Some shows are elaborate in every aspect. They have giant structures on the stage, big numbers with dozens of people and countless costume changes.
Over the past few months something that I’ve come to love about Williamston Theatre is that it’s shows aren’t like those mentioned above. They are simplicity at its finest. Often times there is one big set on the stage that constantly changes with things coming in and others moving off. There are no big numbers, just people doing what they love and not having to be overly dramatic to make the audience fall in love with the show. I’m not saying that I don’t like shows that are elaborate but sometimes I enjoy the simplicity of just a man on a stage with nothing to distract the audience from the story being told.
Williamston’s most recent production, “This Wonderful Life,” written by Steve Murray and directed by Tony Caselli, brought back by popular demand, is no exception to the golden rule that seems to be at Williamston, keep it simple and the rest will follow.
The story of “This Wonderful Life” is all about a man, played with absolute brilliance by John Lepard, who is in love with the film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” As someone that watches that film on a yearly basis I was curious as to how they were going to tell the story. Was it going to be like “The Drowsy Chaperone” where a man is listening to his favorite film and then transported into it? Or was it going to be something else entirely? Needless to say I was intrigued.
As Lepard walks onto the stage he talks directly to the audience, as if it were a stand-up routine. He then mentions his love for “It’s a Wonderful Life” and proceeds to tell the entire story in about two minutes, which is rather funny.
After those brief few minutes are done he begins to tell the story again, from the very beginning, starting with the angel’s in the sky discussing George Bailey and how Clarence will be the one to go on his crucial night. But first, as anyone whose seen the movie knows, Clarence has to see George’s past in order to understand the man and with that Lepard begins to recite the lines known so well from the film.
He begins to describe the scene unfolding before us and makes it come alive even though he is the only one on the stage. The way that he describes each scene makes everyone in the audience use a little bit of their imagination to envision it.
Along with making each scene its own Lepard has a way with each character that makes them distinctly different from the last. With simple changes such his facial expressions, the accent he uses and his body language it seems as if there is a cast of dozens when it’s only him.
As much as I loved his ability to create each character his George Bailey was a standout. Lepard has the ability to make George just like he was in the movie, bringing all the depth and emotion that was seen in the film. He can be warm and funny one moment, and angry and destroyed the next, further showcasing Lepard’s wide range.
One of my favorite things about the play was the running commentary that was added to the scenes, adding a humorous element throughout, such as his description of the evil Mr. Potter, calling him everything from a wheelchair spider to a bastard and when he looks at the audience and says, “He’s [George] a nice guy, but sometimes don’t ya wanna shake him?”
After seeing this, and watching the audience’s reactions, including the standing ovation at the end, it’s made obvious why this show was brought back by popular demand from 2009. Playwright Murray and director Caselli, along with Lepard, have taken a beloved film and turned it into a one-man show, making it at times more enjoyable than the film itself and a play that Williamston should be putting on every year.
“This Wonderful Life” is playing now through Dec. 23 at Williamston Theatre.
