Thanks to The Company, those who miss the days when "It's a Wonderful Life" could be found airing on at least one channel 24/7 this time of the year can satisfy that craving.

The troupe is staging "Merry Christmas, George Bailey!" the 1947 radio version of "It's a Wonderful Life," complete with ads for Lux soap, which sponsored the original broadcast as part of the "Lux Radio Theater" anthology series.

It is being performed as a radio play, along with the entertaining ads for Lux (snappily delivered by Daniel Sparks). The cast appears in period-appropriate outfits, and the acting is done around a single old-fashioned microphone. When they aren't performing, the small cast sits off to one side, though they don't get much downtime: With the exception of Benji Reagan, who takes Jimmy Stewart's role as George Bailey (complete with a hint of Stewart's trademark cadence), each of the actors plays at least two substantial roles. The cast also provides the sounds of crowd scenes both chaotic and joyful, and Sarah Pais delivers a terrific impression of an angry dog. The actors also take turns creating the sound effects.

The script boils the movie down to essentials: Clarence (Gregory Hinojosa), a child-like angel who hasn't managed to win his wings, is sent to Earth to try to prevent George Bailey from killing himself after the latter decides, after a particularly bad day, that he's worth more dead than alive. Clarence is schooled on the important events of George's life ahead of time and uses that information to convince George that he has had a wonderful life, after all.

The actors make good use of the "live radio show" format, silently engaging in a little playful tomfoolery. There are also some opportunities for audience participation, guided by signs the actors hold up calling for applause or for the audience to make sounds like an angry mob.

The show, directed by Damian Gillen, sails along at a brisk pace, and makes for a thoroughly satisfying, frequently moving piece.

One quibble: The play isn't really long enough to require an intermission — it clocks in at less than 90 minutes with one — but it's hard to take much issue with a break that allows the audience one more chance to sample the bakery's goodies.

dlmartin@express-news.net

Final performances of "Merry Christmas, George Bailey!" can be seen at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday at Ruben's Bakery & Café, 14357 Blanco Road. Tickets cost $20 for dinner/show combos and $15 for the show alone in advance. Call (800) 838-3006 or visit thecompanytheatre.org to buy tickets.