Venue:
The Waterfront Theatre, 442 Cartwright Street, Granville Island
Dates: 6 December 2002 - 3 January 2003
Reviewer: Jane
Penistan
It's a Wonderful Life is the third musical to open in Vancouver
in the last few weeks and is a wonderfully happy production, designed
by Yvan Morissette. Directed by Chris McGregor this romantic musical is
set in the small town of Bedford Falls. The backdrop is a street in the
town, dominated on stage right by a water tower and on the left by a large
elevated bridge. Downstage right are a house front and a short wall which
recedes and reappears as occasion demands. Itai Erdal's lighting illuminates
or darkens the scene skillfully, always drawing attention to the relevant
portion of the set.
This is a traditional
musical with good and evil characters warring for success and a couple
who suffer the course of true love which "never did run smooth." All ends
happily by the intervention of a superhuman, in this case, a two centuries
old angel trying to earn his wings as a guardian angel.
Clarence Oddbody
(Tom Pickett), first appears in late-eighteenth century dress high on
the bridge, where he holds conversations with the disembodied voice of
a townsman of Bedford Falls, as he considers the scene below him. The
villain of the piece is the curmudgeonly, greedy Henry Potter, (Timothy
E. Brummund), assisted by his ghoulish servant, played by the talented
Jeff Gladstone, who is also a guitar player, percussionist and no mean
dancer.
The hero and "good guy" (Peter
Jorgensen) ultimately defeats the evil wiles of Henry Potter, gets the
delightful girl, Mary, (Heather Redmond) and leaves us all with renewed
faith in the compassion and endurance of the human spirit. Eli Boretsky
and Rachel Koffman are the children of succeeding families and part of
the spirited dancing ensemble. Nancy Bell, Patrick Lambier, Nicole LeVasseur,
Debbie Love, Parnelli Parnes and Malcolm Scott perform multiple roles
and with the other cast members, are part of the lively singing and dancing.
The pianist throughout and the musical director is Wendy Stuart.
Here is delicious Christmas
entertainment for the whole family. Remember it's a wonderful life. Enjoy!
It's a Wonderful Life
runs at The Waterfront Theatre, 442 Cartwright Street, Granville Island,
6 December - 5 January Thursday-Saturday 20.00; Saturday-Sunday 26-27
December and 2-3 January 14.00. Tickets: Carousel Theatre Box Office:
604.685.6217 or Ticketmaster 604.280.4444, $24/$22 Students/Seniors $17
Under 18 $12 Groups of 10+: The Group Ticket Centre: 604.709.4122 $11-$20
© 2002, Jane Penistan
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