It’s a Wonderful Life at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia, MD

Jeri Tidwell Photography

The holiday season is upon us and in between the hustle and bustle of shopping, travel and family gatherings, it’s always nice to find time to spend with those classic holiday TV specials and movies that show up annually this time of year, of which there are many to choose from. Finding a live theatrical holiday show may be a bit more difficult. There are a few and most theatres stick to the classics, particularly variations of A Christmas Carol. The musical version of the classic A Christmas Story has become popular over the last few years, and you can’t go wrong with White Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street. I was surprised to learn that there is also a musical version of It’s a Wonderful Life, and in doing some research I found there are several different musical versions of the film adaptation.

Through its annual television broadcasts, most people are familiar with the story of It’s a Wonderful Life. The story centers around the Bailey family who live in the idyllic town of Bedford Falls. As the story begins, George Bailey is in some kind of trouble, appearing ready to jump off a bridge, wishing that he’d never been born. The quick intervention by the angel Joseph puts a stop to that as he calls for angel Clarence to save George, and in the process finally earn his wings since his last job 150 years ago didn’t turn out so well. But Clarence needs to learn who George Bailey is before he can help him, and he — and the audience — are taken through his life to see what brought him to this place of despair on Christmas Eve. Once he sees the tragedies, triumphs and run ins with the meanest man in town, Clarence decides the best way to help George is to show him what would have happened had he never been born. It take George a few minutes to come to terms with how the town turned out without him and he instantly regrets his wish. It’s no secret that George learns he’s had a wonderful life after all.

Toby’s Dinner Theatre’s production of It’s a Wonderful Life, directed by Toby Orenstein, is remarkably faithful to the film, retaining most if not all of the film’s major story points … with the addition of songs to help forward the narrative. Orenstein’s direction masterfully uses the intimate in-the-round space to allow the audience to connect emotionally with the story and the characters, and she keeps things moving constantly with characters and set-pieces moving on and off the stage from all directions. Lynn Joslin’s lighting design also helps draw the eye to the main action on the stage while other elements are being set elsewhere, and sets the mood whether a scene is joyful or deeply emotional. Choreography (Tina Marie DeSimone), Scenic Design (David A. Hopkins), Sound Design (Mark Smedley), Costume Design (Sarah King) and Properties Design (Shane Lowry) all contribute to the setting, the time period and the emotions of the show.

Jeri Tidwell Photography

When researching the origins of the play, I was also surprised to learn that this show had been produced at Toby’s back in 2015 and many of the main cast members then are appearing in the current version, with several of them also reprising their 2015 roles. David James returns to the role of Clarence, and while he has a serious job in saving George, he’s also the show’s comic relief, interjecting just the right amount of humor to lighten particularly dark moments. With his acting chops and terrific voice, it’s always nice to see the Toby’s regular take on a lead role. Andrew Horn and Tina Marie DeSimone also reprise their roles as Uncle Billy and Aunt Tilly. Horn really evokes the film’s Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell) and DeSimone is a lot of fun to watch as Aunt Tilly. And they can both carry a tune well. Jeffrey Shankle also reprises his role of Bert the Cop, a smaller but important role, especially when George sees life without him. Rounding out the returnees is Robert Biedermann as the town bad guy Mr. Potter, the bane of the Bailey family’s existence and the man responsible for George’s state of affairs as the show opens. Biedermann is terrific as the villain you love to hate, and he seems to relish playing this terrible person. We couldn’t help but to boo him during the curtain call … out of respect for his performance, of course.

Returning cast members in new roles include A.J. Whittenberger, who played the bank examiner originally and is now in the Harry Bailey role, George’s younger brother. Whittenberger has a very funny scene involving a pie in the first act, and while he doesn’t get much stage time in Act II, the character is still an important part of George’s story. MaryKate Brouillet played Violet, the woman of loose virtues, in 2015 and now she is Mary Hatch, who becomes Mrs. George Bailey. Her Mary is a strong woman who knows what she wants — George — and isn’t about to just sit around and wait for it to come to her. She’s also strong and compassionate with George when things go sideways in their lives, and Brouillet’s performance hits all the right notes in the acting and singing. In the role of George is Justin Calhoun, who played Harry in the 2015 production. Calhoun, another Toby’s regular, really caught my eye as the Prince in The Little Mermaid a few years ago and I always look forward to him in a lead role. Calhoun makes George Bailey his own, never trying to imitate James Stewart’s performance in the movie, and allowing us to see just how much of the weight of the world George carries on his shoulders. Calhoun also has a wonderful voice that brings such feeling to all of his songs, and it’s always such a joy to hear him sing.

The rest of the supporting cast, and the child actors as well, are all terrific especially when they get to all be on stage and sing together. I love to watch the ensemble when the main characters are on stage to see what little bits of business they’re doing, whether it’s appearing to talk to other characters, interacting with others or just watching the main action and letting us know what they think through their facial expressions. The cast in a Toby’s show is always on point when it comes to always being in the moment, and the theatre’s in-the-round, intimate configuration really allows you to feel as if you are a part of the show. I have to note the lovely performance of Adrienne Athanas as Ma Bailey. She brings such an authenticity to the role, and her major Act II scene is heart-wrenching. I just wanted to give her a hug.

Jeri Tidwell Photography

The show’s story is remarkably faithful to the movie, so there aren’t any weird additions or subtractions to the plot that will be unfamiliar. The songs, performed with great skill, serve more as dialogue to help tell the story and they are all specific to this show, so don’t expect any familiar Christmas tunes. They all fit very well within the framework of the show, but you probably won’t be humming any of them on the way out. That being said, it all works wonderfully, the performances, the direction, the choreography, the production design as a whole is all marvelous, emotional and enchanting. If you’re looking for an ultimately feel good holiday treat (and it does get a little dark in places), you can’t go wrong with It’s a Wonderful Life.

Don’t forget, this is dinner theatre and I have to say the food at the buffet was particularly delicious, filled with what you might think of as holiday comfort food from mac and cheese to glazed carrots to mashed potatoes and green beans, corn niblets, Toby’s famous Spinach Phunque, meat loaf, roasted chicken, baked tilapia, and the carving board with beef, ham and, yes, turkey. Each show also has a specialty drink, and this one is exceptional — the ‘Special Occasion’, a frozen hot chocolate topped with thick whipped cream, sprinkles and a mini candy cane. The adults can also get the ‘Special Occasion’ with a splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream to make it extra special. It is decadently delicious.

Take some time off from the stress of the holidays, let someone else do the cooking, and enjoy a night of entertainment with a holiday classic at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, MD.

It’s a Wonderful Life: The Musical runs about 2 hours and 45 minutes with one 15 minute intermission. The show runs through January 15, 2023. Toby’s next production is the hilarious musical Something Rotten (January 20 – March 19).

It’s A Wonderful Life 2022 – Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Columbia, MD