A NIGHT OF LAUGHTER

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 15, 13 October 1943, Page 8

A NIGHT OF LAUGHTER

“You Can’t Take It With You” HILARIOUS STAGE COMEDY “You Can't Take It With You,” a comedy in three acts by Moss Hart and Geo. S. Kaufman. Cast of characters: Penelope Sycamore . . Aileen Parkhouse Essie Coralie Smythson Rheba • T Vt l G> , Paul Sycamore John Orenna.i Mr. De PinnaHarry A. 1 uinter Ed Henry Kelly Donald J- T s “ l " uler 2 Martin Vanderhoff .... Ernest Le Gioie Alice Rosina Calvert Henderson .' Eric Bates Tony Kirby Dennis Hartley Boris Koienkhov * rank L\ cils Gay Wellington nfidii AsM* Mr. Kirby '‘Vian Khmu Mrs. Kirby 1' r ®fl a Youu» Those clever writers of comedy, Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, who gave the American public “Once in a Lifetime” during the big depression ot Iyears ago, hit the high spot again when they wrote “You Can't Take It AA H You,” the hilarious comedy performed with commendable spirit by the AA j 5111 . 11 ’.' ton Repertory Theatre at the lee lln “' a College Hall last night. Only onee in a while is a comedy born that is so ripe with healthy laughter as this hotch-potch dqmes.ic tangle affecting the Sycamore Here is a complete album of apparently crazy folk, living in perfect amity, taking each .one’s peculiarities as something quite natural, while to the onlooker thev are slightly touched; and here again, is the one nice girl, Alice, who finds her soul mate in the son ot a wealthy Wall Street magnate, only to find herself up against the utterly incompatible. Alice’s mother is a lightheaded crackpot who fancies she can write plays; her father, Paul Sycamore, manufactures tireworks in the cellar as a hobby; her sister. Essie, is a would-be dancer who* pirouettes through life, while dear old Martin Vanderhaff. the grandfather, collects snakes when not philosophizing gently on the folly of worrying about anything. Then there is the Russian anti-Bolshevist, Boris Koleukhov, who teaches dancing; Gay Wellington, an actress overfond of gin, and old De Pinna, who assists in the fireworks business below stairs, all of whom help to keep the laughter going. Tony Kirby is the gilded youth who will not desert his Alice “for a wilderness of monaeys. while his father and mother represent what the Americans call class. Most of the trouble occurs when the Kirbys pay a surprise visit to the Sycamores, discover them indulging in an orgy of the wildest fun. and, after registering disgust, are finally won round by the loyalty, of Tony to Alice, and the plausible philosophy of old Vanderhaff. At that point the place is raided by the police, who arrest everyone, on account of.some silly circulars Essie’s husband has printed on his home press, in the middle of which scene the whole stock of fireworks in the cellar explodes violently. There are sighs and recriminations the next morning, but everything finally ends happily to the accompaniment of laughter and tears Among the sound performances one ot the test was that of old Vanderhoff by Mr. Ernest le Grove, who gets a lot of geniality and kindiv tolerance into his even work. Aileen ‘Parkhouse. as his skittish daughter, Mrs. Sycamore, would have beenbetter were she to pitch her voice in a lower key, for much of the opening dialogue was missed on that account; still, she was bright and entertaining in the banalities native to the role. Rosina Calvert, attractive in presence and highly intelligent. made Alice the embodiment of a nice healthy girl aglow with the beauty, or first love, and her distraction on seeing her paradise in danger through the idiocies of her family was well simulated. Tony Kirby was attractively played by Dennis Hartley, and Vivian Rhind as Kirby, sen., and Freda Young as Mrs. Kirby, were amusing in their outraged dignity at the Sycamore party. Other players who contributed to the general hilarity were Coralie Smythson (Elsie), Harry Painter (de Pinna), Henry Kelly (Ed), Prank Evenson (the seven-foot Kolenkhov), Ina Gyles (the coloured Rheba), J. Saunders (Donald), Hilda Ashe (the gushing Grand Duchess Olga). “You Can’t Take. It With You” was admirably produced by Mr. W. S. Wauchop with a’ full appreciation of its possibilities for diverse characterization and fun. The characteristically overstocked livingroom of the Sycamores—the only, scene — was the capable work of Mr. W. J. Conroy. The comedy will be performed throughout the week. As a tonic for the times it is commended. Among those present last night were his Excellency the Governor-General and a party from Government House.