Keaton Gives 'A Wonderful Life' Its Wings

In the second year of Porchlight Music Theatre's presentation of A Wonderful Life, they have been sent their Guardian Angel in the wonderful human form of Ron Keaton.  A character actor with no equal in Chicago, Keaton single handedly gives this production its heart.

Faithful to the spirit of the short story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern on which it is based, much of the dialogue employed by "Fiddler on the Roof" librettist Sheldon Harnick is taken verbatim from the screenplay. The late "Sesame Street" tunesmith, Joe Raposo, provides the music for this ture to the era piece. [In an interesting yet sad turn, Mr. Raposo passed away from cancer prior to seeing the musical in its final form because the musical adaptation got held up in litigation over rights.]

Jason Brooks from recent Ragtime fame sure has the stage presence and singing voice to portray the beloved George Bailey.However throughout the performance he mumbled his dialogue to a point that if those of us didn't know the movie so well, we would have a hard time understanding what he is saying. Jess Godwin is s lovely Mary. Her singing is excellent, and her performance has a buoyancy and likability that is always engaging. Dan Loftusis is deliciously villainous as Henry Potter and strongly delivers First Class All the Way, the song in which Potter attempts to bribe and seduce George into giving up the savings and loan, and coming to working for him.

Any faults of the production are alleviated when Mr. Keaton is on stage. With a wit, voice, and agility that is so miraculously captivating, even when there is the entire company of actors on stage, all focus goes to Mr. Keaton and for good reason.He is brilliant. 

Director Ron Lindley knows how to move the plot along while bringing out the nuances in each scene.  Musical Director/Conductor/Keyboardist, Benjamin Bentler does stellar work in a acoustically difficult space to work in and has total command of the the band and the actors during the musical numbers.

Instead of plopping your family down in front of a television to watch the film, take them out to see some live theatre and truly give them a gift they will treasure for life.A Wonderful Life is a wonderful tradition.

A Wonderful Life plays at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave, Chicago through December 20, 2007.  For tickets and showtimes visit www.theatrebuildingchicago.org or www.ticketmaster.com.  Box office phone (773) 327-5252.

Photo: Ron Keaton and Jeffrey A. Ward