Story and photos by Greta HylandI’ve never been a big fan of It’s a Wonderful Life and before you go hissing and booing, let me add a cherry on top, I’ve never been a fan of A Christmas Story either. I’m more of a Dickens fan. Because of that, I live in a house divided. My husband is in the Jimmy Stewart camp and I am in the George C. Scott camp and never the twain shall meet, so to speak. Our kids are in the anti-old-fashioned-black-and-white-films camp, and so we are relegated to watching our favorite Christmas movies alone. How festive right?
That being said, I am a big fan of the performing arts; theater in particular. I think there is something magical about seeing a story come to life on the stage. I still remember going to see Peter and the Wolf at Weber State University when I was a kid. As a result, that story is near and dear to my heart and I have had a lifelong love for Russian orchestra. Due to this, I am a firm believer in taking kids to the theater; you just never know how they will be impacted by it or what they will remember and how those early experiences will weave throughout their lives.
So, despite my lassaiz faire attitude toward It’s a Wonderful Life, I thought it would be fun to go and see it at Brigham’s Playhouse with my kids. While I did not go with the intent to write a review, the prospect of doing so was in the back of my mind, and I was prepared to write an honest review – even if I had to be Scrooge-like. Honesty is the best policy right?
Well, luckily I get to be a George Bailey critic rather than an Ebenezer Scrooge. In short: This play made a believer out of me. And though I will always love and watch A Christmas Carol, I may just give that old Jimmy Stewart flick another look.
Before the play begins you are welcomed into Brigham’s Playhouse by the stars of the show with samples of the treats you can buy inside. I was pleased to see that they had some “adult” treats: fudge! The playhouse is small, warm, and intimate, and there is not a bad seat in the house. Once you get inside to take your seats, there are yet more actors and actresses with little carts full of goodies for sale. I guess I am used to going to more ‘hoity toity’ shows where you may eat out in the lobby at the intermission, so I was delighted to see that we could nibble on our treats during the show.
The play is roughly three hours long, but it doesn’t feel like it. The story is so good and the acting so captivating that if flies by and at the end, well, I was in tears. For all of you in camp Jimmy Stewart who are well versed in this story, and already know the ending, it may not have the same effect – but it might. Unlike Scrooge, who is a nasty character that turns good; George Bailey is a great guy that stays great – who just needed to ‘see’ for himself that sometimes what appears to be an ordinary life is really extraordinary when seen from a different perspective.
I, of course, loved Mr. Potter (his part). He is the ever-relevant villain. One only need look to Congress and the bankers on Wallstreet right now to see why this story is a classic. It keeps repeating itself in real life and in each generation. Let’s just hope there are more people like George Bailey to balance them out. Mr. Potter in the play is more villainesque than I remember him in the movie and he adds a flare to the play that made it that much more exciting to watch. He was so “awful” that he got boos and catcalls from the audience.
And while I haven’t been a big Jimmy Stewart fan, I am a fan of Dale Hoopes (George Bailey). He was great, believable, and was a realistic and endearing character. My sons’ favorite character was the lovable Clarence. He added some comic relief to the disillusioned George and he was a great counterbalance to Potter. Of course, the whole cast was great – and the play was as good as any I have ever seen. Who needs Broadway or Vegas when you can get good entertainment right here?
In the end, I think my boys may have just joined their dad in camp It’s a Wonderful Life, and I’m fine with that. I guess I will just have to find a stage version of A Christmas Carol to introduce them to my favorite Christmas story. Then we might be a house united when it comes to Christmas favorites.
On the wall inside the theater is a quote by Brigham Young which says, “The stage can be made to aid the pulpit in impressing upon the minds of a community an enlightened sense of a virtuous life.” I completely agree and believe that their choice in It’s a Wonderful Life, and rendition of it, does justice to that sentiment.
I was more than impressed with Brigham’s Playhouse and would recommend it to anyone. I have heard that they even have a showing on Christmas day, so gather up your family and instead of going to a movie, treat them to a play and see if you don’t walk away feeling the same way I did.
Brigham’s Playhouse has got a whole list of upcoming plays for 2015 that I am sure will be just as good as this one. You can find information and tickets online at: http://ldscinema.blogspot.com/2008/04/morality-rambo-and-brother-brighams.html
