Curtain Call
'Wonderful’ retelling of Capra holiday gem
By LEE CLARK ZUMPE
| Article published on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 |
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| Christopher Swan stars in “This Wonderful Life” at American Stage Theatre in St. Petersburg through Dec. 27. |
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American Stage Theatre Company presents a new adaptation of a holiday classic with “This Wonderful Life,” running through Dec. 27 at Raymond James Theatre, 163 Third St., St. Petersburg.
Performances are Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Matinees are Saturday and Sunday, 3 p.m. There will be no performances on Nov. 26 and Dec. 25. There will be no matinee on Friday, Nov. 27. Tickets range from $26 to $45. Call 823-7529 or visit americanstage.org.
“This Wonderful Life,” written by Steve Murray and conceived by Mark Setlock, brings to the stage an abbreviated version of Frank Capra’s 1946 film “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
The adaptation stars Christopher Swan, last seen in American Stage Theatre’s production of “Moonlight and Magnolias” as Victor Fleming. This time around, Swan has more than a dozen characters to juggle as he condenses the timeless tale.
First, a few words about the source material. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is one of those inescapably essential masterpieces of Hollywood’s golden era.
Undeniably schmaltzy and fraught with plenty of clichés, the film is nonetheless as enduring as it is adored. It has become a mainstay of annual holiday programming and viewing it with family and friends for many is a seasonal tradition.
Set in Bedford Falls after the end of World War II, the film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, Donna Reed as Mary Hatch Bailey, Lionel Barrymore as Henry F. Potter and Henry Travers as Clarence Odbody.
Swan opens with a humorous, staccato-style rendition, summarizing the movie in string of disjointed – though recognizable – quotes, delivered in no more than a minute. He takes a bow, pretending to exit, only to return and kick off the actual adaptation a moment later. The tale opens as George Bailey’s impending suicide draws the attention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody.
Much of the story is told in flashbacks, as Swan illustrates the chain of events that led to Bailey’s perceived downfall.
Since “This Wonderful Life” fundamentally recreates the film, with Swan doing spot-on impersonations of Stewart’s Bailey and Barrymore’s Potter along with the other characters, one might wonder what the appeal of this theatrical version might be. First, Swan nimbly infuses observations throughout the narrative. For instance, he artfully comments on the film’s relevance by drawing comparisons between the Great Depression and the present economic slump. He even suggests a striking similarity between Potter and a recent vice president.
In addition to the inclusion of subtle verbal annotations, the allure of “This Wonderful Life” is seeing this gifted actor depict such a wide range of diverse characters, male and female, in rapid succession. Swan captures each individual, rendering them through changes in tone or pitch or accent, and through a variety of physical manifestations which he has truly mastered. He gracefully glides from depicting benevolent George to crotchety Potter; from crestfallen Mr. Gower, the town’s pharmacist, to sassy Violet Bick, the town’s bad girl; and from the thankful Mr. Martini to the hopeful Odbody.
Once hooked, of course, audience members fall victim to the overriding charm of the Capra classic. It’s easy to forget that this is a one-man show at times, as the familiar scenes play out across the restrained set which is dominated by clever lighting and dusted by occasional snowfall.
Much more than an homage, the show evokes the spirit of the original while gently poking fun at its dated conventionality and platitudes – elements that make both the film and this retelling entertaining.
Together, American Stage, Swan and the ghost of Capra tap into the holiday spirit with this wonderful adaptation.
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Article published on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009
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