The Community Players are closing out their 96th season with their production of the classic George S. Kaufman/Moss Hart comic play You Can’t Take It With You. The show opens on July 7 and runs through the July 16.
The large cast includes Michael Anthony, Laura Benjamin, Michelle Golda, Bradford Greer, Richard Griffin, Ashley Lopes, Daniel Martens, Ron Martin, Brian Mulvey, Rachel Nadeau, Frank O’Donnell, Lee Rush, Kevin Thibault, Marc Tiberiis, Lauren Trad, Rebecca Tung, Carol Varden, Leslie Racine Vazquez and Heather Vieira.
The show focuses on the Sycamore family, a collection of eccentric incompetents, who keep a printing press in the parlor, manufacture fireworks in the basement, are friends with an ex-grand duchess, and include a grandpa who does not believe in paying taxes. When daughter Alice falls in love with straight-laced Tony Kirby and invites his conservative, high society parents to dinner, she orders her family to “ordinary up,” which means act like normal people.
Director Patricia Hawkridge told Motif the show is “sweet” and “gentle.” “The characters are real people who have allowed themselves to ‘follow their bliss’ instead of living the way that society tells them is the right and responsible way to live,” Hawkridge explained.
Hawkridge has remained faithful to the original production, which debuted in 1936 and was later adapted into a motion picture.
“We have kept very close to the script and to the actions within it. Everything that audiences will see has been created by the cast and myself,” Hawkridge noted. “We approached the rehearsals as a collaborative process and the result is something that is real, honest and meaningful to myself and the cast and crew.”
Hawkridge said working on You Can’t Take It With You has been a “sheer delight.”
“We set out to build a strong family atmosphere and we have accomplished that,” Hawkridge added. “Everyone enjoys each other’s company. I am very proud of the fact that the process has been as enjoyable as the product will be.”
You Can’t Take It With You. The Community Players. Jenks Auditorium, 350 Division St. Pawtucket. For tickets, call 401-726-6860. thecommunityplayers.net.