4CP's latest is "Wonderful"

A classic Christmas story popped out of its black and white television world Sunday and onto the colorful Four County Players stage as the troupe closed out its opening weekend of "It's a Wonderful Life."
It's no easy task taking a beloved Christmas classic and letting it play out on the stage, but the Four County Players were up to the task as they brought George Bailey, Clarence and all of the other characters from the beloved 1946 movie to life.
The scene for much of the play flips between the picturesque streetscape of Bedford Falls, to the interior of Bailey and Brothers Savings and Loan. Some scenes also take place in the Bailey home and the vengeful Mr. Potter's office.
The story begins on a snowy night with a suicidal George Bailey (Randy Clark) debating on whether he should jump off the bridge. He soon encounters Clarence (Steve Bliss), an angel of an unusual style who hopes to save George and earn his wings. Clarence takes George back through the important moments of his life, striving to help him see the important role he plays in the lives of others. The audience sees the relationship develop between George and his future wife Mary (Laura Zwilling), the death of his father which leads him to take over the family business with his uncle Billy (Tom Graham), his helpfulness towards his fellow residents like Violet (Annie Neeley) and his willingness to keep the family business from falling into the hands of the greedy Mr. Potter (Ricci Deloriea). George also plays a part in the success of his younger brother Harry (Will Mawyer) who George saved from drowning at a young age and who goes to college using money originally intended for George's education. George also has a great relationship with his mother Ma Bailey (Laura Mawyer).
However, all that is not enough to help George who runs into despair when Uncle Billy, while on his way to the bank, loses $8,000. Unbeknownst to him, he accidently places the money in Mr. Potter's paper, throwing the bank into financial ruin. George begs Mr. Potter for help, but finds no assistance instead retreating to suicide as a way to obtain funds through his life insurance. He wishes he was never born and Clarence grants the request, throwing George into a world where he doesn't exist. George learns a world with him in it is better than the alternative and begs Clarence to fix it as he learns he truly has a wonderful life.
"It's a Wonderful Life" is enriched by a large cast with some playing multiple roles. Clark channels his inner Jimmy Stewart as lead character George while Bliss is an excellent Clarence. Mr. Potter, although at times looking too young for the part, invokes the unreformed Grinch as Mr. Potter. Zwilling is wonderfully optimistic as Mary, using the money for her honeymoon to help save the savings and loan. Townspeople Neeley, Damian Blewitt (Bert and Mr. Welch), Trevor Short (Ernie), Debbie Owen (Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Hatch), Courtney Jett Walker (Mrs. Martini), Rick Zwilling (Sam Wainwright) and Emily Zwilling (Miss Andrews) help show George's kindness and the town's nature of helping each other. Tom Graham, Linda Barnes (Aunt Tilly), Laura Mawyer and Will Mawyer are great as Bailey's family, along with his children Janie (Leah Merone), Pete (Charlie Hatter) and Zu Zu (Emily Phelps).
Director Kimberley Cutshaw, costume designer Cat Randall, lighting designer Tracie Steger Skipper and set designer Michael Kneller put a believability into the play that makes audience members feel like they too live in Bedford Falls.
"It's a Wonderful Life" runs weekends through Dec. 18. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and students and $12 for children ages 12 and under. Currently, several performances are sold out including Dec. 9, 11 and 16. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please call the box office at 832-5355 or visit www.fourcp.org.