Lyceum Theatre Presents Kaufman and Hart's YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU

George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's perennial favorite, You Can't Take It With You, is given a pleasant and breezy staging in the Lyceum Theatre's current production. This venerable comedy classic comes to life in splendid fashion, with a fine cast proving that Kaufman and Hart's punchlines still stand up over 70 years after they were written. In fact, some of the lines regarding how the government spends our tax dollars ring resoundingly true and clear.

This is a familiar tale of a couple from opposite sides of the track who struggle with reconciling the differences between their classes. Although, in this play, most of this line of thinking is emanating from Alice Sycamore, and her own sense of shame concerning her extended family's eccentricities. Her paramour, Tony Kirby, is more open minded, and purposely brings his family to dinner a night early to prove a point. Of course, things goes horribly, horribly wrong. But, when romance is involved, these matters have a way of working themselves out.

Ashlee Lapine and Todd Lanker make an attractive pair of romantic leads as Alice and Tony, respectively. Lapine neatly treads a fine line between being both ashamed of, and proud of her wacky relatives. Lanker maintains an affable and charming air throughout, even under the worst of circumstances. Michael Rothhaar is warm and genuine as the family partriarch, Martin Vanderhof, delivering his speeches/prayers with a believable sense of earnestness, and anchoring this production in the process. Alan Knoll does a nice turn as Alice's father Paul, who's usually found creating fireworks in the cellar; and Peggy Billo brightens the stage as her play writing mother, Penelope.

A large and talented supporting cast includes: Mallory Hawks as the confection-creating Essie, who'd rather dance, even if she displays no talent for it, than make candy; Quin Gresham as her goofy husband Ed, who plays the xylophone and runs his own printing press; Ron Wisninski as Essie's insufferably funny ballet teacher, Boris Kolenkhov; Amy Warner as the spiritualism-obsessed mother Kirby, and the Grand Duchess Olga Katrina; Wade Hughes as Tony's father; Chioma Ayanwu as Rheba, the sassy live-in cook; Leo Sheridan as her accordion-playing boyfriend; Harold Hynick as Mr. De Pinna, who aids Paul in his explosive hobbies; Robin Steinhaus as an alcoholic actress; and Andrew Wells as an easily spooked IRS agent.

Michael Evan Haney's direction is well conceived, and the pace is generally brisk. But, the real "star" of this production may well be Caitlin Ayer's wonderfully constructed, and marvelously appointed scenic design, which conjures up the era in fine fashion. Randy Winder's solid lighting scheme, and Garth Dunbar's period costumes, add to the mood as well.

At it's core, Kaufman and Hart's play examines the idea of following where your heart leads you, and always pursuing happiness, even when the path to it is obscured by ambition, or your own fears.

The Lyceum Theatre's production of You Can't Take It With You continues through August 1, 2009.

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