'You Can't Take it With You' at Glacier

 Bringing home your new fiancé to your family is not an easy thing to do, especially if your family consists of a snake collector, a fireworks maker, a grandfather who doesn’t trust the government and an aspiring ballerina!  

This wacky cast of characters will be brought to life in The Wolfpack Theatre Company’s Acting 3 production of “You Can’t Take it With You” April 8-9 at 6:33 p.m. in the Wolfpack Theatre at Glacier High School.  

“You Can't Take it With You” is the story of the zany Sycamore family and the outrageous antics that result when their daughter's fiancé brings his conservative parents, the Kirbys, over to the Sycamore house for dinner. Though quite unprepared for their visitors, the Sycamores endeavor to entertain their guests in their own eccentric fashion.

The Kirbys’ disdain is enough to show Alice that marrying Tony would be quite out of the question and, heartbroken, she decides to call off their engagement. Tony, who is ashamed of his parents’ behavior, is determined not to lose Alice and sets about winning his parents over to the Sycamores’ more endearing qualities.

In this classic comedy, the Sycamores remind us that happiness comes in many forms, including fireworks, snakes, xylophones, and ballet slippers. Although the play features off-the-wall characters with unique hobbies, it also reveals reflections of real life. 

The play points to the importance of respecting each other’s differences and solving problems together. The Sycamores show themselves as a great group of people who know what is important in life: love of family, love of friends and doing what you love.

“It's about family and what really makes you happy. It's not the material goods and ‘stuff’ we accumulate but the people in your life that matter most,” Ivanna Fritz, the show’s director and the director of Wolfpack Theatre, said. “It was a nice change from some of the dark plays we've been doing at GHS this year. It had just the right number of characters and gives a lift in spirits. Spring is the perfect time to get over the cloudy winter doldrums and laugh a little.”

Set in New York, this delightful comedy written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1937 and has been revived numerous times in different mediums, including television and a well-known 1938 film starring James Stewart and directed by Frank Capra.

In the Wolfpack Theatre Company production of “You Can’t Take it With You” the black box theatre has been configured into a three quarter thrust stage arrangement which puts the audience directly into the Sycamore living room. 

Acting 3 is one of the six courses that make up the theater curriculum at GHS. In this course students further develop their character portrayal skills and the discipline required to be an actor.  By participating in the process of a real-life production as an actor, students continue to develop the concept of theatre as an art.

The cast of “You Can’t Take It with You” includes Jessica Mount, Kelsey Nostrum, Ellie Dey, Ruben Castren, Jacob Wutke, Ian Wheeler, Adam Younger, Kaleb Turner, Josie Jolly, Grant Bergman, Aaron Robinson, Becca Ames, Hannah Halbur, Ben Habel, Rachel Bjork, Savannah Riggles, Timmy Costenius, Dalton Thomas, Nicole Loff and Mercedes Framness.

Supporting the cast from behind the scenes, Gracey Ortel, Jerry Sandler, Alexa Lamers, Hannah Halbur, Dylan Crandell, Nathan MacGregor, Josh Pitt, Julie Tripp and Aaron Clark make up the stage, sound and lighting crew.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children, students and senior citizens and are available at the GHS Main Office and Photo Video Plus or at the door if still available.