By J.E. Ballantyne Jr.

For those old enough to remember – I just missed it – Saturday morning on the radio was a time to look forward to week after week. It was the time of the radio serials with such shows as “Lux Radio Theatre,” “CBS Radio Mystery Theater,” “Tales of the Texas Rangers,” and many more. Everyone would gather by the radio and be enthralled listening to an episode of their favorite radio show. Many times at the end of the broadcast you would hear something like, “join us next week for the conclusion of…” thus bringing you back next Saturday to find out what happened to the hero and villain (as if you didn’t already know.)

This fun, exciting and imaginative idea is the premise of “Episode 26,” which opened Friday night at YSU’s Spotlight Theatre. “Episode 26” is a brilliant send-up of the old radio serials of the ’40s and ’50s, particularly Flash Gordon. It tells the wild adventures of Buzz Gatecrasher, Hillen Dale, and Dr. Art Deco as they face interplanetary combat with Lord Vaknor, the ruler of Planet Darvon.

Presented in a live radio format, the set is the fictional radio studio of Gigavolt Productions – “the studio with distinction” – right out of the ’40s, complete with lighted “On the Air” and “Applause” signs done in appropriate fonts. The audience, watching the play also serves as the live studio audience. Two downstage period microphones on stands provide the area for most of the action. I say most, because much happens upstage of those mics to create sound effects in full view of the audience. As soon as you walk in, sit down, and look around, you know you are in for a fun evening.

The show begins with stage manager Samantha Cox addressing the audience to “prep” them for the “live” broadcast. She is so smooth with this, it is as if she came back from that long ago time period. Perched in the “studio” on a stool at a small podium and complete with an “I Like Ike” campaign button, she cues the audience throughout the show for various things as well as silent chats with actors between their “scenes.” Her energy is infectious.

She is far from the only person having fun, however. A cast of nine other actors play numerous crazy roles each throughout the entire adventure. Even though this is an ensemble show, there are three characters around which most of the action spins: Buzz Gatecrasher, Hillen Dale and Vaknor.

Despite his intrepid name, Gatecrasher is about as far away from your typical hero as the planet Neptune is from Earth. Played by Nick Figiel, Buzz is a combination of space explorer, bumbling hero, and sometimes reluctant love interest to Hillen Dale. Figiel plays all angles of the character with zeal.

Natalie Ciccone, a strong YSU talent in her third year, plays an energetic and sassy Hillen Dale. With great comedic timing along with tremendous facial reads, she locks the damsel in distress character in for the wild ride. Meanwhile, Lord Vaknor, played by Sam Nabring, provides us with a villain that is easy to laugh with and enjoy. He makes the most out of the contrived plot to be the Snidley Whiplash of space travel. He also doubles as the “radio announcer” doing the intros to the show’s two acts. He gives Vaknor a humorous moustache twisting quality.

Obligatory “dotty scientist” helping our heroic trio is Dr. Art Deco played by Chloe Camacho. Camacho complements the other players well as she bounces back and forth with other characters such as Komo and Palace Guard #1.

One of the high comedy actors of the evening was Owen Mills who portrayed Wide-Eyed Man, Worker, and Zugdish. He was particularly effective as Zugdish with a strong resemblance to Alex Karras’s character of Mongo in “Blazing Saddles” that fit the character perfectly.

Other actors who turned in strong performances were Anthony Mudryk as Arno, Mr. Gatecrasher, Palace Guard #2; Anna Airhart as Etherscope Operator and a Servant; Layla Munholand as Wallaneba and Scribe; and Karianne Rateno as Gara, Zargo, and Dave.

Now, keep in mind each actor also played the actor playing each of these roles. When not speaking, they are seen providing sound effects and engaging in their own comedic backstage antics in between their entrances.

The ensemble makeup of the show is what really makes it work. The audience gets a good appreciation for how live radio worked, from each actor doing various roles and character changes to all of the behind the scenes art that made radio what it was.

Todd Dicken can take great pride in a job well done with this outing. He also designed the authentic looking radio set. Not only does he give the audience a fun evening but he also gave his actors a look into an art form that was, for a time, the sole means of home entertainment prior to television. Thankfully, this type of radio entertainment is still available to this day via satellite radio.

Dicken has rehearsed his actors well. The dialogue is fast paced that flies rapidly from character to character. The company didn’t miss a beat from line to line as each character was there right on cue. This couldn’t have been an easy script to learn but this group made it look easy.

As usual, Katherine Garlick provides great costuming for the ensemble along with many and sundry additions here and there aided by Landon Eli in wardrobe. Lighting Designer Lex McCaughtry provides a suitable constant lighting design serving the purpose of a working studio.

Old radio was, and still is, great entertainment and great fun. Closing your eyes and listening to an old radio show, comedy or drama could transport you to wherever you wanted to go, with your mind painting all of the pictures of what you were hearing. You get to do that with this production – but keep your eyes open. You will miss way too much in this radio show if you don’t.

“Episode 26” will continue Feb. 14, 20, 21 at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 15, 22 at 2 p.m.

Pictured at top: The cast of “Episode 26” at University Theatre includes Natalie Ciccone, Sam Nabring and Nick Figiel.