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Goldstar National

It Could Have Been a Wonderful Life, a One-Man Show

Phoenix Theatre Annex (414 Mason Street San Francisco, CA 94102)
2204740it_could_have_been
Full Price:
$20.00 - $25.00
Our Price:
$10.00 - $12.50*
3.4 by 25 members
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What if the classic movie "It's A Wonderful Life" had featured a Jewish family, the guardian angel was Jack Benny and it was set in Hollywood? Find out as former "Tonight Show" writer Fred Raker portrays 25 wildly entertaining characters in a solo comedy the SF Bay Guardian describes as "nothing less than a wonderful 75 minutes."

* Additional fees apply.

All offers for It Could Have Been a Wonderful Life have expired.

The last date listed for It Could Have Been a Wonderful Life was Sunday December 24, 2006 / 3:00pm.

Phoenix Theatre Annex
414 Mason Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Website
415-820-1565
Stageview

1 Goldstar Member Review

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As versatile as Robin Williams.
Written on Dec 26 2006

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More Information About It Could Have Been a Wonderful Life

Website

http://www.wonderfullife.org/

Quotes & Highlights

  • "This very funny solo performance cleverly weaves Jewish identity and self-doubt into nothing less than a wonderful 70 minutes…Raker has created characterizations that are a treat from beginning to end." --San Francisco Bay Guardian
  • “...a hilarious 70-minute romp written and acted by Fred Raker, an impressionist from the old school...look out for his Jack Benny.” --San Francisco Weekly
  • "Raker's impersonations are spot-on, and he transitions seamlessly from personality to personality without missing a beat..." --North Beach About.com

Description

It Could Have Been A Wonderful Life is a one-man comedy about one man's attempt to come to terms with some serious identity issues. Phil Resnick is an aspiring comedian from Syracuse, New York, whose routines include Maxwell Smart as a mohel and Woody Allen as the host of the nature program "Wild Rabbis." Trouble arises when Phil's father urges him to be more like his idol Jack Benny, who was funny but without being "too Jewish" (Jack did Christmas episodes on his radio and TV programs). This conflict haunts Phil all the way to Hollywood, where he fails to make it. He then returns home to Syracuse where he finds success hosting a senior talent show on the local public TV station. But a comedian friend's stardom on a dreadful hit network show causes Phil to think he's a failure again. He's rescued by his guardian angel (Jack Benny), who shows Phil what his life would've been like had he not left Hollywood.

Fred Raker, Phil Resnick's alter ego and a former writer for the "Tonight Show," is considered by insiders to be one of the finest impressionists performing today. During the course of the play, Fred skillfully inhabits the body and soul of two dozen characters including Woody Allen, Jackie Mason and a host of others both famous and not yet famous.

This production marks the fifth remounting of the show after four successful runs.