[NEohioPAL] Berko review: THIS WONDERFUL LIFE @ Cleveland Play House

[Roy Berko]

Meaningful and charming THIS WONDERFUL LIFE at Cleveland Play House

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

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It's that time of year when local theatres are showcasing holiday themed shows.  
Great Lakes Theatre Festival is raising the curtain once again on the story of 
stingy a Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation 
in A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  David Sedaris' SANTA LAND DIARIES is bringing smiles at 
the 14th Street Theatre.  Actors' Summit is showcasing a version of Dickens' A 
CHRISTMAS CAROL that was done 22 years ago at the Cleveland Play House.  CPH, 
which for the last several years has focused on THE CHRISTMAS STORY, the movie 
version of which was filmed partly in Cleveland, has abandoned that script and 
is presenting a one-man version of IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE renamed THIS WONDERFUL 
LIFE.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE is one of the most popular and heartwarming holiday 
films.  Directed by Frank Capra, the cinema version starred James Stewart, who 
considered the role to be the favorite of his long career.

Interestingly, the original 1946 film was a financial flop.  It only rose to its 
present cult status when, in 1974, it went into public domain and TV stations 
could air it for free.  And show it they have done, over and over and over.  It 
has been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best 
American films ever made, and placed number one on their list of the most 
inspirational American films of all time.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE was based on Philip VanDoren Stern's THE GREATEST GIFT, 
which tells the story of George Bailey, a man whose imminent suicide on 
Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of Clarence, his guardian angel, who 
shows George all the lives he has touched and the contributions he has made to 
his community.  The story ends as George finds a gift of a book from Clarence 
inscribed "Dear George, Remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for 
the wings. Love, Clarence." A bell rings and George's daughter reminds him that 
every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings. George looks skyward, to the 
winkling stars above and says, "Atta boy, Clarence."

The CPH production is a one-man, intermissionless show.  The charming and 
talented James Leaming plays all the characters.  It's a daunting job.  For 
90-minutes Leaming not only emotes all of the play's lines, but dives off a 
platform, goes shovel sliding, moves the set pieces, plays one or two or three 
people at one time, and holds the audience captive.  

Leaming starts to charm audience members as they file into the theatre.  Talking 
to those near the stage, learning their names (which he uses in the 
performance's first couple of minutes), he makes personal contact that perfectly 
fits the folksy show.  The audience has no trouble differentiating the many 
characters.  Leaming changes his voice and body to fit each.  From the Jimmy 
Stewart imitation, to the voice tone of Henry Travers, who portrayed Clarence in 
the film, he is character-right.

THIS WONDERFUL LIFE was conceived by Mark Setlock and written by Steve Murray.  
Director Peter Amster, lighting designer Aaron Muhl and sound designer Kevin 
Kennedy all help give Leaming the assistance he needs to flesh out the message.

CAPSULE JUDGMENT:  CPH's THIS WONDERFUL LIFE is a fine script for the holiday 
season, showcasing the real meaning of humanity and personal integrity.  It gets 
a charming production that only Scrooge wouldn't like.

THIS WONDERFUL LIFE runs through December 19 in the Drury Theatre.  For tickets 
call 216-795-7000 or go to www.clevelandplayhouse.com. 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 
2010, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at 
http://royberko.info.  His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com 
and www.NeOHIOpal