It's A Wonderful Life - Altrincham Garrick

IT’S hard to believe the original movie wasn’t a huge box office hit because for me at least, Its A Wonderful Life, along with White Christmas, are two of the greatest festive flicks ever made.

While I knew exactly what was coming in act two, when George Bailey’s world starts to fall about his ears, I felt as moved as always.

This is a tribute in no small part to director Barry Purves and Jonathan Higgs who shines as George, a character who is just as angelic as the wonderfully named Clarissa Oddbody, played to perfection by Jacque Hamilton.

Poor George doesn’t have a bad bone in his body and of you’re coming to this story for the first time, you’re sure to find yourself willing her to succeed in her mission to succeed as his supernatural saviour.

I also really enjoyed it when Clarissa takes George for a whistle stop tour of the life he could have had with a whistle stop tour of his home town, renamed Pottersville when in reality its Bedford Falls. This was both haunting and unsettling, shrouded in unrelenting gloom and bleakness.

I also liked Sarah Roberts as Mary, our hero’s devoted and loving wife an Beverley Stuart Cole as Violet, a character who has been there, done it and bought several truck loads of t-shirt.

Pete Grimshaw’s atmospheric music for a production that will move all who see it, unless they’re incurably heartless.

Not content with producing yet another directorial triumph, Purves has also designed a set that’s sure to capture the imagination.

Not to be missed.

Until Nov 23. The box office is on 0161 928 1677 and you can also book online at www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating - 4.5 out of 5.

Photo by Martin Ogden.