motives and low acts for WAFR Playhouse Radio. Bert Schultz (Ciaran Bailey) counts down the minutes to broadcast. Richard Nicholls, as Joseph T Mackenzie, steps forward to introduce the company of players. It is done with a swagger: Academy nominees and winners of awards feature. Others in the company are Astrid Lehmann (Llinos Daniel), Myrtle O'Hara (Sonia Beck), Maddie Finkelheim (Jennifer Ruth-Adams), Harry “Jazzbo” Meagher (Adrian Metcalfe.) Theodore “Slugger” Monroe (Michael Rodney) is a pugilist of fame and swings an arm of recognition to the audience. Nikolas Kozarev (Matt Ray Brown) is a leading classical actor in Central Europe, now another refugee in the United States. Ciaran Bailey sits stage left at his keyboard enclosed within two tables laden with items for sound effects. Drinks are poured, glasses chime, ice rattles in the preparation of cocktails, a roulette wheel spins. Fans are switched on for the escape by plane to Lisbon and the arrival of Major Strasser- Ciaran Bailey also does ze chermanic voice of ze nasty villain. The clicking of heels is done with two blocks of wood banged together. Strasser and his nemesis of freedom Viktor Laszlo are reminders of a dramatic verity. Characters of near unblemished virtue are not dramatically interesting; nor are their opposites. Roguery is more truthful- the most acclaimed production this season, below 14th November, even had “rogue” in its title. Moral compromises, shifting allegiances, actions that startle; these are the stuff of life after all. The scenes between Captain Renault and Rick are played with relish by Adrian Metcalfe and Richard Nicholls. This is commercial radio in 1941 and the dramatic action is interrupted with commercials for the sponsors. Genowski's Wonder Bread transforms a listless child into one eager to get outside. Frank's Front Loading Washing Machine is a wonder of assistance to burdened housewives. Maginot safety razors not only deal with bristles but offer a “welcome to eternal youth” as well as being “the shave the ladies crave.” The commercials are not just comic in themselves but show off singing of style in eight-part harmony. A song of tribute to Hawaii has the company adorned with flower garlands. There are a lot of accents skillfully deployed; Carl and Sam and Ilse and Rick and Yvonne are all from different countries. The voice skills are not just limited to human utterance. Adrian Metcalfe twice does an annoying fly. Scenes in the Blue Parrot are set with squawks from Matt Ray Brown. To which comes the reply “Oh, shut up” from Sonia Beck in her last line. The performance returns to an all-company reprise of “La Marseillaise” and a hailing of democracy. “Casablanca”, made in 1942, was a cheer of defiance against totalitarians. It is not 1942, nor will it be, but the ending of this entertaining evening strikes a note of seriousness. Offstage credits include director Joe Harmston, associate director Nancy Ellis, designer Sean Cavanagh, lighting designer Olivia Thomas. The music is composed by Kieran Bailey. “Casablanca - A Live Radio Play” continues to Ammanford, Pontardawe, Neath, Pwllheli, Bangor, Newtown, Blaengarw, Monmouth, Cardigan, Abergavenny, Newport and Swansea. |
Reviewed by: Adam Somerset |
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