Production: It’s a Wonderful Life

Company:  Arts Club Theatre Company

Playwright:  Philip Grecian

Actors:  Todd Talbot, Jennifer Lines, Kyle Jespersen, Eric Keenleyside, Erla Faye Forsyth, Bernard Cuffling, Brian Linds, Beatrice Zeilinger, Sasa Brown, Kevin McNulty, Peter Anderson

Theatre:  Granville Island Stage

Run:  November 20 – January 3

Reviewed by Melanie Shim (Vancouver Correspondent)

Oh baby, it’s really cold outside.  I stepped out of my car yesterday morning and the Vancouver winter weather hit me like a brick.  Every year, I seem to forget about how fast the temperature can drop within a couple of weeks (there is still no snow yet, which is a godsend).  But, there is a cure for those annoyed with the cold; the Arts Club Theatre Company proudly presents It’s a Wonderful Life, warming the hearts of those who are the grumpiest of Scrooges.

Back by popular demand, It’s a Wonderful Life is the classic story of a man, monetarily poor, but wealthy beyond belief with family, friends and love.  Initially, this man, George Bailey, had every intention of leaving his one Starbucks town to go to college and then travel the world.  Ambitious and enthusiastic, Bailey could not wait to leave the small town life, for more of a big town experience.  An unfortunate accident occurs, and Bailey – who is always doing things for other people – will perhaps never leave his hometown of Bedford Falls.

There cannot be enough praise for It’s a Wonderful Life.  Superb and amazing, the production would be an excellent staple for the Arts Club every Christmas season.  The story is simplistic, but so incredibly effective.  More than just a “Christmas play”, It’s a Wonderful Life explores the tensions, and the consequences, or doing what we want and doing what is right.  Adapted by Philip Grecian for the stage from the famous Frank Capra film, this production successfully evokes all of the right emotions and sentiments; I can see why the Arts Club would bring the production back again this year.

Tremendously well directed by Dean Paul Gibson, It’s a Wonderful Life is a simple tale of love, loss and everything in between, where the little things become much more significant.  These small details help flat characters become much more than that; the characters are authentic, genuine and very real.  Todd Talbot as George Bailey instantly charms the audience as his first words leave his mouth; charismatic and captivating, Talbot fuses the right amount of enthusiasm and desperation in his performance.  And as his on stage significant other, Jennifer Lines is also earnest with a heart full of love.  Both actors have fabulous chemistry and play off of each other well.  Another great casting choice is Bernard Cuffling, who plays Clarence, an angel in the process of receiving his wings.  Most recently seen in the Arts Club’s production of The History Boys, Cuffling plays the slightly bumbling, but kind-hearted angel-in-training with a healthy dose of comic relief.

And as the obligatory villain Henry Potter, Kevin McNulty does a fine job at making the audience hating his character until they actually feel pity for his lack of love, a heart, and perhaps even a soul.  Providing a nice foil to the George Bailey character, McNulty is miserable and cranky, to my very delight.  His right-hand man Rieneman, played by Peter Anderson, was equally slimy.  Anderson also plays Gowar, the (drunken or sober) pharmacist young George Bailey works for.

The children are also exceptionally talented.  Each held his or her own against the more experienced actors, and their professionalism shows.  I sometimes scoff at child actors (more out of an envy of such talent), but I was truly impressed with their hard work and dedication.  The children added an extra dimension in re-creating this imaginary world.

The other grown-up actors also added to this extra dimension.  Beatrice Zeilinger, as the spunky secretary Tilly and Sasa Brown as Violet Black, the spunky town girl create supporting characters that take control of every scene they are in.  And Erla Faye Forsyth is simply splendid as wise Mother Bailey.  Both Kyle Jespersen and Eric Keenleyside, as the sweet younger brother Harry Bailey and as the gruff-voiced Bert, respectively, also play various supporting roles, making them two of the busiest actors in the production.

Further, the sets and other stage props should not go unnoticed.  Incorporating parts of the Frank Capra film, with moving set pieces, voiceovers, music and appropriate costumes, It’s a Wonderful Life created a very realistic world within the confines of the theatre stage.  Creative and imaginative, the production was all someone could ever ask for to get themselves into the Christmas spirit.

In the end, I felt that swelling of my heart; perfect for this winter season, It’s a Wonderful Life, left me grateful and appreciative of the things I possess and indifferent of the material goods I felt compelled to want.  Even through the rain and cold of Vancouver’s wintry weather, I felt my heart warm up and its strings being pulled.  A beautiful production with excellent actors and great sets, It’s a Wonderful Life hopes to warm your heart and to pull on your heartstrings.  I say, allow it to transport you to how its wonderful life and don’t forget the tissues.  And every time you hear a bell rings, remember, that an angel is getting its wings.