By JILL U. ADAMS
As we are comforted by the rituals of the holiday season, so are we enlivened by revisiting their lessons anew.
The New York State Theatre Institute (NYSTI) is offering one of those lessons in its holiday offering of It’s a Wonderful Life at the Schacht Fine Arts Center on the Russell Sage College campus in Troy this month through Saturday, Dec. 16. It’s the classic story, adapted from the 1946 film, made all the more familiar with television reruns of the movie.
`It’s a musical, but it’s the same story,` said Patricia DiBenedetto Snyder, who directs the play and is the founder and producing artistic director of NYSTI. `It clings pretty close to the movie story line. I wouldn’t want to change it.`
George Bailey, played by Timothy Booth, dreams of getting out and seeing the world, but is prevented from doing so by one crisis after another. With the help of Clarence the angel, played by John Romeo, George realizes that each of these occurrences, while laced with disappointment, helped a neighbor in a significant way, and over the years, helped build a close and caring community.
The familiar words of moviemaker Frank Capra are present, says Booth, `but it’s the beauty of live theatre. It’s like a living being that they’re part of. I think they really go through the journey with George and Clarence and the townspeople.`
Theatrical touches add to the immediacy `sounds, smells, sights, lights ` that aren’t in the movie.
`And the costumes are absolutely gorgeous,` Booth said. True to the 1940s period, the 1940’s, Booth says wearing the costume enhances his performance.
`It’s a lot more clothing than we’re used to,` he said. `You find the way to walk.`
NYSTI performed `A Wonderful Life,` adapted by Sheldon Harnick with music by Joe Raposo, in 1998 and 1999, but not again until this year. Booth, who George Bailey in the earlier productions, says it feels great to revisit the role.
`It’s a little more informed, just being older,` he said of his performance. `I’m George’s age now.`
The stage production includes musical numbers, including a rousing version of the dance, the Charleston.
`It’s huge,` said Booth. `Forty-two people jumping around on the stage doing the Charleston. It’s a lot of energy.`
His favorite moments in the play are the `indulgent ones,` said Booth. Those are the ones that piece everything together. One is when George’s daughter Zuzu, played by 6-year-old Sophie Whiteman, says `every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.`
`And I just look at that little girl and say, ‘I hope so,’` said Booth. `He’s so grateful that he’s back,` he said of his character. `And he hopes that the angel gets his wish too.`
Working with child actors is wonderful, said DiBenedetto Snyder.
`They’re quick and they’re eager and they’re so excited about the show,` she said. `For me, the holidays are about that, about the children.`
DiBenedetto Snyder shows her commitment to children at the holidays by giving away tickets to the Northeast Parent and Child Society, for children residing at the center as well as children in foster homes to come with their foster parents. Believing that theatre is an instrument of hope, and she also believes in the theme of the play.
`This community pulls together to help George Bailey,` said DiBenedetto Snyder. `A Wonderful Life` sets an example of concentrating on the positives and of the timeless message that it is better to give than receive, she says.
`I feel that if more people in this world would do that with one another, we’d have a better world,` she said.
Many shows are sold out, but remaining tickets can be purchased at the NYSTI box office 274-3256 or online (www.nysti.org).“
