By Theron Larkins
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Caribou High School’s Drama Club will be presenting their rendition of the play “You Can’t Take it With You” on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 12-13 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Caribou Performing Arts Center.
Aroostook Republican photo/Theron Larkins
The Caribou High School’s Drama Club will be presenting their rendition of the play “You Can’t Take it With You” on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 12-13 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. Cast members pictured rehearsing for their upcoming performance are, from left, Kris Michaud, Ethan Caron, Lukas Lagasse, Albany McCabe and Kourtenie Rossignol. In back is Jared Moncier.
“You Can’t Take it With You” is a comedic play created by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The original production of the play premiered on Broadway in 1936, and played for 838 performances. The three-act play won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
The play premiered at the Booth Theatre on Dec. 14, 1936 and ran there until Sept. 3, 1938; it transferred to the Imperial Theatre, running from September 5, 1938 to October 29, 1938 and finally transferred to the Ambassador Theatre from October 31, 1938 to December 3, 1938, for the total of 838 performances under Kaufman’s direction.
According to Caribou High School teacher Pat Karpen, who is directing the play, “You Can’t Take it With You” will be opening on Broadway again this month, as part of the play’s 78th year anniversary.
Along with a number of revivals on Broadway during the last 78 years, the play was also the basis for a film produced in 1938, under the same name, which was directed by Frank Capra. The film adaptation received excellent reviews and was awarded the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director of 1938.
The film version has the same overall plot and themes as the play but includes new scenes, dialogue, and slightly different characterizations, such as a side-plot about Kirby Sr.’s attempt to acquire the Vanderhof house for a real estate development, and removed the side-plot of Grand Duchess Olga Katrina.
Director Karpen’s play will stick to the original Broadway plot, and according to her, it takes place in the home of Martin Vanderhof, who resides in New York City.
“He lives there with his daughter Penny, her husband Paul, their daughter Essie, Essie’s husband Ed and another daughter named Alice,” said Karpen. “Thirty or so years ago, Martin Vanderhof left his job. He just walked out of the building and has been living a life of freedom and joy ever since. His eccentric family has followed in his footsteps. All except for Alice, who is able to travel in and out of both worlds, and has fallen in love with the son of the boss of a Wall Street law firm. Complications arise when these two very different families come together.”
The play’s cast includes Albany McCabe as Penny, Emily Bragdon as Essie, Sarah Draper as Rheba, Lukas Lagasse as Paul, Caribou High School librarian Barbara Finlay as Mr. De Pinna, David Okulski as Ed, Dominick Judd as Donald, Ethan Caron as Martin Vanderhof, Kristyn Maley as Alice, Heaven Melanson as Henderson and Olga, Jared Moncier as Tony, Rick Perry as Boris Kolenkhov, Conner Spencer as Gay Wellington, Kris Michaud as Mr. Kirby, Kourtenie Rossignol as Mrs. Kirby and Emma Theriault as a man.
“You Can’t Take it With You” will be performed on Thursday, Dec. 12 and again on Friday, Dec. 13 at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. Both showings will begin at 7:30 p.m. and tickets will be available at the door for $5.
