Mercury Summer Theatre (1946) - a review

The Mercury Theatre is well known. Even aside from The War of the Worlds, we know that the original team of actors (Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead, Everett Sloane, Vincent Price, Dolores del Rio, among others)  was much celebrated on stage, in film and of course, on radio.

By 1946, the stock company was full of decent, but unknown actors, aside from Welles. The Mercury Summer Theatre's productions are all centerpieces for Welles and he does not disappoint. After all, Welles is Welles and one need not say much else. He could be anything he wanted and was. In the Mercury Summer Theatre, he takes the lead in every story except one - and that's a story about him.

Welles is a dynamic theatrical force (and otherwise) and I'm convinced you will like the snthology as much as I did. While there are many plays dealing with romance, Welles even makes those quite easy to listen to. (If it sounds like I have a man-crush on Welles, it's because I simply admire him.)

There are adventure stories too, many you may know (Around the World in 80 Days, Man From Bali, etc.) and these too are handled perfectly. Welles' direction and acting are in top form.

The sound quality is good. I'm going to give 1946's Mercury Summer Theatre 4 ½ stars.

©Jimbo 2010/2011