Review: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE at Albuquerque Little Theatre

Albuquerque Little Theatre (ALT)'s production of It's a Wonderful Life is intended to be a, "gift to the community" according to executive director Henry Avery. What a gift it is! It's a Wonderful Life, adapted for the stage by Doug Rand and directed by James Cady, embodies the holiday spirit, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained throughout the production.

The story revolves around George Bailey, an everyman who dreams of traveling the world and having adventures. Instead of being able to fulfill the dreams he once had growing up, George becomes stuck in his hometown of Bedford Falls due to family obligations and civic duty. When everything becomes too much for George, he considers ending his life. A trio of angels, including George's guardian angel Clarence, intervene. After Clarence shows George what life in Bedford Falls would have been like if he had never been born, George Bailey realizes the impact his life has had on his friends and loved ones. In the end, George understands that despite his life not going the way he had originally planned, it has been a wonderful one.

Despite technical difficulties with mics not always working properly, the cast of ALT's It's a Wonderful Life gave nearly flawless performances. Micah Linford (George Bailey) gave a phenomenal performance as he explored the conflict between George's desire to live his life and the duty he feels for his family and community. His George Bailey is equal parts charming, heartfelt, and yearning for adventure. Linford creates a character that the audience can relate to, making them care about each step of the journey this man takes as well as hope that things work out for the best. Janine O'Neill Loffelmacher is perfectly cast as Mary Hatch Bailey. She shines in the early scenes of the production and the humor she brings to her role makes her immediately endearing. Philip J. Shortell creates a perfect foil for George as Henry F. Potter, embodying the businessman with a lack of compassion for others and a love of profit above all else. Pete Parkin as Clarence, Lorri Oliver as Frankie, and Annelise Wall as Jo do a wonderful job with their roles as angels, effectively guiding the play along as they assist the audience in exploring George Bailey's life in a series of flashbacks. Mike Van Ryzin as Uncle Billy, Kristine Cornils as Mrs. Bailey, and Michelle Belmont as Violet Bick, as well as the rest of the cast, give fantastic performances that keep the audience engaged in the play.

It's a Wonderful Life runs from November 30th, 2018 - December 24th, 2018 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm. There are three additional performances scheduled for Saturday, December 8th at 2:00 PM (ASL Interpreted), Thursday December 13th at 7:30 PM, and Monday, December 24th at 1:00 PM. Tickets are $23 for adults, $21 for Seniors (65+), $19 for students (13 - University), and $15 for Children (12 and Under). Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 505-242-4750 x2 or by visiting: https://v6.click4tix.com/event-details.php?e=431030.

Image credit: Albuquerque Little Theatre

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