Arts In Review

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1. K 90.7 FM and streaming on the web at kpfk.org.
2. Yo, this is your brother's speech from the crew of Arrested Development.
3. You rocking with KPFK 90.7 Los Angeles.
4. And welcome to KPFK's Arts in Review.
5. This is your host, Julio Martinez, celebrating the best in live theater and cabaret in the greater Los Angeles area.
6. Today, the nation has a day off, anticipating the 4th of July this Saturday.
7. And for the next half hour, we have a special program for you.
8. So please stay tuned to Arts in Review.
9. Yes, this is your host, Julio Martinez.
10. And the world has gone through a series of international incidents as of late.
11. And since I have no guests today, I have decided to encore a 30-minute radio play produced by Arts and Reviews Repertory Theater, which premiered in 2016, recalling another time in U.S. history when we were dealing with some ominous events.
12. So, I welcome you to enjoy Churchill and Roosevelt at the White House.
13. There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover tomorrow.
14. Just you wait and see.
15. There'll be love.
16. The White Cliffs of Dover, sung by British star Vera Lynn, had been England's most popular song during World War II, which, since 1938, was being waged by Great Britain and her European allies against the formidable Axis alliance of Germany, Italy and Japan.
17. KPFK's Arts in Review Repertory Players presents
18. Churchill and Roosevelt at Christmas,
19. a radio drama recreation of the true events
20. that occurred following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
21. Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy.
22. The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan Hostilities exist There is no blinking
23. at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With
24. confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain
25. the inevitable triumph, so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the
26. unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan, a state of war has existed between the United
27. States and the Japanese Empire.
28. John?
29. Prime Minister?
30. You've heard Franklin's speech from America.
31. I am sure the whole world has heard it, sir.
32. Correct.
33. And I have decided to invite myself to Washington
34. to spend the Christmas holidays with Franklin and Eleanor.
35. I'm going to fortify England's most important alliance.
36. I'm drafting a letter immediately.
37. You will let the staff.
38. Our ship should be arriving on December 22nd.
39. Our plan is to stay for three weeks.
40. we could review the whole war plan
41. in light of reality
42. and new facts
43. you will be at sea
44. for over a week
45. the reports of U-boat
46. attacks have me
47. deeply concerned
48. for your safety
49. I have the most powerful navy in the world
50. to protect me
51. have no concerns
52. well then, delighted to have
53. you here at the White House
54. Delighted? I am not delighted.
55. When will he be here?
56. His cable stated he will be arriving the 22nd.
57. I don't understand your concern.
58. We have the room.
59. Franklin, there is a war on.
60. You declared it.
61. Winston will be arriving with his war cabinet
62. during the Christmas holidays.
63. We barely have enough staff to maintain ourselves.
64. I have Alonzo hire some more staff.
65. We'll all have a marvelous time, and Winston and I can get some important work done.
66. He will only be here for a few days.
67. Yes, Mrs. Roosevelt?
68. Alonzo, is your schedule clear this evening?
69. As of now, Mrs. Roosevelt, my daily detail will be completed at 6 p.m.
70. Oh, dear.
71. Alonzo, an important guest will be arriving at 7 o'clock.
72. The number in his party will be anywhere from 25 to 40 people.
73. And the name of this guest, Mrs. Roosevelt?
74. Oh, I'm sure you will recognize him.
75. I'm trying to ascertain where to put his entourage.
76. I wish Franklin had told me.
77. He said a few people for a few days.
78. I have just learned that we will be hosting his war cabinet for three weeks.
79. I am depending on you to see to the Prime Minister's needs personally.
80. Prime Minister?
81. Mrs. Roosevelt, are you informing me that I will be attending to the needs of...
82. Indeed.
83. Mr. Alonzo Fields, my pleasure to meet you, sir.
84. I am simple in my taste and do not wish to generate much fuss.
85. I must have a tumbler of sherry in my room before breakfast,
86. a couple of glasses of scotch and soda before lunch,
87. French champagne with every dinner,
88. and 90-year-old brandy before I go to sleep at night.
89. Before breakfast fruit orange juice a pot of tea then something hot and something cold For the hot and cold may I see just eggs toast bacon or ham and two cold meats with English mustard
90. Excellent. We will get along splendidly.
91. Were you of service to Franklin and Eleanor prior to the White House?
92. No, sir. I joined the White House staff in 1931 in service to President Herbert Hoover.
93. Ah, you are senior to us all. I am in good hands.
94. Hello, may I assist you?
95. My name is John Miller-Martin. I am...
96. You are Secretary to the Prime Minister.
97. Yes, indeed I am.
98. Right. I am Alice Hampton.
99. I assist Mrs. Roosevelt with White House conference scheduling.
100. That's why you are here.
101. Please, have a seat and we can get to it.
102. Miss Hampton, I will be able to get to it if you will allow me to complete a sentence.
103. Mr. Martin, my original holiday schedule as planned for the White House has been completely disrupted.
104. There are many things that need to be done.
105. I know your Prime Minister must have an agenda, so...
106. The Prime Minister's agenda is the war, Ms. Hampton.
107. Do you have a more important one to discuss?
108. Not more important, sir. Just as important.
109. Christmas!
110. Christmas?
111. The White House has been the nation's beacon for celebrating the Christmas season
112. ever since President Pierce installed the first Christmas tree in the White House in 1856.
113. President Roosevelt has made his annual radio broadcast during this season a national holiday tradition.
114. Mrs. Roosevelt and I have been planning...
115. Miss Hampton, the only reason you had a Christmas tree in the White House in 1856
116. is because Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria, introduced the tradition to Windsor Castle in 1840.
117. We have no intention of disturbing your holiday traditions.
118. Can't we organize a schedule where we celebrate the holidays and win the war?
119. So, Alice, can you tell me where everyone is at this moment?
120. Indeed. The Prime Minister is in a private conference with Lord Mountbatten in the Rose Room.
121. They will soon be joined by the rest of his war staff, about twenty, I believe.
122. I know about that. In the Monroe Room, he has hung up enormous maps to track the war effort.
123. But the Monroe Room is where you hold your press conferences.
124. My press conferences will be on temporary hiatus, I'm afraid.
125. Where is Franklin?
126. He is in the Oval Office, meeting with Admiral Leahy, Admiral King, and General Marshall.
127. Will anyone be joining us for dinner?
128. I believe the Prime Minister and the President plan to use the West Wing's small dining room for a quick dinner with a few of their key advisors.
129. Oh, my.
130. Well, then I suppose Winston and Franklin are going to settle in the Blue Room to discuss the war in private.
131. I hope the brandy is up to your usual standards, Winston.
132. Beyond reproach, sir, beyond reproach.
133. And the cigars.
134. La Roma de Cuba.
135. Hmm.
136. My staff has accused me of arranging this voyage just so I will have easier access to them.
137. I wish we could have met like this at happier times, my friend.
138. Aye, as well. The dispatchers from London tell a gloomy tale.
139. Germany and Italy are in control of Europe, from the English Channel to the Black Sea.
140. Hitler's army is besieging Leningrad.
141. Japan is sweeping through the Philippines and British Malaya.
142. The reports state Hong Kong will be forced to surrender in two days.
143. On Christmas Day?
144. Yes, on Christmas.
145. This makes the meeting between us doubly important The Allies need an immediate morale boost and a long plan to reverse the tide of fascism They do indeed More brandy sir I believe I will Alonso it is 2 a Are they still conversing
146. Yes, Mrs. Roosevelt.
147. They are amply supplied with brandy and cigars.
148. I am astonished that anyone could smoke so much and drink so much and keep so perfectly well.
149. Yes, yes, who is it?
150. Excuse the interruption, gentlemen, but it is 2 a.m.
151. I felt compelled to remind you, Franklin, that tomorrow is Christmas Eve.
152. We have a staff party in the early afternoon.
153. Then you have to prepare for the annual White House Christmas tree lighting.
154. It has been moved from Lafayette Park to the White House's South Portico out of wartime caution.
155. Of course, my dear.
156. Winston, can you join us at the ceremony?
157. I would be honored, sir.
158. Well, let us trot off to our slumber.
159. Good night, then.
160. Alonzo, will you bring the brandy?
161. Indeed, sir.
162. Well, Miss Hampton, the Roosevelt's Christmas Eve party for the staff this afternoon was quite a treat.
163. Thank you for inviting me.
164. And this is quite a gathering.
165. Yes, we have 500 children with their parents on the lawn.
166. The Secret Service informed me that there are 15,000 onlookers gathered beyond the fence.
167. Oh, the President is about to speak.
168. And now, for the ninth time, I light the living community Christmas tree of the nation's capital.
169. Fellow workers for freedom, there are many sincere and faithful men and women in America
170. who are asking themselves this Christmas,
171. How can we light our tree? How can we give our gifts? How can we meet and worship with love and with uplifted spirit and heart in a world at war, a world of fighting and suffering and death?
172. how can we pause even for a day
173. even for Christmas day
174. in our urgent labor of arming a decent humanity
175. against the enemies which beset us
176. how can we put the world aside
177. as men and women put the world aside
178. in peaceful years to rejoice in the birth of Christ
179. these are natural inevitable questions
180. in every part of the world
181. which is resisting the evil thing.
182. But even as we ask these questions, we know the answer.
183. There is another preparation demanded of this nation
184. beyond and beside the preparations of weapons and materials of war.
185. There is demanded also of us the preparation of our hearts,
186. the arming of our hearts,
187. and when we make ready our hearts for the labor and the suffering and the ultimate victory which lie ahead,
188. then we observe Christmas Day with all its memories and all its meanings as we should.
189. It is in that spirit, with particular thoughtfulness of those our sons and brothers
190. who serve in our armed forces on land and sea, near and far,
191. that we light our Christmas candles now across the continent
192. from one coast to the other on this Christmas Eve.
193. We have joined with many other nations in a very great cause.
194. So I am asking my associate, my old and good friend, to say a word to the people of America.
195. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain.
196. It was a very welcoming sight, seeing the Trudyette.
197. Your President Roosevelt gave a marvelous speech.
198. He always does.
199. Ah, the Prime Minister is about to address the onlookers.
200. Fellow workers, I have the honor to add a pendant to the necklace of Christmas goodwill and kindliness,
201. which my illustrious friend, the President, has encircled the homes and families of the United States.
202. I spend this anniversary and festival far from my country, far from my family,
203. yet I cannot truthfully say that I feel far from home.
204. This is a strange Christmas Eve.
205. Almost the whole world is locked in a deadly struggle.
206. Armed with the most terrible weapons which science can devise,
207. the nations advance upon each other.
208. Here then, for one night only,
209. each home throughout the English-speaking world
210. world should be a brightly lighted island of happiness and peace. Let the children have their
211. night of fun and laughter. Let the gifts of Father Christmas delight their play. Let us grown-ups
212. share to the fool in their unstinted pleasure before we turn again to the stern task
213. and the formidable years that lie before us.
214. Resolve that by our sacrifice and daring,
215. these same children shall not be robbed of their inheritance
216. or denied their right to live in a free and decent world.
217. And so, in God's mercy,
218. a happy Christmas to you all.
219. Well, Miss Hampton, I believe Christmas Eve was quite a triumph.
220. May we coordinate activities on Christmas Day?
221. I do believe Mrs. Roosevelt has invited your Prime Minister
222. to attend a Christmas Day service with the President at St. Thomas Church.
223. Yes, but I am afraid afterwards the Prime Minister will spend most of Christmas Day
224. working on the speech he will deliver the next day to a joint session of Congress.
225. He is a bit nervous about it.
226. Well, it will be a rather solitary Christmas Day for the President and Mrs. Roosevelt as well.
227. The Roosevelt boys, Jimmy, Elliot, Franklin Jr. and John, are all in the service, and their daughter, Anna, is in Seattle with her family.
228. I know how they must feel.
229. Well, I do wish you a happy and merry Christmas, Miss Hampton.
230. You are away from your home as well.
231. I would be pleased if you addressed me as Alice, rather than Miss Hampton.
232. And may I wish you a happy Christmas, John.
233. I do thank you indeed, Alice.
234. Sir, may I get you something?
235. Oh, Alonzo. I'm fine, thank you.
236. I've been toiling over my speech to your Congress tomorrow.
237. I thought I would stretch my legs a bit.
238. I believe I'm feeling a bit out of place here on this Christmas Day.
239. The President and Mrs. Roosevelt are likely busy celebrating.
240. This will be the first time their family will not be with them on Christmas.
241. They are having a quiet evening in the Oval Office's private study
242. Well I wouldn want to intrude but do you think they would welcome some company I believe you would be most welcome sir
243. Miss Ham... I mean, Alice.
244. I just received a call from Prime Minister Churchill asking me to join him in the Oval Office.
245. Do you know anything?
246. Well, Mrs. Roosevelt called and asked me to join them as well.
247. Miss Hampton and Mr. Martin,
248. The President, Mrs. Roosevelt, and the Prime Minister would like you to join them in the private study.
249. Welcome. Happy you could join us.
250. I hope we are not intruding on your Christmas Day celebrations.
251. I am here to be of service to you, Mrs. Roosevelt.
252. How can we be of help?
253. You can help mightily by joining us in a Christmas reading.
254. Do I have that right, Eleanor?
255. Right indeed, Winston.
256. Every Christmas Day, Franklin, our children, and I have had a reading of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
257. This is the first year we've been alone.
258. Franklin and I were going to continue the tradition by ourselves,
259. but Winston is here and suggested the three of you join us.
260. Three? You want me to join in the reading?
261. Of course, Alonzo. You've been here at the White House the longest.
262. Since we have a new ensemble of readers, we have decided to do something quite new.
263. Winston has come up with a marvelous suggestion.
264. My mother was born in America.
265. Her favorite poet was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
266. She told me this poem was written during the Civil War
267. when his son Charlie was wounded while fighting for the Union.
268. When I was a child, she would read the poem to us every Christmas.
269. When my brother and I became old enough, we joined her.
270. It seemed quite appropriate for this Christmas.
271. Winston had his copy.
272. And we secured two more copies from the library.
273. We can read in teams of two, Eleanor and I.
274. Unless you read with John.
275. Alonzo and I will complete the ensemble.
276. You want me to read with you?
277. Of course, my man. We are a team.
278. I will start.
279. Christmas Bells by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
280. I heard the bells on Christmas Day,
281. their old familiar carols play,
282. and wild and sweet the words repeat
283. of peace on earth, goodwill to men.
284. And thought how, as the day had come,
285. the belfries of all Christendom had rolled along,
286. the unbroken song of peace on earth,
287. Goodwill to men
288. Till ringing singing on its way
289. The world revolved from night to day
290. A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
291. Of peace on earth, goodwill to men
292. Then from each black accursed mouth
293. The cannon thundered in the south
294. And with the sound the carols drowned
295. Of peace on earth, goodwill to men
296. It was as if an earthquake rent
297. The hearthstones of a continent
298. and made forlorn the households born
299. of peace on earth, goodwill to men.
300. And in despair I bowed my head.
301. There is no peace on earth, I said,
302. for hate is strong and mocks the song
303. of peace on earth, goodwill to men.
304. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep.
305. God is not dead, nor doth he sleep.
306. The wrong shall fail.
307. The right prevail.
308. With peace on earth.
309. Goodwill to men.
310. That was lovely.
311. A wonderful conclusion to this celebration.
312. Thank you.
313. You have restored the Christmas of my youth to these aging bones.
314. Well, Winston, are you prepared to face our Congress tomorrow?
315. Ready and quite able, sir.
316. Alonzo did you listen to my speech to Congress today Yes sir The entire White House staff was listening Thank you Thank you Most kind indeed
317. Sir, may I ask you a personal question?
318. Yes, sir. If I can be of assistance.
319. I must say I was a bit overwhelmed by the tumultuous reception I received from the members of your Congress.
320. Do they treat all foreign visitors this way?
321. You spoke before a joint gathering of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, sir.
322. I believe they were overjoyed that the two leaders of the free world are in accord during this time of war.
323. And you did give an inspiring speech, sir.
324. Thank you. That is most gracious of you.
325. May I bring you your afternoon scotch and soda, sir?
326. Yes. Yes, indeed.
327. Thank you for everything.
328. Wonderful speech, sir. You really won them over.
329. Thank you. Do you know if the President has made plans for the evening?
330. He has, sir. You have been invited to join the President and Mrs. Roosevelt in the viewing of a new film from Hollywood.
331. You will also be joined by the Canadian Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Mackenzie King.
332. Splendid. Do you know what film we'll be seeing?
333. I do not, sir, but I have been told it stars Humphrey Bogart playing a detective.
334. You seem to enjoy yourself, Winston.
335. Indeed.
336. Particularly the ending during which Humphrey Bogart's Sam Spade gives up the fend that Ali loves to the police.
337. It reminded me of a sad case I'd overseen as British Home Secretary.
338. First rate movie. First rate.
339. On New Year's Day 1942, Roosevelt and Churchill visited Mount Vernon to lay a wreath on George Washington's tomb.
340. That night, they gathered in the President's study with diplomats from several allied countries to sign a joint declaration
341. that they would fight the Axis powers together and that none would negotiate a separate peace.
342. The pact included a historic new phrase.
343. At Roosevelt's suggestion, it was called a Declaration by the United Nations.
344. Roosevelt hit upon the name that morning
345. and wheeled himself to Churchill's suite unannounced
346. to run it by the Prime Minister.
347. I was standing there, setting out the Prime Minister's attire.
348. The President hurriedly asked me to open the door.
349. I did, revealing His Excellency standing naked on the bathroom mat.
350. Oh, don't mind me.
351. The Prime Minister's three-week visit proved fruitful for the war effort.
352. Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt agreed on several strategies
353. that would end up making a difference for the Allies.
354. Churchill learned to his relief that despite Americans' impatience for revenge against the Japanese, Roosevelt still intended to defeat Germany first.
355. They also agreed to invade North Africa later in 1942, a move that proved an effective prelude to the Allied landings in Italy and France.
356. At my insistence, Churchill agreed that a single command center in Washington
357. and supreme Allied commanders in Europe and Asia would coordinate the war effort.
358. The agreement deeply upset British military leaders,
359. but I headed off criticism by telegraphing to Attlee, the acting Prime Minister in my absence,
360. to consider it done.
361. Prime Minister Churchill left for England on January 14th, 1942.
362. you. President Roosevelt in the now quiet White House found he missed Winston's company. He showed
363. me a message just before he sent it off to London It read it is fun to be in the same decade with you
364. The Arts in Review Repertory Players presentation
365. of Churchill and Roosevelt at Christmas
366. is the tenth in an annual series of original radio dramas
367. broadcast nationally over the Pacifica Radio Network.
368. written by Julio Martinez, directed by Irene Aranga,
369. and edited by Federico Garcia.
370. The production was performed by Richard Heft
371. as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
372. Richard M. Johnson as Prime Minister Winston Churchill,
373. and Lauren Lewis as Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt.
374. Linnea Lou Dakin played Alice,
375. and Colin Kirkland portrayed John Martin.
376. The role of Alonzo Fields was played by John Sweet.
377. I am your narrator, Gigi Perrault.
378. The members of the Arts in Review Repertory Players
379. and the entire Pacifico Radio Network family
380. wish you a blessed holiday season
381. and a gracious and prosperous new year.
382. There'll be bluebirds over the...
383. I'm hoping you enjoyed this re-airing of a radio play
384. we did many years ago.
385. I want you all to please stay tuned to Pacifica Performance Showcase,
386. produced and hosted by my producer, Donna Walker.
387. Her guests are James Curtis on his book, Comedy is a Grim Business,
388. the making of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
389. This is Julio Martinez wishing you all a great Fourth of July,
390. and I'll be back next week.
391. Thank you, and thanks to my engineer, Osmond, and my producer, Donna Walker.
392. Take care. See you next week.
393. Coming up this week on L.A. TheatreWorks.
394. A teenage misfit is about to realize his greatest dream.
395. Explained by you should be my faithful factotum.
396. Because my whole life has been leading to this one moment.
397. But will the real world stand in his way?
398. Dr. Cerberus by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.
399. starring Simon Helberg, next time on L.A. TheatreWorks.
400. That's this Sunday evening from 10 p.m. until midnight.
401. L.A. TheatreWorks, right here on KPFK.
402. Hi, this is Halle Berry, and you're listening to KPFK 90.7 FM.
403. And welcome to Pacifica Performance Showcase,
404. arts and culture to enlighten, enliven, and educate.
405. I'm your host, Donna Walker.
406. and I'm very excited today I am joined by