goodspeed opera house fiddler on the roof

Clarence’s move from choral observer to involved participant should be a highlight, but his big number, “Wings,” is a straining, dutiful effort, and his scene with George after the suicide attempt is skimpy. That’s where the musical’s best opportunity falls short. It takes Clarence, an angel trying to earn his wings (the sprightly Frank Vlastnik), to convince him that his life has, indeed, been wonderful. Potter! - brings him to the brink of suicide. Potter (Ed Dixon, a superbly menacing calculator)? The cosmopolitan life of his old friend Sam Wainwright (Josh Franklin, who has the right blend of affection and clueless entitlement)?Īnd has George cheated his wife, Mary (Kirsten Scott), out of a life she might have enjoyed?Īgain and again, George faces the struggles that come with his Bedford Falls life, until one too many - ooh, that evil Mr. But does that affection equal the war heroism of his college-graduate brother (Logan James Hall)? The sheer wealth of his nemesis, Mr.

George is a good man who has earned the town’s affection. “A Wonderful Life” is the story of George Bailey (Duke Lafoon), who puts aside his dreams of travel, college and career to take on his father’s business, the Bailey Building and Loan of Bedford Falls. But the screenplay’s big-hearted charm and flights of imagination lend themselves well to the musical form.

True, any work that uses “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) as a source has to compete with James Stewart’s performance, the director Frank Capra’s cinematic skill and our attachment to a cultural treasure. While the hard-working cast has its moments, this show - with book and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick (“Fiddler on the Roof,” “She Loves Me”) and music by Joe Raposo (the “Sesame Street” theme) - is not the audience-pleasing classic that many would hope. “A Wonderful Life” has wonderful leading performances, and they alone are a reason to consider visiting the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam to see this musical stage adaptation.īut keep your expectations in check.

Goodspeed opera house fiddler on the roof