By Lucia Aguilar-Gomez
A WONDERFUL PRODUCTION OF A WONDERFUL LIFE
THIS musical stage adaptation of It's A Wonderful Life, directed by Peter Rowe, opened the New Wolsey's autumn season.
The much-loved movie, dating from 1946, is an endearing story full of hope and optimism and cherished as a Christmas classic.
From the opening the audience are lulled into the nostalgic feeling of Christmas with atmospheric musical bells, twinkling stars, snow and the
presence of an angel.
The set is simple and effective and clever stage effects are used to convey various parts of the story imaginatively
Transitions between scenes are seam- less, allowing good pace to be maintained throughout the very slick performance.
Steve Brown, composer and co-writer, has sympathetically used music to heighten the emotion of the dialogue and there are some brilliant comic elements to the lyrics.
Dancing cleverly arises out of the con- text of the story and is not an intrusive bolt-on. One highlight for me was the Charleston number.
The cast of 17, with seven additional children, gave a sterling performance and the entire ensemble was faultless.
Paul Thornley, who plays George, captured the character wonderfully He and the cast deservedly received a standing ovation.
The production did indeed capture the warm, cosy, feel-good factor of the film and encapsulates the essence of America through the 1920s to the 1940s.
A great story is enhanced with intelligent direction, staging and excellent performances.
It's A Wonderful Life really is a wonderful production.