It’s that time of year

Porchlight Music Theatre’s entertaining production of “A Wonderful Life” follows the storyline of a Christmas classic

By Kristen Salamon

Most of us have grown up watching classic holiday movies such as “Miracle on 34th Street,” “A Christmas Carol” and, of course, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” We all know the stories, and some of us have even subjected ourselves to the disappointment that follows after seeing one of the many remakes.

That being said, it is difficult to imagine a musical version of any of these classics.

Musicals, often seen as hokey and a bit flamboyant, seem to go against the traditional grain of the classic holiday tales. Could you picture Jimmy Stewart breaking out into song as he woos Donna Reed? I had trouble imagining it.

But the Porchlight Music Theatre managed to seamlessly combine the jarring elements of musical and tradition. The script, adopted from the Frank Capra film, stuck to the story and added to it without changing it.

There are some elements of the show that may not sit well with those expecting to see a very strict representation of the film. The cast is multi-national, and no attempt is made for the family ties and ethnicities to make sense. The more subdued hints of character Violet Bick’s less-than-angelic persona are made a little more obvious to the audience. Then, of course there are the songs.

But, if you like musicals, this is a good one.

The songs included in the story add to the depth of the characters. As Jayson Brooks, who plays George Bailey, said, “In Mary’s song ‘Not what I expected,’ she talks about how she’s seen (George) in the wrong way all these years and the picture of him she had in her head was not as bruised as the reality was. And just finding somebody who is always kind of hurting inside, but always willing to be there for the people around him. George is sort of a happy martyr. Which was interesting because I never really saw the character like that.”

While happy martyr is not a traditional way George is portrayed in the 1946 film, it is an idea that is very pronounced in Porchlight’s version. Audience members cannot help but think George is constantly getting hurt and, in some ways, betrayed by friends and family who move up and on while George remains in his small hometown. It is very easy to empathize with his choice to constantly put the needs of others ahead of his own. As many people do this in our daily lives, as parents, siblings, friends, co-workers, etc.

The lessons learned from the original film still shine in this musical version. The idea that the “every man” touches and alters the lives of those around him remains an important one as, increasingly, generations long for stardom, fame and wealth.

But in addition to the lessons learned from the film, the musical brings forth more lessons.

Karma is not always a bitch. George Bailey is the perfect example of how karma can work for the better. We often talk about karma in a negative light. For example, people often say about less-than-moral people, “Don’t worry, he’ll get what’s coming to him.” George Bailey got what was coming to him also. He spent his life putting his needs behind those of others, and when he needed to put himself and his family first, karma helped him out.

You are the maker of your own destiny. Many people believe that there is a plan, that things happen for a reason, and you often do not have any control over where your life may take you. Although to some extent that may be true, each individual in “A Wonderful Life” consciously makes decisions that shape the kind of life they lead. George could have left town, gone to college and led a completely different life. But, he made the decision to stay. And in addition to the path we take, we control the way we think about these actions. Just like Clarence forced George to see his life in a different way, the story does the same for the audience.

“The story of George Bailey is about changing the world in small ways and affecting many people’s lives by small decisions in your life,” director Rob Lindley said.

You can choose to follow the path you are paving with the attitude of a victim, or with a sense of purpose and a healthy level of self-importance.

Not all musicals are hokey and flamboyant. The people involved in the production of this version of a classic tale did a magnificent job of keeping the story real. The songs did not blow the feelings of characters out of proportion for entertainment’s sake. The songs and the voices of the characters involved were very real.

In some musicals, emotions that don’t necessarily have a song are forced into music. But the writing, acting and directing of this play kept the emotions genuine and relatable. The characters did not burst out into ridiculous ballads when the mood struck. When Mary realizes George is the one, she is quiet, reserved, much like you would expect to be when that sort of revelation is made.

“A Wonderful Life runs Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through Dec. 30 at Theatre Building Chicago (1225 W. Belmont). For ticket information, call the box office at 773-327-5252 or visit www.theatrebuildingchicago.org.

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