When I see a show late in its run, or the run itself is short, I’ll take some time and provide a short take on the production…

It’s a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play – Spreckels Theatre Company, Rohnert Park

Pluses: source material, performances, live sound effects

Minuses: not really how a live radio broadcast was done

After a successful run last year, the Spreckels Theatre Company has remounted their production of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, albeit with a few changes. It runs in Rohnert Park through Dec. 14.

Nic Moore, Matt Farrell, and Rosie Frater return in their roles as radio actors doing a live radio broadcast of It’s a Wonderful Life. They are joined this year by Allison Lovelace, Gabe Adelman, and Janis Dunson Wilson. Adelman works the Foley table while Wilson provides live musical accompaniment.

Purists would note that the way live radio is portrayed here isn’t really how it would have been done. The actors would have been set in front of their microphones with scripts in hand, not running around the studio and getting as physically engaged as they do. Or that the musical accompaniment would have been provided by an organ player, not a piano.

But that would have made for dry theater, so playwright Joe Landry and director Jenny Hollingworth take their liberties. And that’s ok.

The source material still works, the cast delivers (though I wish there was a bit more vocal differentiation with the characters), and the Foley work is always interesting to see and hear, as are the period radio commerials.

See it before it closes? If you love the movie…

‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’ runs through December 14 in the Condiotti Theatre at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. Fri & Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $14 – $34. 707.588.3400. spreckelsonline.com

A Christmas Story: The Musical – 6th Street Playhouse, Santa Rosa

Pluses – key performances, choreography, sets, costumes

Minuses – length, sappy ending, sound issues

The Christmas gift that is A Christmas Story, the compact 94-minute movie that tells the story of Ralphie and his quest for an Official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle, has been transformed into a two-hour-and-thirty-minute overstuffed Christmas stocking of a musical. It’s running at Santa Rosa’s 6th Street Playhouse though Dec. 21.

The show has a large cast and director Laura Downing-Lee double-cast several of the younger roles. I attended a performance by the “Leg Lamp” cast (the other being the “Red Ryder” cast.) The adult performers work all shows.

Anthony Martin is well-cast as the Narrator. He even sounds like Jean Shepherd, the American storyteller on whose material the show is based. Nora Summers is quite touching as the ever-understanding mother, though her performance was undermined by a faulty microphone throughout the performance I attended. I found Garet Waterhouse’s “old man” a bit too gruff (even harsh) at times though he finds the right levels during the more comedic moments.

Max Williams did a fine job as Ralphie and has quite the singing voice. William Young was fun as his cupboard-hiding younger brother.

HarriettePearl Fugitt all but steals the show as Miss Shields, Ralphie’s teacher. Fugitt gives a solid comedic performance and leads the young cast in the rousing, Malia Abayon-choreographed tap dancing number “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!”

The book (by Joseph Robinette) and the music (by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul) lays the sentiment on a bit thick by the show’s conclusion. They should have had confidence in the source material and the audience, instead of spoon-feeding them theatrical pablum.

See it before it closes? If you love the movie…

‘A Christmas Story: The Musical’ runs through December 21 in the GK Hardt Theater at 6th Street Playhouse, 52 W. 6th Street, Santa Rosa. Thurs-Sat, 7:30pm; Sat & Sun, 2pm. $32-$56. 707.523.4185. 6thstreetplayhouse.com