Claremont secondary stages the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life this week.
The year-long drama class have brought a stage adaptation to the classic Jimmy Stewart film that will run nightly, 7:30 p.m., from Dec. 12 to 15 at Claremont’s Ridge Playhouse.
“It’s a timeless show and the message holds true, we need our community and a man with fiends is a rich man,” said Claremont drama teacher Colin Plant.
Speaking of rich, Grade 12 student Benson Orrego plays the “villianous” banker Mr. Potter.
Orrego sees Potter as a perfect foil to George Bailey because they are both stubbron and like to be in charge, he said.
“[The play] relates to life because sometimes in life our biggest stumbling blocks are the things are most familiar to us,” Orrego said. “All of us can identify that our biggest struggles are internal ones and our conflicts are with our own selves and George Bailey shows us in the play how we can overcome that.”
There is always good in life, no matter how much opposition there is, he added.
If the opening scene is any indication, the play will be a hit. Dacian Filipescu plays the role of young George Bailey, saving the bumbling Mrs. Goward, played by Sage de Pol, from administering a potentially fatal pharmaceutical mistake. Goward won’t hear Bailey out, of course, until she’s nearly tugged his ear off.
Tickets to It’s a Wonderful Life are $10 at the door. Claremont will reduce the ticket by 50 cents for each non-perishable food item to a maximum discount of $5.
Oak Bay High stages the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol on Dec. 18 and 19, 7 p.m. in the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for students. Donations accepted at the door for the local food bank.
Lambrick Park is holding its Winter Concer in “The Studio” on Dec. 18, 7 p.m.
To have your school play included email reporter@saanichnews.com.
