|
IT’S A TRULY “WONDERFUL LIFE” AT CRIGHTON
By
DAVID DOW BENTLEY III
“The
People’s Critic”
(Conroe COURIER 11.30.03 Woodlands VILLAGER
12.04.03) When the beaming director, Becky
Teague, took to the Crighton Theatre stage to introduce the current
production of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” it was easy to see she was
describing a labor of love. Ms. Teague not only directed the play,
she also wrote this original adaptation (based on the classic Frank
Capra film of the same name), and designed the attractive rotating
pop-out sets that would frame the story. I think Ms. Teague would do
well to try and publish the delightful script she created so that
other companies can follow the Crighton lead in spreading Christmas
cheer.
Even before the curtain went up, a
troupe of Carolers were on stage to delight the audience with songs
of the season that included a smooth and reverent “Silent Night,”
and a fine performance of the complex “Carol of the Bells.” They
would return with more familiar holiday tunes during the
intermission. Choral Director, Eddie Crowell, clearly did his
homework.
The talented cast brought to life
the many characters so familiar to fans of the heartwarming film and
its story of kindly George Bailey who gives up his own dreams to
save his family’s Building & Loan business, while helping his
neighbors outwit the conniving Mr. Potter. Talented Ken Williams has
the role of Bailey that was created by Jimmy Stewart in the movie.
With his rich, clear voice, Williams gives a touching performance.
Amazingly, he has the easy-going and likeable persona that we
associate with Mr. Stewart, while even resembling the star with his
tall, slender build and boyish good looks. But best of all is the
very natural way he fully embraces the caring, good-neighbor persona
of George Bailey throughout all the struggles he must confront. Most
of these emanate from the avaricious Potter, played with suitable
greed by Joe Viser. All the characters are arrayed in fine 1940’s
costumes from designer, Lynn Peverill.
Bailey’s sometimes cheerful and sometimes desolate
Uncle Billy, is delightfully played by Harley Dampier. Claire
Johnson brings patience and warm understanding to the character of
Bailey’s wife, Mary, while young Joshua Hillman and Anastasia
Caputo nicely portray the Bailey children. Tom Leroy is wonderful
as the angel, Clarence, sent to guide George back from the edge of
despair while showing him what the world would have been like if
he had never existed. It’s a lesson we all need to consider.
A
large and talented supporting cast supplies the townspeople who
learn the real meaning of community from George and later come to
his rescue in his time of trouble. The story’s moral is worth
repeating: “No man is a failure who has friends!”
Bentley’s columns, featured in newspapers
from the East Coast to the Gulf Coast, may be viewed on the website at
www.ThePeoplesCritic.com
while E-mail may be addressed to
ThePeoplesCritic@earthlink.net
|