Theater troupe presents ‘War of the Worlds’,
JEFFERSON, Texas — A classic radio program that terrified listeners in 1938 will receive radio play treatment when the Opera House Theatre Players present “War of the Worlds” this Friday and Saturday.
The original Columbia Broadcasting System airing, which was presented by Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre on the Air colleagues Halloween night so many decades ago, was based on the novel by H.G. Wells.
During the broadcast, the radio show gave a play-by-play account of Martians invading Earth, including Grover’s Mill, New Jersey, where much of the scary action takes place. At the time, Welles was a young actor and writer before achieving fame with movies like “Citizen Kane.”
The radio play will include sound effects and vintage commercials with actors playing various roles. Keith Lack will direct the performance, which starts at 8 p.m. both nights (doors open at 7:30 p.m.) at Enoch’s Wine & Coffee downtown.
Reconfigured seating means they can allow for more seats to be filled at the venue. COVID restrictions mean seating is limited, though.
As of earlier this week, tickets were available for both nights with a possible Sunday afternoon show to be added. Tickets include dessert. Wine and other beverages will be available for purchase.
Lack, who brings stage and screen experience to his work on this production, will also play the role of Orson Welles. Joining him in the cast are Bob Hinckley, Andrew Dickson, Joe Todaro, Joe Warblaw and Marcia Thomas, who is also the theater troupe’s president. Shari Lack, Jane Maddox and Fay Warblaw also help in the production.
They’re working with the original script of the 1938 radio event, Thomas said.
“I think what happened is that people began to listen to it — because people were listening to radio those days very much like they watch TV now — they heard all this going on, and actors were so doggone convincing they were certain that the
Martians were in Grover’s Mill, New Jersey. They got into a panic about it, quite a few people did. It was a huge hoax,” Thomas said.
But it was also one of the most successful events in radio history, she said, and launched Welles’s career.
While they have a small area to work in at Enoch’s, they’ll make use of it with tables fitting four to six people. Mask wearing will be optional, but not required. They’ll perform making manual sound effects, along with lighting and microphones.
“It’s going to be as much or as close to a radio studio thing that we can possibly get,” Thomas said.
About the original H.G. Wells novel, which dates from the late 19th century, she said, “He had this brainstorm idea that he wanted to kind of pose a question: What would happen to people if they were faced with an alien being and trying to take over the world”?
As she puts it, the author Wells had quite a vision for science fiction. As of early this week, Thomas said they were still considering adding a Sunday show. Tickets would be available for it at the website, just like the currently scheduled shows.