'War of the Worlds'

The Bigfork Community Players are presenting H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds,” but this time the attack is closer to home.

H.G. Wells wrote the classic tale of alien invasion in the final years of the 19th century. The story got a significant boost in popularity when Orson Welles broadcast a radio script, written by Howard Koch, on Halloween of 1939. Since then the story has served as a prototype for movies and shows about alien invasion, including the recent remake of the original story starring Tom Cruise.

The Players started with a script written by local writer David Vale. Vale envisioned what it might be like behind the scenes of radio broadcast in the current day. And rather than tell the story from a London or New Jersey perspective, he centered the action here in the Flathead Valley. Local radio personality and KGEZ station owner John Hendricks features prominently in the script and plays himself in the production.

“Although it’s a new script, it starts off a lot like the broadcast hosted by Orson Welles,” Hendricks said. “But our studio audience will learn quickly that its not simply a radio show, but a play about a radio show.”

Michele Shapero is directing the production.

“A real radio show is intended to be heard rather than seen,” Shapero said. “The characters are played by actors at microphones and the sound effects are either recorded or created by mechanical means using Foley equipment. In this show, a play intended to be seen as well as heard, a certain reality is provided for the audience.

“For example, when video coverage comes in from the field, the radio audience will just hear it. But the studio audience will see and we hope react to the video footage, their reaction becoming part of the radio broadcast.”

George Kappes plays the president in the production.

“The president is not named in the script, but he feels a lot like Donald Trump to me,” Kappes said. “Maybe it’s the reference to the ‘Little Rocketmen.’ Maybe it’s the blond wig.”

“At one point, the president weighs in with his thoughts on the alien attack,” Hendricks said. “While our radio listeners hear the voice of the president, the studio audience is treated to what looks like a live feed from the press room of the White House.”

The Bigfork Community Players and KGEZ have collaborated before. Last Christmas the Players performed Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at the theater and other venues as a live radio show. KGEZ then rebroadcast it several times on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

“We’re proud to reach the Flathead through the classic medium of radio,” Hendricks said. “And we really enjoy presenting these shows that harken back to the golden age of radio.”

In the final days before opening, the cast and crew are hard at work putting the finishing touches on the show.

“A radio show is easier than a play for the actors, since they don’t have to memorize lines,” Shapero said. “But the technical side, including sound effects and helping the listeners visualize what they can’t see, is more complicated. This production presents an effective compounding of the challenge. Since it’s a stage production, not everything can be read from a script. But since it still has to stand as a radio show, all the technical challenges remain.”

“It isn’t coincidence that we’re presenting this play in the Halloween season,” Shapero added. “During this time of year, it’s almost a tradition to have the heck scared out of you at a haunted house. But, for the crowd who’s too old to be frightened by ghosts, we offer the opportunity to be scared by invaders from Mars.”

“War of the Worlds” opens Friday, Oct. 20, and continues Oct. 21-22 and Oct. 27-29, in the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts, 526 Electric Ave. in Bigfork. Friday and Saturday performances will begin at 7:30, with Sunday matinées at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors/members/students and $5 for children younger than 12. Tickets are available at the door, at the Pocketstone Cafe and Bigfork Drug in Bigfork, and at the Grand Hotel in Kalispell.

For more information, call 406-518-1170 or visit http://www.bigforkcommunityplayers.com.