Retelling of 'It's a Wonderful Life' as a one-man play
Bedford Falls. Lassoing the moon. Zuzu's pedals. Clarence. Hee Haw!
You know what I'm talking about. That's because the 1946 film "It's a Wonderful Life" is a certified classic, conjuring up warm and fuzzy feelings that are perfectly suited to the holiday. We grew up watching it repeatedly on television with a box of tissues nearby.
But now that beloved film is getting a new, well, life on stage in the one-man play "This Wonderful Life," playing at the Lyric Stage Company through Dec. 22.
The production is a stunning, often hilarious, retelling of the story most people already know by heart. It stars lovable local actor Neil A. Casey as more than two dozen of your favorite Bedford Falls residents, some of whom are in the same scene together.
"My first reaction after reading the script was 'How is this even possible?'" says Casey. "I thought it was such a challenge, but I'd be crazy not to do it."
Casey gets some help from the set - a wooden counter (doubles as the counter at Mr. Gower's pharmacy and Martini's Bar), a desk, a doorway and the iconic bridge, site of the show's key scene.
But it's the characters that make the film work on stage, and Casey does each splendidly by either talking in a higher pitch for Mary Hatch or furrowing his eyebrows for the villainous Mr. Potter.
"The man's eyebrows are something unto themselves," laughs Casey.
He prepared for the role by watching the original film "about 200 times," getting the pitch of certain scenes and honing in on Jimmy Stewart's cadence (Casey says he's always been a good mimic).
And just to prepare people, the play opens with a "taste" of what people can expect, with Casey essentially running through the entire plot in less than a minute.
Casey's hard work has paid off. Audiences have embraced the show, some to a disturbing, and irritating, degree.
"Last Saturday there were a couple of people in the audience who said the lines just before I said them," says Casey. "It's nice that they know it, but it was really annoying. I do love the fact that people know it so well. Mouthing the lines are fine, but not out loud."
But it's hard to remain too upset at such hardcore fans. They are the reason the play is so enjoyable. They are the ideal audience for the production, the person who knows every line by heart, who can see the scenes happening in their mind as Casey describes them (the first kiss between George and Mary is particularly funny) and who, after all these years, still gravitate to the film whenever it's on television.
Even after studying the film multiple times, Casey still finds himself drawn to the film.
"I think the theme of 'no man is alone who has friends' is a huge part of why people love the film so much," says Casey. " For me, I'm have always been a huge Stewart fan and it was a wonderful opportunity to play all these people. Talking directly to the audience is my favorite thing to do."
There are a lot of laughs in the production, but Casey, who has flourished in comic roles, seems to shine the brightest when the show gets serious.
"I love those moments," says Casey. "I get to take the audience on a trip and I can feel it on stage when they are with me."
But with all the preparation Casey's done for his multiple roles and all the hours he's spent watching Jimmy Stewart shout "Merry Christmas" to the buildings of Bedford Falls, there's one question he never thought to consider.
What does he think this world would be like had he not existed?
"That's an interesting question," says Casey, stalling. "I dunno. I'd have to think about it. I'm not sure if my life has touched people's lives like George Bailey. I guess I wouldn't have helped my students last year. I keep in touch with many of them and they have said they learned a lot from me and that, despite having two good acting professors this year, they still miss me. So I guess there's that."
Through Dec. 22