Consider: This Wonderful Life is based on a perennially popular classic film, based on a heartwarming short story, and that the film has been adapted into a radio play, a regular stage play and a two-hander, and a musical comedy. Conclusion: As a one-man tour de force theater piece, it's a sure-fire audience pleaser. With a story of the power of family, friendship and good works, it brings true holiday warmth to the charming old Asolo. It also brings charismatic James Leaming doing 30-some roles in a sincere, enthusiastic and sometimes (to clear the treacly narrative when it threatens to bore a bit) tongue-in-cheek manner.
With such bare-bone props as a slanted chrome ladder, a table/desk with chair on casters, a doorway, another table, a makeshift phone, lighting is all important. In the starry sky, flames represent the ditsy angel Clarence and his Boss; there's snow when needed. Hotter slabs of cross-lighting back crusty, villainous miser Potter. Neutral lighting sets various locations in small town Bedford Falls and adapts to nights before a pool, a saloon and restaurant, hero George Bailey's big old house and his Savings & Loan. When Clarence shows the suicide-bent George how the place and its people would be if he had never lived, his world is indeed dark.
A preface setting out the facts and characters James Leaming will recreate seems superfluous for most who know the story, and not too enlightening for those who don't. But aside from that and some nearly tiresome narrative passages, Leaming keeps up interest in what happens by how he portrays it. He's especially good imitating the voices of James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Henry Travers (Clarence) and Sam Wainwright's hee-hawing.
Credit director Peter Amster not only for fine pacing but also for helping Leaming pull off George and Mary's fall into a pool as well as a spectacular dive into icy waters where George rescues Clarence, only to sled onstage shortly after he is actually saved by Clarence. Leaming is as full of life at the conclusion as at the beginning, just as a fine holiday show should be.
I think Frank Capra would have enjoyed this one, this way, at this place.
