Byron Brubaker, Nancy Weiss, Ben Saylor, Thelma Carrigan and John Grad appear in the Huntington Playhouse production of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at Huntington Playhouse. (Photo courtesy of Huntington Playhouse)

Huntington ends season with ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
By Art Thomas
Insights
Published Dec. 2, 2009

Thanksgiving is here, which means that Christmas is just around the corner. And there is no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to see a holiday show. Bay Village’s Huntington Playhouse is leading the pack with a production of the stage adaptation of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Unlike other area theaters that present the same show yearly, Huntington Playhouse has a rotating collection of holiday shows. “It’s a Wonderful Life” was last seen six years ago. This year’s incarnation, directed by Dale Hruska, is a spirited retelling of the upbeat Capra movie.

We open on a bleak scene of a bridge and a man about to jump. George Bailey has let down his friends, family and customers of his mom-and-pop savings and loan. Short $8,000, he is ready to end it all, when a second-class angel, Clarence Odbody, comes along to answer his prayer.

We see that George early on saved his brother’s life and that of a pharmacy customer who almost got the wrong medicine.

In quick succession, George grows up, meets his future wife at a high school dance, becomes the manager of the savings and loan, marries and fends off a hostile takeover. And all of that is in a 40-minute first act.

The feel-good play is a faithful adaptation of the movie.

Ben Saylor is affable George in Act I and a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown in Act II when missing money is the problem. Assad Khaishgi is very otherworldly as angel Clarence, and June Scott very sincere as wife Mary. Scott takes what could be a “yes, dear” type of role, asserts herself and never appears fawning.

In character roles, Thelma Carrigan and John Grad as Aunt Tilly and Uncle Billy remind this oldster of Fred and Ethel Mertz of the old “I Love Lucy” TV show. They’re homey and sweet, despite their bickering.

Neil Donnelley gets the plum hand-wringing villain role of Mr. Potter. Evil and scheming, Potter may be the only person in a wheelchair that no one feels sorry for.

The rest of the cast of 20 always seem to know what they are doing on stage and include a younger brother hero (Byron Brubaker), who later appears as the Italian Mr. Martini, a no nonsense bank examiner (Rhonda Kisel) and a quartet of children.

Director Hruska focuses on the storytelling and avoids extra pageantry. Families will love “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which runs a hair over 90 minutes with intermission. I saw the show at a dress rehearsal through the courtesy of Hruska. It opens Friday and runs through Dec. 20.

When you see “It’s a Wonderful Life” at Huntington, inquire about their “Flex-Passes.” This is a coupon book with seven tickets for any play next season. You can use all at one show, one for each show or any other combination of seven tickets. Any way, you save money.

Next year’s season, just announced, opens with “The Full Monte,” “Leading Ladies,” “The Music Man,” “Smokey Joe’s Café,” “Boing, Boing,” Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” and closes with “A Christmas Carol” next November. Contact the theater at (440) 871-8333 for more information.

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