Saint Viator students tackle 1930s comedy

The outcome of a presidential election, an economy coming out of recession and the burden of family expectations to work on Wall Street.

Sound familiar? In fact, these themes date back 80 years and drive the twists and turns in the Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy "You Can't Take it With You."

Saint Viator High School students tackle the zany characters in the show, which was written in 1936 by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.

Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29, and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door.

"There are so many parallels to what's going on today," says Kate Costello, director. "The play won the Pulitzer Prize because it was funny - and it had a lot to say."

The plot revolves around Grandpa Vanderhof - played by seniors Zac Jones of Des Plaines and Bryan Rapala of West Dundee - who stopped working 35 years ago and decided to enjoy life.

His extended family provides all kinds of madcap antics in their eccentric household, but potentially might be too much for his granddaughter's suitor and his strait-laced family.

"The audience is immersed in a world of eccentric characters who are out of step with those around them," Costello adds. "Most high school students can identify with that."

Cast members - a total of 45, divided between two casts - say they embraced their individual characters but worked diligently on the timing and delivery of their jokes.

"It's comedy, so it lives or dies on the timing," says Zac, who has appeared in multiple plays and musicals during his four years at Saint Viator.

"All of the dynamism of the show depends on the characters. The dialogue has to be sharp, moments have to chase each other - or they fall flat."

Seniors Matthew Frank of Arlington Heights and Matthew Fecko of Rolling Meadows share the role of Tony Kirby, a junior Wall Street executive and love interest of Alice Sycamore, played by seniors Aria Bernardi of Palatine and Olivia Dominguez of Mount Prospect.

"I have to play it pretty straightforward," Matthew Frank says. "I come into this family that's not concerned with appearances; they just let it all go. That's the main conflict."

Another senior, Miriam Varvara of Arlington Heights, shares the role of Penny, Alice's mother, with senior Stephanie Bremner, also of Arlington Heights.

"She's lighthearted and optimistic," says Miriam, of her character, "but at the same time she doesn't have a filter, which makes it very uncomfortable for people. I love that."