New Wolsey Theatre

It's a Wonderful Life

The Sunday Times

By John Peter

4 Stars

The Stage

By Ben Sharratt

With its despised banker and background of economic volatility, there was rarely going to be a more apt moment to launch the world premiere musical stage adaptation of It's a Wonderful Life. The question was could the travails of honourable George Bailey be given musical life without cloying sentimentality ruining the show's rhythm?

Variety

By David Benedict

A New Wolsey Theater presentation in association with Avalon Promotions of a musical in two acts with music by Steve Brown, book and lyrics by Brown and Francis Matthews, based on the Republic Entertainment motion picture, inspired by Philip Van Doren Stern's short story "The Greatest Gift." Directed by Peter Rowe. Musical direction, Dane Preece.

reviewsgate.com

By Timothy Ramsden

... and it gets better with age.

The Daily Mail

Patrick Marmion

HOLLYWOOD COMES TO TOWN...sort of

It's A Wonderful Life (New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich)
Verdict: It's a wonderful show - 4 Stars

The Shawshank Redemption (Wyndham's Theatre, London)
Verdict: A stretch too far - 2 Stars

www.onesuffolk.co.uk">www.onesuffolk.co.uk

Paul Couch

When movie director Frank Capra produced his James Stewart vehicle in 1946, he could have had little notion of what a classic it would become.

Ipswich 24

By Wendy Cook

New musical World Premiere at New Wolsey, Ipswich

Review from James Wade

Student at East Bergholt High School

The play is set in the fictional town of Bedford Falls just after World War II. It sees George Bailey preparing for his suicide on Bedford Falls' bridge, when, personal angel ‘Ace' shows. He then tells his angel how he dreams of escape, and how every time he tries to escape he is grabbed back in to everyday Bedford Falls life. This is shown by his ‘unsung hero' attitude in the Bedford Falls community, until he wishes he was never born. He then sees his true place and impact on Bedford Falls with and without George Bailey.

Review from Lori Thurston

Student at East Bergholt High School

‘It's a Wonderful Life' set from the 1920's till the late 1940's in the small American town of Bedford Falls, is the story of George Bailey, whose ambitions had been shattered by the suffocating demands of his unfulfilling life, causing him to resort to suicide.

East Anglian Daily Times

By Lynne Mortimer

SHOW WAS WONDERFUL

Plays International

Basil Abbott

From cornball 1940s film to feel-good musical proves a journey well worth the taking.

The Evening Star

By Lucia Aguilar-Gomez

A WONDERFUL PRODUCTION OF A WONDERFUL LIFE

BBC Suffolk Online

By Jeff Allum

It's a Wonderful Life is often called a timeless classic and will almost certainly be found towards the top of 'all time greatest film' lists. But will it work as a musical?

The Evening Star