The Western Stage’s rendition of It’s a Wonderful Life may reveal some cultural anachronisms, but it’s also great fun.

In 1943, Philip Van Doren Stern wrote a story called “The Greatest Gift,” inspired by the 1843 Charles Dickens novella, A Christmas Carol. The next step was the all-American feel-good Christmas movie by Frank Capra – It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), with James Stewart as George Bailey, a bright young man who sacrifices his personal dreams for the sake of the family and his small-town community.

The film is still the most popular and beloved version. But it was the 2006 radio version, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play by Joe Landry, that took the tale from screens onto community stages all over the nation. And it’s that version that is currently playing at The Western Stage.

The play takes us back to a fictional 1940s radio station, WBFR in Manhattan. Younger audience members will get to see a traditional Foley table – perhaps the most exciting element of the performance, where most of the script’s sound effects are created mechanically.

The cast of 12 portray more than 30 distinct characters, which might be confusing if one is not familiar with the plot. Andres Ortiz is a perfect George Bailey. George’s love interest and future wife Mary is played by a charming Amanda Cardoso. The announcer, the story’s antagonist Mr. Potter, and assorted other characters are played by Western Stage Artistic Associate Jeffrey T. Heyer. The not-so-perfect angel Clarence, who is sent to Earth to stop George from killing himself on a Christmas Eve, is Paul McCormack. The play is directed by James M. McLean; the music director is Don Dally.

While the cast certainly delivers, it’s hard not to notice cultural anachronisms that – even though the story is set in the ’40s – Landry should have perhaps reconsidered in 2006. For example, Mary is described as ripe for marriage at the age of 18 (which is not a common life choice for contemporary women that age). Also, from the modern vantage point, it is not clear that sacrificing your personal dreams for the sake of raising children should be perceived as the only moral choice.

Still, these choices of Landry’s aside, the show is great fun.

It’s a Wonderful Life 7:30pm Saturdays, 2pm Sundays through Dec. 3. The Western Stage Mainstage Theater in the Hartnell College Performing Arts Center (Building K), 411 Central Ave., Salinas. $12-$30. 755-6816, westernstage.com. 

This article was updated on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 to let the readers know that audience members don't have to wear masks anymore at the theater.