Hilberry’s revives “You Can’t Take It With You” with style
DETROIT, Mich. — Wayne State University’s Hilberry Theatre opened its 2016-2017 season this weekend with a heartfelt rendition of You Can’t Take It With You. Although written by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman in the Great Depression era, the play’s messages are timeless in their appeal.
Directed by Blair Anderson, the story revolves around the offbeat yet endearing Vanderof-Sycamore family. The patriarch, Martin “Grandpa” Vanderof (Nick Stockwell) is a happy-go-lucky early retiree who scoffs at the idea of paying taxes. The letters that come to him from the government often end up “misplaced” in places like the refrigerator. Other family members include his son-in-law Paul (Cody Robison) and daughter Penelope (Devri Chism) and granddaughters Alice (Wesley Cady) and Essie (Breayre Tender).
Alice is the only seemingly normal member of the family, but she loves them just the same. They are eccentric, but charming. Her mother is a playwright somewhat preoccupied with sexual themes. Her sister has the amusing habit of being in a constant state of dance. Her en-pointe ballet is quite good and garners spontaneous applause from the audience. Father Paul spends his time in the basement designing fireworks with the help of Mr. DePinna (Kyle Mitchell Johnson), who, like others, comes to visit the kooky family and becomes entranced with their quirks.
The problem at hand is Alice has fallen in love with her boss’s son, Tony (Ernest Bentley), and as their romance progresses, she begins to fret over the idea of her family meeting his. Her fears are not unfounded. When Mr. Kirby (Cody Robison) and Mrs. Kirby (Tiffany Michelle Thompson) show up a day before they are expected, chaos ensues and Alice’s worst fears are realized.
The acting across the board is stellar, with especially delightful performances from Tender and Michael Phillip Thomas, who plays the over-the-top family friend, the extremely Russian Boris Kolenkhov. Olga Katrina (Antonia LaChe) practically steals the show with her portrayal of a member of the Russian aristocracy who somehow has ended up as a waitress in America. Essie’s husband Ed (James Kern) adds to the light-hearted feel of the family with several impromptu musical renderings on a vibraphone. And there are: housekeeper Rita (Lauren Valice) and husband Donald (Kevin Keller), taxman Wilbur Henderson (Michael Manocchio), Alice’s actress friend, a very drunk Gay Wellington (Mary Samson) and the G-Men (Santino Craven, Patrick Ceglarek, Pierce King and Kevin Talanges).
Other performances of the play may feature different actors in the roles since in some cases the graduate students switch off the roles they play. For instance, Penelope is played by both LaChe and Chism, as is the character of Olga Katrina.
The entire play is set in the Sycamores’ living and dining rooms, and the decor from Scenic Designer (Emily Willemse) does an excellent job of reflecting their eccentricity. Costumes (from Alyssa Gawel) do a nice job of reflecting each character’s personality. The house was especially warm during the reviewed performance, so the male characters often were quick to shed their jackets.
Even though the play’s happy ending is predictable, it’s still touching and a welcome alternative to the realities of the world. This play is like comfort food and is definitely worth the calories.