Professor of Theatre James Brandon returns to the stage on Oct. 16 in the famous radio part of Professor Pierson in Orson Welles’ 1938 radio broadcast of “The War of the Worlds.”
Adapted from H. G. Wells’ novel, the original recording of “The War of the Worlds” was a 57-minute radio broadcast of a Martian invasion that panicked American listeners who did not catch actor Orson Welles’ opening remarks that the following broadcast was fictitious. That Halloween night, chaos ensued: traffic jams in cities, miscarriages, and people dashing to their cellars.
In the radio broadcast, Professor Pierson is the astronomer who accompanies a news crew to the site of the Martian landing to observe the aliens. In Jonesville’s Sauk Theater production, Brandon will play the part, which was first held by Welles himself in the original broadcast.
For Brandon, playing a radio personality is a favorite part.
“I love how a person can tell a story just with their voice to intrigue and motivate people,” he said. “Orson — he really knew how to use his voice. It’s so arrogant and so wonderful at the same time.”
Brandon explained that the story has intrigued him since he first watched the 1953 movie on a weekend afternoon when he was 10 or 11 years old.
“By that time I was already into reading about World War II and most of the weapons used in the movie were World War II weapons. Instead of the typical alien movie, I was fascinated that people were using the technology of their day to fight a tremendous power.”
Though Brandon likes to “shake off the rust” every five to six years and act, it was only through the urging of theatre graduate Kyra Moss ‘14 that he auditioned for the role. Meeting at the theatre department picnic in August, Moss told Brandon that she was auditioning for a part in “War of the Worlds” and that he must also.
Moss is thrilled with what Brandon brings to the show. Along with a booming baritone voice, she noted the “charged emotional tone” he brings to the stage.
Brandon also wowed the show’s director Mary Jean Dulmage at his audition and landed the part from among 17 other men.
“He was the easiest to cast,” Dulmage said, of her choice to cast Brandon. “The biggest reason is that his voice quality is just outstanding. By this point I had listened to the radio play at least 25 times. I shut my eyes when he was speaking and it transported me directly back to the radio show. I just got chills.”
Dulmage adds a twist to “War of the Worlds” by directing the show in two parts. Part one will follow the original radio broadcast where Brandon and fellow actors will remain on stage the whole time reading from their scripts.
Intrigued by how a Martian invasion in 2014 Hillsdale County would be communicated via today’s social media of Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube, Dulmage wrote part two as an “updated version.” The cast of part two is filming on green screens and the Youtube videos and instant Twitter feed will be shown to the audience on a large screen.
Excited for rehearsals to start, Brandon tried out his favorite Pierson line:
“As I set these notes on paper I am obsessed by the thoughts that I may be the last man on earth.”
Preview: October 16 at 8 p.m.
Performances: October 17, 18, 23-25 at 8 p.m. and October 19 and 26 at 3 p.m.
