THEATER REVIEW:

There are three ways of instantly renewing your holiday spirit at Christmas time: seeing “A Christmas Carol” at South Coast Repertory, viewing “A Christmas Story” on TV’s TNT channel, or curling up on Christmas Eve to watch the annual rebroadcast of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

But why wait for the latter? Costa Mesa’s Vanguard University is offering a stage version of the story made indelible by Hollywood director Frank Capra and the enriching central character immortalized by Jimmy Stewart.

How one man’s life makes a resounding difference on his family and his community is the central theme of this oft-retold story, and the Vanguard production, ably directed by Amick Byram, is heartwarming and infectious.

A few liberties have been taken. The guardian angel Clarence is now Clara, a somewhat ditsy young lady (Sarah Holloway) and the characters of Bert and Ernie, the cop and the cabbie, have been combined into “Bernie” (Jay Ditto), the town’s law enforcer.

But Bedford Falls is pretty much the same as audiences will remember it, with Paul Eggington’s miniaturized revolving set representing the town and its significant locations. ‘Round and ‘round it goes, and where it stops is where the next scene is played.

No actor ever will erase the memory of Stewart in the role of George Bailey, thrown reluctantly into his late father’s task of running the town building and loan office so that his friends and neighbors can afford decent housing. But Aaron Campbell dives into the part with both feet and makes the character his own.

Campbell deals effectively with the sharp transitions required by a condensed script and is particularly riveting when driven to uncharacteristic fury as his world begins to crumble. He also is well-matched with Michelle Upton as his sweetheart and later wife, Mary, who adds a touch of sparkle to the show.

The miserly old Henry Potter, who controls most of the town and covets George’s business, is splendidly enacted by George DeVries, with only a cane to remind us that his movie counterpart, Lionel Barrymore, was in a wheelchair. Aaron Wheeler is particularly faithful to the film version in his depiction of George’s weak, nervous and tippling Uncle Billy.

Other notable performances are etched by Karah Gravatt as the flirtatious Violet, Becka Haller as George’s mother, Kelsey Johnston as the humorless bank examiner, David Macy-Beckwith as the town druggist and Connor Berkompas as young George, who began making a difference quite early.

Vanguard regularly astonishes with its talent for squeezing large-cast shows onto the limited dimensions of the Lyceum Theater stage, and this one is no exception. Even with most of the upstage area dominated by the revolving setting, Byram’s cast moves fluidly around the available area.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” remains part of our holiday consciousness over a half-century after the classic movie was born. At Vanguard University, its characters reach out for the heart.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “It’s a Wonderful Life”

WHERE: Vanguard University, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

WHEN: Closing performances tonight & Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 & 8, Sunday at 1 p.m.

COST: $15 - $12

CALL: (714) 668-6145

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews appear Thursdays.