You can't take it with you

By Moss Hart & George Kaufman


Grandpa Vanderhof and his wacky family, the Sycamores, have been happily living their zany lives in his house by Columbia University in New York for many years. This family (and their friends) are a madcap group of eccentrics, marching to the beat of their own drum, with pride and joy. Their hobbies include collecting snakes, building fireworks in the basement, writing a myriad of plays that never get published, and taking ballet lessons. Things like stress, jobs, and paying taxes to the government are for other people, not for them! But when practical young Alice Sycamore becomes engaged to her company’s Vice President Tony Kirby, the Vanderhof/Sycamore clan must straighten up to meet the new in-laws. Disaster ensues when the Kirby's arrive at the wrong time and, despite the best laid plans, see Alice’s family in all of its crazy glory. The evening ends with everyone in the house getting arrested, and Alice ending the engagement. It isn’t until Grandpa’s wise speech to Mr. Kirby about the importance of living life to the fullest that the two families find a way to accept each other, and love conquers all. You Can’t Take It With You is a madcap, idealistic comedy that reinforces the idea that you can only live life to the fullest by doing whatever makes you happy.

Photos


Cast


Name Role
Leslie Rostron Director
Doris Collinge Penelope Sycamore
Glenis Ashworth Essie
Olwen Stansfield Rheba
Norman Ranshaw Paul Sycamore
Jack Dobson Mr De Pinna
Gordon Gluyas Ed
Robert Shepherd Donald
Jack Crisp Grandpa Vanderhof
Irene Crankshaw Alice
John Landless Henderson
Stanley Whittaker Tony Kirby
Owen Ryder Boris Kolenkhov
Rose Dodds Gay Wellington
Granville Cheetham Mr Kirby
Gladys Cheetham Mrs Kirby
Jim Connor Man
John Litton Man
Brian White Man
Doris Warburton Olga

Past Production

This show ran from 16th May 1952 - 24th May 1952.

Venue

St John's School
Cloughfold
Peel Street
BB4 7LJ

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