By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
jstultz@cherryroad.com
Featuring college students plus children and adult actors from surrounding communities, the Barclay College winter theater show of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” is worth taking in. More than 40 performers take the stage in this thoughtful look into what is meaningful in life.
Directed by Randi Shetley, Barclay College’s Director of Fine Arts, this winter show is not the glitzy glamour of past productions, nor is it high-energy dancing, fighting, and dodging clipboards. This show peels back the trappings of the season to find out what is real, and what really matters.
Barclay College senior Admiral Henning is the star of the show, playing the part of George Bailey in his own way, but with a bit of that James Stewart flair (and English accent) that everyone remembers. The gamut of emotions that George goes through as he sees his high school dreams dissolve into family business responsibilities and watches those around him rise to successes that he once dreamed of is something that many can identify with. Through it all, George can be counted on to do the right thing, to conquer evil with good, even when that evil comes in the form of business-world nemesis Mr. Potter (played by Gale Rose from Pratt).
It is different to witness Rose in a roll that arouses boos and hisses from the audience, but his portrayal of the part is convincing and spot on, as are the others characters in this show. Somehow, Shetley always finds the perfect fit for each part, even working with an ever-changing landscape of students and community participants.
What is special about this show is the time spent developing the characters and the dialogue, all of which is captivating and consuming to the audience to see what will happen next. There is dancing, dating intrigue, encounters with angels, and an underlying message of hope and joy of the holiday season, all done with the tasteful professionalism that has come to be a trademark of Barclay College Theater productions.
There are still tickets available for the second weekend of production on Friday, November 22 at 7 p.m., Saturday, November 23 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, November 24 at 3 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased at barclaycollege.edu/wonderful online, or in person 30 minutes before showtime at the door (while supplies are last).
