BWW Reviews: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, Bridge House Theatre, December 11 2014

I've long maintained that, like The Language Instinct, human beings are born with certain things imprinted on their brains: the chorus of Yellow Submarine; the urge to giggle at penguins; and the plot of It's A Wonderful Life. Even if you haven't seen Frank Capra's 1946 feelgood masterpiece, you know what happens - the laughter and the tears come in our getting to its joyous resolution.

What fun The Bridge House Players have with their version of It's A Wonderful Life (continuing at the Bridge House Theatre until 4 January). The set-up is a radio studio (with live audience) for an adaptation going out live in 1949, complete with cheesy messages from local sponsors and actors leaping forward to the mics as they adopt a myriad of voices to conjure the people of Bedford Falls. It sounds like the production is short-changing us (even for a black box theatre above a pub) but Guy Retallack's sure direction and Tony Palermo's pacy script add something to the familiar story. Somehow, yet again, theatre confounds expectation as less becomes more.

Clever though the conception may be, it's a conceit that will only work in execution and the cast of six are required to deliver plenty - and that's exactly what they do. Gerard McCarthy is all wide eyed innocence as George Bailey, before the villainous Mr Potter and circumstances glisten those eyes with tears. Sophie Scott is a sweet Mary Bailey perplexed by her husband's stress (though it wasn't called that back then). They are supported well by Gillian Kirkpatrick, in a variety of roles and accents, and Danny Colligan, in a variety of roles and hats.

The two experienced hands almost steal the show. Daniel Hill banters with the audience as the announcer, giving us just a touch of seasonal panto with instructions to applaud for the listeners at home. He's also very good as the dastardly Potter and one or two other dodgy characters who have taken a drink or two. Kenneth Jay excels as Clarence, Angel Second Class, whose wings will be earned if he can rescue George. He's usually bewildered, but he does the right thing.

Like the film, it's impossible to watch this show and not come away warmed by its humanity, its decency and its moral. George Bailey may be an everyman, but he touches the lives of every man and woman for the better - all that he needed was to be shown that his life was, indeed, wonderful.

Photo Anton Hewins.

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