YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU A SMASH HIT AT 6TH STREET PLAYHOUSE.

(l to r)Taylor Diffenderfer, Joe Winkler, Kate Brickley, Lowell Weller, Larry Williams & John Craven share a quiet moment in You Can't Take It With You (Photo byEric Chazankin)

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. Directed by Charlie Queary. 6th Street Playhouse – GK Hardt Theatre, 52 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa. Located in historic Railroad Square

707-523-4185 www.6thstreetplayhouse.com. October 2 -25, 2009

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU A SMASH HIT AT 6^TH STREET PLAYHOUSE.

For their 2009 – 2010 season, the 6^th Street Playhouse has selected the theme of “From Rags to Riches.” After their first offering of the musical Oliver!, they have come up with a real winner with the 70-year-old Pulitzer Prize play You Can’t Take It With You, leaving the audience with satisfied smiles. Although originally a classic three-act play, it is well suited to the two-act format with a memorable climactic first act curtain. The play became a 1938 film with a star-studded cast including James Stewart and Lionel Barrymore garnering an Academy Award. This gentle comedy, right on from the start, unfolds effortlessly on a delightful multi-area set (John Connole), will surely receive a Bay Area Critics Circle award. As an American classic with 20 characters and therefore rarely performed, it may not come around again, so book your tickets now since I predict a sell out run.

Set in the 1930s, we are introduced to a memorable unconventional/idiosyncratic family with members of three generations living in one house. Grandpa Vanderhof (John Craven), a true philosopher, gave up the rat race of the business world 24 years ago, not paid income taxes since it was instituted 13 years ago and collects snakes. His daughter Penny (Kate Brickley) is married to Paul Sycamore (Joe Winkler) and is the parent of Essie (April Krautner) and Alice (Taylor Diffenderfer). Paul is a gadgetteer who builds fireworks in the basement, assisted by Mr. De Pinna (Chris Murphy), an iceman who came in years ago and stayed. Mr. De Pinna also models for Penny’s paintings. Essie, married to Ed (Peter Warden), makes candy that Ed sells. Essie, even after taking ballet lessons for eight years from Russian refugee Mr. Kolienkov (Keith Baker), she still is a terrible dancer. Ed plays the xylophone, is fascinated by printing and has an ancient printing machine on which he prints decorative notes to put in the candy boxes he delivers. Reba (Naomi Sample) is the black maid and cook who is dating Donald (Arnold House). “The two are really cute together, something like Porgy and Bess.” Alas, Alice is the only “normal” member of the household but she loves them all.

Alice works in the firm owned by straight-laced Mr. Kirby whose son Tony is her immediate boss. Tony and Alice are in love but Alice is reluctant to introduce the rich snobby Kirby’s to her nonconformist menagerie. When the Kirbys do arrive, a day before they are expected, pandemonium ensues with a hilarious second act curtain. Six other characters descend on the scene to create further complications, add humor to the action and are integral parts of the denouement. Special mention to Sarah Abbey as Gay Wellington a heavy drinking actress and Elly Lichenstein as exiled Russian Countess Olga carries herself with grace befitting royalty.

Kate Brickley plays Penny with maternal grace befitting her desire to see that all of her brood remain happy. John Craven is the epitome of graciousness keeping strictly in character when all is tumbling down. Handsome Taylor Diffenderfer and beautiful Lowell Weller carry out the star-crossed lover roles with sincerity. Keith Baker’s over-the-top Russian often dominates the stage with his booming voice as he strides about. Naomi Sample and Arnold House fit their description of Porgy and Bess injecting great humor in their roles. There is not a single weak character and be assured you will select your own favorites. Larry Williams and Nuria Ibars as the married Kirbys are wonderful in the game playing scene where truths are unearthed. Yes, there are star performers but this is an ensemble production and director Charlie Queary is the real star of the show.

The set occupies the entire stage a with a working area for Penny’s typewriter where she writes sex plays (never finished), dining area with large table, ancient working printing press and xylophone upstage, living area and stairs leading up and a front door hallway. Queary moves his cast with split second timing through this maze, never missing a beat yet allowing the actors to confront, avoid and communicate smoothly.

Running time about 2 hours and 10 minutes (with intermission) that will keep you amused and clapping. Once again, 6^th Street Theatre has come up with a stunning must see production.

Kedar K. Adour, MD

Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com