It's a Wonderful Life
at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School

Reviewed on December 6, 2014

Madeleine Lucas
Oakcrest School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Prince William

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!" Many angels were made very happy, because the bells are ringing for Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's production of It's a Wonderful Life.

It's a Wonderful Life is best known as the classic 1946 Christmas movie directed by Frank Capra, and starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. The film was later adapted to many forms of media, including a radio play and a musical. The play version, adapted by James W. Rodgers, opened in 1993. The story revolves around George Bailey, a smart, kindhearted boy who longs to escape his small town of Bedford Falls and do big things. The play opens with him as a young man contemplating suicide and the timely intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence, who shows George all the people he has touched throughout the course of his life, and what the world would be like if he had never been born.

The cast faced challenges in overcoming the iconic nature of the story, but met them admirably, adding many personal touches to the show and individual interpretations of the characters. They also wove in thematically appropriate carols and songs, compiled and performed by pianist Victoria Garcia.

While filling the shoes of Jimmy Stewart is an arduous task, Jonathan Madorma (George Bailey) performed commendably. He worked well with the whole cast and spoke with very good pacing and diction. He really came into his character when he was taking on Mr. Potter (David Treanor), Bedford Falls' oppressive miser. George's counterpart and wife Clare Starrs (Mary Hatch) created good chemistry with Madorma. Starrs portrayed the passing of time in her character very well, making clear distinctions between teenage Mary and adult Mary with four children.

A strong cast of supporting characters backed up the leads. Jimmy Mullen (Clarence) brought a strong presence, good timing, and a beautiful voice to his angelic role. Megan Krakie (Violet) took advantage of both her comic and serious moments. The four Bailey children stole the final scenes of the show, with their adorable antics. Two standouts, Tori Sicilia (Janie Bailey) and Luke Morris (Pete Bailey) contributed a great deal of energy to the scene.

The set was cleverly designed to function as the many settings for the show, from the Bailey house, to Potter's office, to the bridge. It was sharp and painted carefully. Attention to detail carried into the makeup design. Potter's bodyguard even had a black tear tattoo on his face, adding to his menacing look. The use of hanging microphones was effective, and the voices came across clearly. Well-chosen and placed background sounds added another dimension to scenes.

Most impressively, each member on stage stayed in character and gave all their energy to the show. Despite some less than well-lit scenes, John Paul the Great's cast truly embraced the Christmas spirit and put love and joy into their heartwarming performance.

Maggie Hardy
Hayfield Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Prince William

With the holidays approaching and the stress of life coming down on our shoulders, it is easy to forget how wonderful it is to be alive and surrounded by family and friends. But "no man is poor who has friends," and that is the message the audience was reminded of at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's production of It's a Wonderful Life.

Originally a film directed and produced by Frank Capra in 1946, the holiday production developed from a short story titled The Greatest Gift, written by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1939. Critically acclaimed, the film has been adapted for the stage as a musical and play, and is considered a staple of the holiday season for many households. The film follows George Bailey, a man on the brink of suicide due to outstanding debt for his small Building and Loan Company. When his guardian angel appears and tries to save George in an attempt to gain his wings, the two go through the journey of Bailey's life and what it would be like had he never been born. Now enlightened, George Bailey shakes off his stupor, thankful for his life and all he has been given.

Jonathon Madorma led the production with his honest and vulnerable portrayal of George Bailey. While showing the process of Bailey's emotional journey throughout the show, he also shared believable chemistry with his love interest Mary Hatch and his guardian angel Clarence Oddbody. Both Clare Starrs (Hatch) and Jimmy Mullen (Oddbody) held their own during their stage time, and all three created enjoyable, convincing characters.

The ensemble as a whole gave the show the energy and emotion it needed. A few standouts in this capable ensemble were Ben Nash as Mr. Potter's goon, Maria Horner as Mr. Potter's secretary, and Luke Morris as Young George and Pete Bailey. Nash and Horner both remained consistently in character whenever they took the stage, despite not being the center of attention. Morris not only captured the hearts of the audience with his goofy, fun performance as one of George's sons, but also impressed by playing the contrasting character of Young George, showing versatility. All in all, each ensemble member was notably engaging, whether they were the disagreeable, devious Mr. Potter (David Treanor), one of the bubbly Bailey kids, or simply a townsperson. They were clearly having a great time.

The technical elements were similarly strong. The set was well-constructed, giving the actors a useful and versatile set to interact with. Although there were a couple of noisy set changes, they did not detract from the overall production. Sound was clear, microphones were well-hidden, and the small sound effects such as crickets or wind underlining the performance added to the ambiance without being a distraction. Although a couple of props were anachronistic, overall the selections added positively to the production, from the cat on Mr. Potter's lap, to the wedding ring on George's finger after his wedding scene a moment earlier.

In conclusion, Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's performance of It's a Wonderful Life was a heart-warming, genuine, and well-done production of the classic holiday tale. A life with great productions like this one – that is truly a wonderful life.

Robert Mourad
Teens and Theatre
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - PWC/FQ

There is no show that speaks in the Christmas season of the value of life so much and so well as It's a Wonderful Life. The tale has a long history, beginning with the short story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1944. This story was converted to It's a Wonderful Life, a still-popular 1946 movie starring James Stewart and Donna Reed. Its history culminates today with multiple stage and musical renditions and adaptations.

The story features one George Bailey, an intelligent and notoriously decent man pressed into managing his family's building and loan. When a crisis comes upon him, his prayers and the prayers of his friends result in an angel appearing to guide George through his crisis. This angel's name is Clarence Oddbody.

Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School assumed this challenging theatre task. Their performance was accompanied by a student-built set including multiple roll-on pieces and a multi-level centerpiece. The set very rarely caused any problems with the performance, though it creaked when changes occurred on the second level while other scenes occurred on the lower level of the stage.

The show's general ensemble was imbued with great energy. Though during group scenes there were always a few who were conspicuously low on energy, the majority were lively and engaged. One ensemble character who stood out was the secretary of Mr. Potter (Maria Horner). She was always engaged in her scenes, constantly busy with something and in character despite the smaller proportion of her role.

Subtle accents were sometimes employed well, as it was by Violet Peterson (played by Megan Krakie). She was an example of wonderful energy in the show. She also maintained character very well. This trait was seen through much of the play, though it was difficult at times to see clearly what a few of the actors were attempting to convey.

George Bailey (Jonathan Madorma) displayed strong emotions powerfully. George's wife Mary Hatch (Clare Starrs) was well-portrayed and her character was well defined. Excellent performances were also delivered by the Bailey children, who played well at their young parts, blending seriousness with comedy throughout their scenes.

Jimmy Mullen (Clarence Oddbody) was a wonderful actor and a major contribution to the show. His comedic contributions were very amusing, from his laughable Charleston attempts to his stunning delivery of lines.

The show featured a self-taught pianist, who also searched out and adapted piano music very creatively. The show was also augmented by popular Christmas hymns and carols, which either flowed into the rest of the performance or kept the show engaging during set changes. Whatever their purpose and number, the vocalists performing the songs were enjoyable to hear.

While there were good qualities to several aspects of the performance, the overall character involvement and development of supporting and lead actors were sometimes flat. The general exception was in moments of extreme emotion.

On the whole, Saint John Paul the Great performed moderately well in their rendition of the touching story of It's a Wonderful Life. The actors drew many laughs, and sent the audience away with some wonderful reflections.

Maddie Helmstadter
Freedom High School
Submitted for publication to Prince William Times

The wind is whistling, his heartbeat quickening, and with every moment, George Bailey is getting closer and closer to jumping off the ledge on Christmas Eve. Exploring Bailey's past and future in the show, Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's presents "It's a Wonderful Life," a classic movie-turned-play. The story of "It's a Wonderful Life" has been adapted to live radio theatre and a variety of different musicals and forms of the play, although the most well-known version is the 1946 movie directed by Frank Capra, which was nominated for five Academy Awards and recognized in a variety of ways for its inspirational nature. John Paul Theater takes its audience to Bedford Falls, walking it through the town to meet the vast cast of characters and forming a connection with the viewers as the show goes on.

When contemplating his life so far, George Bailey does not see his value, feeling that the best way for him to support himself, his family, and his community is to die. However, just as Bailey is about to jump, enter Clarence. Played by Jimmy Mullen, Clarence explains to Bailey (played by Jonathan Madorma) that there is more to his life than he can see, and the two plunge into a journey in Mr. Bailey's past. Mullen plays the guardian angel well, portraying his wish to earn his wings, as well as genuine concern for the man. Madorma's strong performance contributed to production as a whole, creating an emotional connection with the audience while illuminating the many relationships between George and the other characters. One of the especially strong relationships was between George and his eventual-wife, Mary Hatch Bailey, played by Clare Starrs. Starrs injected energy and emotion into her scenes.

Many of the more minor characters were played very well by members of John Paul Theater's cast. George Bailey's son (also playing a young, past version of George), played by Luke Morris, was excellent in each of his scenes, always in tune to his surroundings without distracting. Mr. Potter's Secretary (Maria Horner) and Goon (Ben Nash) both did well with their few lines, characterizing themselves through their actions. Teresa Cummings, playing George's mother, portrayed motherly instinct in each of her scenes. Many of the other characters, such as Aunt Tilly, Violet, Bert, and Ernie, provided new perspectives. All of the cast members, whether leads or members of the ensemble, supported the production of "It's a Wonderful Life," well, always depicting the emotion of their scenes and pushing along the plot.

Without such a creative set, realistic sound effects, time-period props and the variety of other technical aspects of the show, John Paul Theater's "It's a Wonderful Life" would not have been possible. The flexible set provided a perfect atmosphere for Bedford Falls, supported by a variety of sound effects. Overall, the cast and crew of John Paul Theater's production of "It's a Wonderful Life" were delightful all the way to Clarence's wings at the end of the show, making sure the audience would leave listening for bells.

Katie Wattendorf
Hayfield Secondary School
Submitted for publication to The Catholic Herald

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and a very wonderful one at that! Saturday night at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School was an evening of love, lessons, and holiday cheer thanks to their endearing and heartfelt production of James W. Rodgers's "It's a Wonderful Life".

In 1946, "It's a Wonderful Life" was released as a Christmas film by Frank Capras, starring old-school icons James Stewart and Donna Reed. The movie received critical acclaim including five Academy Award nominations. In the years following it's success, it was adapted for radio productions and was written as a musical in 1986. Finally, in 1993, the play adaptation was written by James W. Rodgers and premiered on a high school stage.

The show begins on a dark and cold Christmas Eve in Bedford Falls, New York, where business man George Bailey leans precariously off the roof of a building, contemplating suicide. With not a second to spare, a strange man appears behind Bailey, introducing himself as Clarence Oddbody, George's guardian angel, looking to "earn his wings" by saving George from oncoming death. Oddbody sweeps George back in time, through his eventful life and proudest moments in an attempt to prove to Bailey how wonderful his life truly is.

Leading the production with a dignified ease and old-school charm was the talented Jonathan Madorma as George Bailey. Madorma's serious yet kind demeanor captured the complexity of the character, while his deep tone and sophisticated mannerisms provided nuanced characterization to the important role. His chemistry with other characters was apparent, especially in his relationship with his beautiful wife, Mary Hatch, played by Clare Starrs. Starrs delivered her lines with elegance and charm, providing a perfect complement to Madorma's Bailey.

Adding depth and ceaseless energy to the production was a lively cast of ensemble characters. Standouts included Megan Krakie as the giggly and girly Violet Peterson, Teresa Cummings as the lovingly sweet Mother Bailey, and Annemarie Long as the ridiculous Aunt Tilly. The audience's favorite was the quartet of Bailey children, comprised of actors George Howard, Tori Sicilia, Sabrina Morales, and Luke Morris. The dynamic group added a comedic joy to each scene they partook in, leaving the audience excited for their next antic. Especially crowd-pleasing was Morris, who made goofy faces and pulled silly pranks even when he was not in the spotlight.

The show was completed with intricate technical elements. A stationary, two level set functioned as the Bailey home and several buildings in Bedford. Rolling set pieces were used to establish various other locations. Each piece was both well-constructed and designed, adding a believable and aesthetically pleasing element to the production. Lighting levels and colored spotlights created distinct atmospheres for each scene, while ambient sounds of crickets and wind contributed just the right of environmental noise without detracting from the actors. Scene transitions were often accompanied by pianist Victoria Garcia's gentle Christmas music or caroling actors, highlighting the holiday happiness of the show.

The holiday season is a time to appreciate loved ones and reflect on the life we've been given. "It's a Wonderful Life" at Saint John Paul the Great had a full audience doing just that, while laughing, singing, and grinning from ear to ear.

Gillian Wright
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Lorton Valley Star

‘Tis the season for caroling, festive decorations, and holiday gatherings galore. But in the midst of the seasonal cheer, one man feels like a failure. St. John Paul the Great Catholic School's "It's a Wonderful Life" explores the value of a single person and the amazing effect we each have on so many others.

The famous movie of "It's a Wonderful Life," released in 1946, starred Jimmy Stewart and was nominated for five Oscars. The play adaptation of the movie follows the same lead character, George Bailey. Opening on a suicidal Bailey being coaxed off a bridge by Clarence, his guardian angel, the show relives various stages in Bailey's life to first explain how he got to his current position, and then to illuminate why he is so dearly needed on earth. Along the way, many characters are introduced who have played instrumental roles in Bailey's life, as well as he in theirs.

Starring as George Bailey, Jonathan Madorma carried the show well. Madorma portrayed Bailey's dynamic personality through his physicality and mannerisms. Mary (Clare Starrs), Bailey's wife, epitomized the early 20th century wife. Starrs portrayed the classic composed, maternal housewife while maintaining a compelling chemistry with Bailey. Caretaking for Bailey, Clarence Oddbody (Jimmy Mullen) displayed a dynamic character as he made various appeals to both Bailey and God; Mullen also demonstrated a surprisingly angelic singing voice.

With George and Mary came a passel of Bailey children (Luke Morris, George Howard, Tori Sicilia, and Sabrina Morales). Their enthusiasm and joyous clamourings were thoroughly enlivening, even managing to hearten their downtrodden father. Each member of the diverse townspeople ensemble individualized their character in some way, whether by adding vocal inflections or mannerisms. Mother Bailey (Teresa Cummings) stood out with her doting maternal habits. Another memorable character was Violet Peterson (Megan Krakie), a friend of Bailey's who provided much humor.

Good sound quality and countless perfectly-timed sound effects enhanced the show. Many of the props had an impressive level of detail and historical accuracy, and creative measures were used to replicate props used in the movie, such as the utilization of a highly realistic stuffed kitten. The versatility of the main set piece provided a background for a wide variety of scenes. Beautiful craftsmanship was employed in the production of the set, which included functioning light fixtures and chiseled handrails.

The most wonderful time of the year can be lonely for a great number of people. For George Bailey, failing his business seemed to be the final straw in his descent. But all it takes is a guardian angel, a lovely wife, and plenty of jolly holiday cheer to prove to George that he does, in fact, live a wonderful life.

Katie Tomney
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Wolf Print

When you glance back on all the memories of a lifetime, how do you know if your existence made a difference in this world? How do we measure the impact we made in a world that we are given little time to thrive in? Many of us have spent precious moments pondering these questions and for those who witnessed Saint John Paul the Great High School's play production of It's a Wonderful Life, a very simple yet powerful answer was presented.

It's a Wonderful Life originated as an academy award-nominated movie directed by Frank Capra and was later adapted into other media forms including the play by James W. Rodger. The storyline follows a Mr. George Bailey as he is rescued from the brink of death by his guardian angel, Clarence Oddbody, who shows Bailey the impact his life had on others and the unfortunate circumstances that would have occurred had Bailey never been born. It's a Wonderful Life has become a classic Christmas story with the movie version being named as one of the 100 most inspirational films of all time.

The ensemble of the production added a sense of credibility to the overall ambiance of the show. No matter where an audience member happened to peer on stage, the cast members sustained their characters in their entirety. Special recognition is due to Mr. Potter's Secretary (Maria Horner) and Pete Bailey (Luke Morris) who perfectly exampled how even the smallest of roles can leave the biggest of positive impacts.

The leading roles of George Bailey (Jonathan Madorma) and Mary Hatch (Clare Starrs) presented a charming chemistry together that left the audience feeling nothing less than contentment. The affable relationship that formed between Bailey and Clarence Oddbody (Jimmy Mullen) helped to reinforce the overall message of this heart-warming production. Violet Peterson (Megan Krakie) presented perfect comedic timing throughout which added to the individual scenes without an overpowering quality.

One noteworthy technical achievement was Victoria Garcia's musicianship and compilation duties to the show. Her musical skills and judicious choices made for an efficacious addition to the show and brought about a jocundity for audience members that left them smiling from ear to ear.

Other technical achievements included that of Krystopher Dudzinski, Nikolai Dudzinski, and Jacob Curran with their congruous use of background sounds and seamless projection of the actor's speech. Beautifully detailed "gems" could be discovered amongst the props (Jessica Sydow and Maria Horner), such as historically accurate pieces like the TIME Magazine, and the set (Jimmy Mullen, Madison Alicea, and Sam McIlheran), such as the exquisitely hand-painted bricks found on the walls. Also the set team did a commendable job in creating a set that was multi-functional and could be exploited in numerous scenes by adding functions and detailing suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments.

how do we measure the impact of our lives in this world? As the lights went down on the final scene, the answer seemed simple as George Bailey stood center stage surrounded by his family and friends. We measure our lives in the lives of those we've positively touched around us. Saint John Paul the Great's production of It's a Wonderful Life reminded audiences everywhere of this heartening and inspiring truth of humanity.