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Regional Reviews: Raleigh/Durham You Can't Take It with You
First produced in 1936, You Can't Take It with You won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1937 and was adapted into an Academy Award winning film in 1938. Its eccentric family continues to resonate with audiences almost a century later. The story centers around the delightfully unconventional Vanderhof/Sycamore/Carmichael household. It is a bustling home filled with creativity, chaos, and unapologetic individuality. The household is headed by Grandpa Vanderhof (Ray Anthony Thomas), an eccentric and carefree man who hasn't paid income tax in years. His daughter, Penny (a delightful Julia Gibson), writes eclectic plays while her husband, Paul Sycamore (Trevor Johnson), is an inventor who has collaborated with his former iceman, Mr. De Pinna (Jim Bray), in creating homemade fireworks. Their eldest daughter, Essie (Elizabeth Dye), makes candy but dreams of becoming a ballerina and is married to Ed Carmichael (Matthew Donahue), a printer by trade but he also enjoys playing the xylophone. The youngest daughter, Alice (a charming Delaney Jackson), is the most practical member of the family and is often embarrassed by her relatives but loves them deeply. She has fallen in love with a coworker, Tony Kirby (Reez Bailey), who happens to be the son of the boss. She hopes her family will make a good impression on him and his parents' visit to the home while, at the same time, the IRS and federal agents are keeping an eye on the family's bohemian lifestyle. Under the direction of Nathaniel P. Claridad, the production moves with excited fluidity. Daniel Zimmerman's scenic design is beautifully put together with every attention given to detail. It is an intricate collage of artifacts that looks like a museum but with a homey feel. A mechanical invention that provides water for Mrs. Sycamore's plants was an immediate crowd pleaser. Anne Kennedy's costume design serves the play well and Derek A. Graham's sound design provides a fitting musical soundtrack of early 20th century music. Graham also provides explosive sounds to the beautiful lighting design of Kathy A. Perkins that provides bursts of color and excitement when fireworks go off, figuratively and literally. This production invites nostalgia and explores timeless themes. It is easy to see the play as a precursor to other stories with a plot of introducing a romantic partner to an embarrassing family, whether it is in the play Auntie Mame or the holiday film The Family Stone. Its warmth, wit and humor make this play an enduring favorite that anyone would enjoy. You Can't Take It with You, presented by PlayMakers Repertory Company, runs through December 7, 2025, at the Joan H. Gillings Center for Performing Arts, 120 Country Club Road, Chapel Hill NC. For tickets and information, please visit www.playmakersrep.org or call 919-962-7529. Playwrights: Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman Cast: |
