By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – The renovated Sphere Entertainment Complex provides a realistic setting for the Irish Classical Theatre's current production of "The 1940's Radio Hour." The production marks the one year anniversary since the Sphere was remodeling to recapture the old Town Casino atmosphere.
The play's premise is that of a 1940's second rate, radio station variety show. But those walking into the room might feel as though they were actually stepping back in time. It's difficult to tell where the stage ends amid the Sphere's shimmering tinsel and velvet drapes, cabaret tables and nightclub lights. Club owners Joe Guagliardo and Mike Slyder planned it that way. They wanted to bring the building back to its former glory days as the Town Casino. But Slyder says recapturing the look and feel wasn't easy.
The featured crooner "The 1940's Radio Hour" is a character named Johnny Cantone. But the voice is one jazz fans everywhere know is Michael Civisca. The smooth toned Civisca has been compared to Frank Sinatra, who sang at the Town Casino. So, Civisca was a natural opener for the Sphere when it debuted last year. And that's why Slyder says he was quick to recommend Civisca to the ICT for the part of Cantone. But Civisca says it took him a little while to figure out his role in the production.
One of the big surprises was what a terrific actor Civisca turned out to be. Civisca says, in developing Johhny Cantone's character, he just tried to imagine what a child of Jackie Gleason and Dean Martin would be like. Don't laugh. It works. But Civisca says mostly it works because he understands the era.
But the nostalgia bringing audiences to "The 1940's Radio Hour" -- and to the Sphere -- seems to be about more than just great music. Director Greg Natale says the play's story is centered around the old radio variety shows that were aired to help families and soldiers get through World War Two. Natale says the room itself, with it's 40s style decor and atmosphere, creates a surreal, but ideal setting for the actors.
If you'd like to relive some old memories, or create some new ones, "The 1940's Radio Hour" will be "on air" at the Sphere until October 5th.
Click the "listen" icon above to hear Joyce Kryszak's report on the play.