Sacramento Theatre Company produces the rare musical version of It's a Wonderful Life

In Frank Capra’s 1946 holiday classic movie It’s aWonderful Life, angel-wannabe Clarence saves the day. In Sacramento Theatre Company’s current musical staging of this dark tale of a desperate man, it’s the very talented Jerry Lee’s portrayal of George Bailey that saves the day, and this production.

This little-known 1998 musical adaptation of the well-known and much-embraced movie isn’t produced too often, mostly because it’s not a particularly strong show—too many songs, and not enough memorable ones. But with a good staging and a charismatic lead with an exceptional voice, it’s a nice addition to the local holiday shows being staged this year.

It’s the second year in a row that STC is offering up this musical adaption of It’s a Wonderful Life, and director Michael Laun is wise enough to bring back the two winning performances of Lee as Bailey and Gary S. Martinez as the heart-of-stone Mr. Potter, as well as adding a personable Tyler Wipfli as Mary Bailey and a number of strong back-up performers.

The story is basically the same as the film: Local small town boy with big plans is diverted from following his dreams by fate, love, loyalty and a strong sense of commitment and community responsibility. Though George is much admired and appreciated by the Bedford Falls townfolk who are thankful for his acts of kindness and refusal to kowtow to the greedy banker Potter, George thinks he’s a failure for not living up to his own self-imposed larger-than-life dreams.

So God sends down Clarence, an angel who is in the midst of his own self-doubts, to show a suicidal George how he’s impacted peoples lives with both small and large gestures.

Not only is the story one that warms the heart, the moral issues that are brought forth have a current ring to them: struggling small towns, monolithic banking systems, and social and monetary disparities.

This adaptation has a strong faith-based emphasis, though it’s still enjoyable as a simple gratitude-based story as well. The sets and costumes accurately depict life in a simple, small 1940s town, conjuring up the sweet scent of nostalgia and romance so many desperately crave this time of year.