"You Can't Take it With You" was an explosive comedy, booming with laughter and a pretty cool exploding basement.
Produced on the main stage by the Southwestern College TA 100 class, "You Can't Take it With You" was a showcase of talented actors and Eisenhower-era comedy. Ruff Yeagers staging was deft, nostalgic and fun.
A big blow-up in Act II is metaphorical for family tensions. Paul Sycamore (David Billot) and Mr. De Pinnas (Jonah Vatunigere) see their hopes and dreams go up in smoke when their homemade fireworks blow up the basement. Talk about recking the house! Gary Larson's special effects nearly stole the show.
The set design left nothing to be desired either. The stage was the living room of the Vanderhof household. Everything on stage looked authentic, no cheep flimsy walls here.
A 1950s morality play set in a middle class, Baby Boom family, the show has a classic Romeo and Juliet motif except in this version no one drinks poison.
Anthony Kirby (Yeager) and Miriam Kirby (Julia Foster) are your typical rich snobs. After an awkward get-together at the Sycamore's house, an interruption from some rude tax collectors, and the big bang, the Kirbys decide they did not like the idea of their son Tony (Jeff Hillman) pursuing Alice (Jasmin Mellado).
In a later scene Martin Vanderhof (Fred Harlow) and Anthony have a heart-to-heart. Vanderhof convinces Anthony that he needs to relax and enjoy life. He tells him that you can have all the money in the world, but still miss out on happiness. When you die, he counsels, you cannot take your money with you.
Another nice touch was the clever use of music from Ed Carmichael (Jose Luis Baylon) on his xylophone. In areas of the play that would normally be dull, Carmichael played his xylophone in sync with what was happening on stage to add comedic value.
Yeager coaxed superb performances from his cast.
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