REVIEW | It’s A Wonderful Life, Reading Rep Theatre
Orla O'Sullivan and Mark Desebrock in It's A Wonderful Life - Photo Credit Harry ElletsonWritten by Eleanor
*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review
Please note that this show contains scenes of suicidal thoughts and discussion of death, smoke, haze, flashing and strobe lights and loud noises.
For those unfamiliar with the 1946 film, It's a Wonderful Life is the story of George Bailey. George (Mark Desebrock) finds himself on a bridge outside Bedford Falls on Christmas Eve considering whether to end his life. As a group of angels (Charlotte Warner, Eugene Evans and Orla O’Sullivan) hear the prayers of his family, they retell the past events of George’s life and show him an alternative present in order to try and save his life. Despite the dark premise, this Christmas tale has maintained its popularity over the years and ends with the kind of deep, moral message you often see explored around Christmas time.
I know of this enduring classic and have seen the film a couple of times over the years, so I was excited to see how it would be interpreted for the stage. This production by Reading Rep has stuck fairly rigidly to the original plot (self-published by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1943), so any fans of this story will not be disappointed. They included the same use of flashbacks in the first act, which I thought was very effective. Enough time was spent on each of these moments to help explore the character of George and what was important to him without unnecessarily slowing the plot. I also enjoyed how the angels would pause the narrative to include further information - something I think is particularly helpful in a family show to make sure everyone stays up to speed.
With It's A Wonderful Life set in the large town of Bedford Falls, it is the role of three cast members to play both the angels and all the other characters. Although this leads to a loss of immersion, each actor uses admirable characterisation to help the audience distinguish between different people. Moments where the actors would look out to the audience, who played the role of the townspeople, were a particularly clever tool to keep up audience engaged and to give the impression of a larger space. Although I noticed that there are a couple of character changes in this version, it is nothing which affects the overall themes or any key moments of the show.
The set used at Reading Rep (designed by Libby Todd) was simple, yet it gave everything it needed to; a street sign and a couple of lamp posts surrounded the wings of the stage, with groups of boxes utilised as seats for the angels or as setting for indoor scenes. These could then be quickly adapted to match events of the second half of the plot. (It must be noted that Reading Rep is currently performing both of their Christmas shows in repertory, which has led to the necessity for a limited set.) The inclusion of a raised bridge at the back of the stage was really beneficial. It not only gave a different level on which the action could take place but acted as a constant reminder that George was waiting to be saved. Special mention must also be given to the ethereal orbs carried by the angels and how they were effectively used alongside lighting and sound cues to progress the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the performances of this ensemble. Necessarily levity was brought by Charlotte Warner’s depiction of George’s elderly aunt, and Mark Desebrock’s portrayal of George during his various emotive scenes are very realistic. Although the show may not be groundbreaking or revolutionary, it certainly filled me with Christmas spirit and is the perfect show to see with your family over the festive period.
It's A Wonderful Life at the Reading Rep Theatre from the 30th November until the 30th December 2023.
★ ★ ★
