by Rebecca Curran, Hagerty High School
It’s A Wonderful Life, the show based on the story of Phillip Van Doren Stern and adapted to the stage by James W. Rodgers, has long stood as a Christmas classic and was brought to life on the stage of Cypress Creek High School.
The well-known story, made into a Frank Capra film in 1946 starring James Stewart, begins at a climax—it is Christmas Eve, and George Bailey stands on the edge of a bridge ready to jump. His bumbling guardian angel, Clarence, appears and shows George what the world would be like if he had never been born. To George’s own surprise, he realizes how much good he has contributed to people, and returns home to his worried family.
The overall design of this production was impressive. Each scene created a very aesthetically pleasing stage picture, and the sentimental themes of the show were well communicated by the cast.
Starring Diego Rodriguez as George Bailey whose portrayal showed a definite understanding of the character’s nuances and changes as George looked back on his life. The chemistry between Rodriguez and Gabriela Camargo, who played his wife Mary, made a perfect transition from cute and awkward in their first date to strong and solid in their marriage.
Melissa Nunez as Violet Peterson and Greg Cobb as Bert stood out as actors who had a deeper grasp of their characters and made their time onstage very enjoyable for the audience. The entire Bailey family’s chemistry, especially the relationship between George and ZuZu Bailey (Christina Seijo), performed like a true family.
Energy lacked in some of the supporting cast and ensemble in the first act, but the second act showed a definite pick-up. This show’s technical crew had a difficult task, but all was accomplished. The many different scenes required many sets, which appeared to move seamlessly across and above the stage. Particularly notable was the opening bridge, designed by Edwin Cabrera, swirling in snow. While there were several problems with props during the show, particularly a door that wouldn't stay shut, all fitted very nicely with the set and costumes. The costumes, done by Franchesca Alicea, demand attention since very few main characters wore the same thing the entire time—appropriate changes were made to the different situations and time periods.
Cypress Creek ushered in the holiday season with this production of It’s A Wonderful Life! Classics are apt to pre-judgments and comparisons, both of which show silenced with stunning stage pictures and a touching final scene.
Originally published by The Backstage Noise, Winter Edition, 2007
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