You Can’t Take It With You
My thoughts on You Can’t Take It With You or… lovable eccentrics certain to delight
Who would have thought this 89 year old Pulitzer Prize winning play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart would be the comedy hit of the summer? But it is. In fact, I would urge you to stop reading this review and click on the ticket button below immediately or you’ll be kicking yourself forever after.
Theatre Arlington’s production, helmed by Directors Larry Cure and Sharon Kaye Miller, is a theatrical feast even before the first actor steps on stage. Scenic Designer Bryan Stevenson, who is also the lighting designer, has created a remarkable set filled with the collected memorabilia of the Vanderhof/Sycamore family. There are musical instruments, paintings, photos, antiques, flags, and more covering the red walls and serving to emphasize the wildly unconventional lives of the family. A big shout out to Properties Designer Robin Dotson who must have spent weeks finding all the props for the play. There are wonderful period costumes by Saul Ortiz and first-rate sound by Victoria Esquibell.
The Vanderhof/Sycamore family is led by the kind, loving, and opinionated patriarch “Grandpa” Martin Vanderhof in his home near Columbia University. Grandpa Vanderhof lives by the philosophy that you shouldn’t do anything that doesn’t bring you joy. Therefore, he collects snakes and stamps, goes to commencements, and plays darts, but doesn’t believe in paying taxes. Family, extended family, and friends live in the house with Grandpa. To say that David Coffee is brilliant as Grandpa would not even come close to describing his performance that is charming, witty, and winning. His every movement and gesture is perfection. Coffee’s Grandpa is the heart and soul of You Can’t Take It With You.
Under Grandpa’s roof are his playwright by chance and sometime artist daughter Penny Sycamore, portrayed with sincere comic conviction by the sensational Laurel Collins, and Penny’s husband Paul, a fireworks inventor, played by David Young with gleeful enthusiasm.
The Sycamores have two daughters Essie and Alice. Essie, a candy maker and wannabe ballerina, is Donovan Marie Lawson pirouetting her way to physical comedy heaven as the short on talent, long on dedication Essie in a performance that is “on pointe.” Essie is married to Ed, an amateur printer and xylophone player played with youthful exuberance by Landry Beckley. The luminous Hailee Dyer is daughter Alice. Alice is the one character in the family who seems to have escaped the eccentricity gene. Dyer, has a wonderfully appealing presence and sparkling eyes that radiate sincerity making it easy to believe that Tony Kirby falls in love with Alice. (To be honest, so did I)
Tony Kirby, portrayed with lovestruck charm by the terrific Joseph Tully, whose demeanor reminded me of those 1930’s leading men like Cary Grant and James Stewart, is the son of Alice’s boss. Of course, Tony’s parents are appalled by the lifestyle of the Sycamores when they show up for dinner on the wrong evening. Harry Parker is excellent as the straight-laced, no-nonsense Mr. Kirby and is quite touching once the tough outer shell is broken. Sarah Powell’s facial expressions as proper society matron Mrs. Kirby had me laughing as she tries to maintain her dignity even though she is horrified by the situation.
Mattie Lillian Davis is super as Rheba the maid to the family and seems to let nothing much ruffle her feathers. Rheba takes all the zaniness of the family in stride. Her boyfriend is Donald, an amiable guy but far from the brightest bulb and Maximilian Swenson gives him a goofy, sweet natured appeal.
Others who appear in the household include Kolenkhov, Essie’s ballet instructor. He is a Russian through and through and proud of it. Steven D. Morris, so good at physical comedy, has a field day as the loud and proud Russian whose manners don’t quite sync with Western ways. The scene where he tackles Mr. Kirby is a classic. Jenna Anderson is amusing as Gay Wellington, an actress and lush, who is there to read a play for Penny. Mr. DePinna, who made a delivery to the household eight years ago and decided to stay, is played by Edward Cannady. Cannady’s DePinna is mostly a serious sort who stays in the basement experimenting with fireworks but finds some excitement modeling for a portrait by Penny. Randy Jordan has some fine moments as Henderson, the incredulous, exasperated IRS agent. Even G-Men, Prem Desai, Zeke Fayble, and Scott Eddins Jr who make a brief appearance get a chance to shine in the play.
And just when you think You Can’t Take It With You couldn’t possibly get any better, in comes the incredible Deborah Brown as Grand Duchess Olga Katrina, a Russian exile now working as a waitress in a Times Square restaurant and a friend of Kolenkhov. Brown, one of DFW’s finest performers, gives Olga dignity and a lighthearted acceptance of her current situation. She even makes blintzes for the family while in her regal finery.
Directors Cure and Miller give You Can’t Take It With You as much tenderness and warmth as they do hilarity. And I don’t know who it was who decided to try to make me verklempt by adding the song at the end of the curtain call, but you succeeded. This play is a gem, The title is You Can’t Take It With You, but you’re gonna wish you could.
Photos by Jacob Oderberg
