Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman’s genius play, “You
Can’t Take It With You,” proves that some old lessons
in life will never be antiquated.
Christopher Hart, the son of playwright Moss Hart, does his
father proud in directing the Geffen Playhouse’s production
of the timeless tale of family, identity and finding your own
way.
The play’s plot is simultaneously simple and complicated,
which is one of its greatest strengths. The Vanderhoff family takes
life one day at a time, indulging in quirky hobbies such as boat
building and candy making, all the while being content and loving.
Their warmth draws many interesting house guests, who add to the
hilarious drama that ensues.
The only person trying to get away from this wonderful group of
slightly odd characters is the oldest daughter in the family,
Alice, who is engaged to the very wealthy son of her boss in New
York City.
Set in the Big Apple during the 1930s, the play’s
characters are challenged with the changing roles of women,
fashion, politics and commerce. While Alice stresses over the
introduction of her family to her beloved’s, the audience is
drawn into the strange mannerisms and wonderful ability of this
family to support each other against all odds.
Hart does a great job of keeping with the original set aspects
of the play, making sure to mention political debates and radio
news of the time.
The particular casting of this production has a lot to do with
its success. Some characters are stronger than others, but all
members of the cast bond together with a convincing familial
chemistry.
While there are many strong characters in the show, the most
powerful is that of Penelope Sycamore, played by Lisa Richards.
“Penny,” as she’s referred to in the show, is
Alice’s mother and a slightly spacey playwright. Her best
features include the use of lewd vocabulary in the presence of the
uptight Mr. and Mrs. Kirby, parents of Alice’s fiance, and
her deep indulgence in the dramatic world of play writing.
Richard’s charming portrayal of the well-meaning but naive
mother is at once hilarious and precious.
Other strong characters include Rheba, the house cook, played by
Carla Renata, who performs her job with a light jollity and just a
hint of social understanding that saves her from being completely
stereotyped as a typical black house servant of the times.
A few characters, such as the diva Essie Sycamore, Alice’s
younger sister, played by Dagney Kerr, can be played with such
enthusiasm that they can border on obnoxious at times.
Essie’s character, however, is forgiven her showboat nature
when she prances around the stage in clumsy leaps and pirouettes as
the world’s worst dancer in denial.
“You Can’t Take It With You” is a tale about
accepting the people you love for who they are. It’s also a
wake-up call to those chasing financial success above all else.
Martin Vanderhoff, “Grandpa,” teaches the characters,
as well as the audience, that the immaterial is what one should
value because, after all, you can have all the money in the world,
but you can’t take it with you.
-Alexis Matsui