The Malibu Stage Company has given our community a delightful Christmas gift. An amazing staged version of the of the Christmas classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” was presented last week. Fortunately, for those who missed it, there will be a final performance on Christmas Day at 3 p.m. No matter how many times you have seen the 1947 Frank Capra movie, this production will knock your socks off. “Production” may be an odd way to describe a one-man show, but it truly is a production.
John Farmanesh-Bocca commands the stage with astonishing portrayals of all of the well-known characters, from George Bailey, to the evil Mr. Potter, to Clarence (the bumbling Angel Second Class seeking to earn his wings), as well as everyone else. Jimmy Stewart, Lionel Barrymore and Henry Travers would have been proud of their doppelgangers. Farmenesh-Bocca not only supplies the characters, but also the sound effects and music. His energetic performance brings all the characters to life. Incredibly, at one point he was even able to stage a believable bar-room fight. It is a bravura performance and he certainly earned his wings. The attendance at the Sunday matinee I was at was rain-dampened but Farmansh-Bocca performed as if there was a full house and the audience responded with great enthusiasm. Don’t miss the Christmas Day performance.
Hank Pollard