Review: It's a Wonderful Life at the Royal Court Studio ****
Christmas is on the horizon now which means two things – panto season and the return of festive favourite It’s a Wonderful Life to the screen, big and small.
More unusual however is to see the uplifting, Frank Capra-directed tale of struggle, sacrifice, meaning and the power of love and community, presented live on stage.
But this Old Fruit Jar Theatre Productions version, sympathetically adapted from the screenplay by Mary Elliott Nelson and being staged downstairs at the Royal Court, is a charming and welcome addition to the season.
It’s Christmas Eve 1945 in the small upstate New York town of Bedford Falls, but instead of everyone getting tipsy on eggnog and singing carols, they’re worried about a much loved member of their community.
When the clamour of prayers to ‘look after George Bailey’ reaches heaven, enthusiastic but scatty ‘angel second class’ Clarence Odbody (Jordan Barkley in Doctor Who-style frock coat) is sent down to earth to save the life of the disillusioned banker who is in a dark, dark place.
The original Bailey, Jimmy Stewart, was Hollywood’s ultimate everyman – and Mr Nice Guy. I remember being on a tour of the stars’ homes in Hollywood a quarter of a century ago and the guide explaining Stewart would often come out of his house to wave to the gawping tourists as they passed (ironically given a strand of the plot of It’s a Wonderful Life, he was also a decorated war hero who flew many combat missions over Germany).
I can’t vouch for Robbie Fletcher-Hill’s aviation skills, but he certainly possesses the essence of Stewart’s honest Joe, gee shucks likeability in the central role of the selfless George Bailey.
You feel genuine warmth for his character, and compassion as disappointment, and occasionally raging frustration, washes across his features as each opportunity to pursue his own dreams during his life is snatched away from him.
In Nelson’s nicely paced adaptation, the first half sees Clarence being given an overview of George’s life from the moment aged 12 that he saved younger brother Harry from drowning to the point where a middle-aged George, beset from all sides, feels that - despite the love and devotion of his calm and sensible wife Mary (Florence King) - life is no longer worth living.
Above: A despairing George Bailey (Robbie Fletcher-Hill) contemplates his future on Christmas Eve. Top: George, Mr Potter (Luke Seddon) and Uncle Billy (Josh Ennis) at the Bailey Building & Loan. Photos by Old Fruit Jar Productions.
After the interval, the action centres around the events of December 24 – we watch, aghast, as hapless Uncle Billy (Josh Ennis) unwittingly hands the ultimate weapon for George’s destruction to his nemesis, the villainous magnate and slum landlord Mr Potter (Luke Seddon, practically chewing the scenery).
And Barkley’s eager guardian angel finally makes his move to show George the dismal, alternative universe in which he never existed.
It’s a small stage for such a large cast (12 in all, several of them playing multiple roles) but while there’s not a lot of room for manoeuvre, director Alex Carr generally maintains a good sense of motion and rotation. And when the space is full of bodies, it visually adds to that sense of a tightly knit community.
The limited space and rudimentary technical spec of the studio stage also lends itself to the story in another way, with Christopher McCourt’s design – multi-purpose props and small moveable structures – augmenting the kindly, folksy, small-town feel.
Among the supporting characters, Taona Matope fizzes with energy and exuberance as George’s long-time pal Sam.
Meanwhile the ensemble sings beautifully – there are toothsome harmonies, not least among the quartet of female voices on a swinging Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, while King delivers a heartfelt and plaintive version of In the Bleak Midwinter. And fans of the story will anticipate the appearance of Auld Lang Syne.
It’s a Wonderful Life is the third show Old Fruit Jar Productions has presented at the Royal Court, and the Liverpool company continues to impress with its ambition, attention to detail and quality of its storytelling.
This seasonal treat is at the Royal Court Studio until the end of the month, before being staged over several dates at St George’s Hall in December.
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