Christmas is in the air at Rosebud Theatre.
The theatre just began their production of It’s a Wonderful Life on November 1. Everything, from the food to the play itself, will leave audiences with that heartwarming Christmas feeling.
The version of the play at Rosebud, unlike the film made famous by Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart, is done in the style of a radio play. The actors remain on stage the entire time, moving between characters throughout the play, but without any major costume changes.
This can be a little disorienting initially, but the actors do a great job of developing unique voices, accents, and mannerisms for each character, so that it’s easy for the audience to follow along.
Looking for a dose of Christmas cheer? Then look no further than Rosebud Theatre’s production of It’s a Wonderful Life, running until December 22. Nathan Schmidt (back, l-r) stars as George Bailey alongside Heather Pattengale as Mary Bailey and Chrissie Muldoon, Lauren de Graaf (front, l-r), Jordan Cutbill, and Brynn Linsey. The play also stars Alixandra Cowman, Tim Hildebrand, Andrew Legg, and Joel Stephanson.
Each member of the cast does a fantastic job on stage, but any adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life rests on the ability of the actor portraying George Bailey; Nathan Schmidt does not disappoint in that regard.
Schmidt easily takes audiences through the highs and lows of the life of George Bailey; the audience feels each triumph and each hardship face by George. By the end, it’s hard not to be moved when George, with help from the angel Clarence (played by Mike Thiessen) realizes what is truly important in his life.
The film is not really known for an abundance of humour, but the adaptation at Rosebud peppered the play with quite a few laughs. The play is done in the style of a radio broadcast, complete with commercial breaks and hilarious ads. Even in the background, actors not in the immediate scene are hard at work providing sound effects for the action.
It’s a Wonderful Life runs until December 22 at Rosebud Theatre. To get tickets for one of the modern era’s most classic Christmas tales, head to www.rosebudtheatre.com or call 1-800-267-7553.