Dundee-Crown to present 'You Can't Take it With You'

These days, it's not hard to find reality shows and movies featuring eccentric families.

Dundee-Crown High School students will take on the roles of family members with their own special quirks in their production of "You Can't Take It With You," directed by Helen Hoffman.

"This is a play where there are no villains," said Hoffman. "Everyone is accepted."

The play's lack of a villain brings out a number of unique characters, giving students the opportunity to try out new personality traits.

Junior Jackie Kelly, who plays Alice Sycamore, embraces her unusual role with humor and an open mind.

"It's incredibly out of character for me, so it's a challenge," said Kelly. "I'm supposed to act really, really normal, which is weird because I'm the least normal one here."

Kelly isn't the only cast member who's enjoying her role. Senior Anastasia Jareckyj is also having fun as Essie Sycamore, an aspiring ballerina.

"I like that it's a lot of physicality and dance," said Jareckyj.

"You Can't Take it With You" tells the story of the eccentric Sycamore family. Penny Sycamore is Essie and Alice's mother, a playwright. Her husband Paul and family friend Mr. De Pinna make fireworks in the basement, while Grandpa Vanderhof does whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

Along with the maid Rheba and her boyfriend Donald, the family lives a happy, if quirky, existence.

Alice seems to be the only normal member of the family, and when she meets Tony Kirby, she must do everything she cannot to scare him, or his family, away. But disaster may strike when Tony brings his uptight parents to dinner the night before Alice had planned, which means she hasn't had time to organize everyone to behave normally - or as normally as possible for the Sycamore family.

The play, written by Kaufman and Hart, first opened in 1936 and ran 837 performances. The movie adaptation won an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1938. Successful Broadway revivals in the 1960s and 1980s went on to prove its timeless popularity.

For many cast members in the play, one of the best parts of the show is coming together to make it the best it can be, as well as enjoying themselves in the process.

"Because of the play you kind of develop a family," said Jareckyj. "You can rely on someone else if you forget something, whether it be a line or props."

Other cast members shared Jareckyj's sentiment, confirming the importance of the sense of community onstage and off.

"The people I'm working with (are people) I've been working with on other plays for years," said senior Karl White, who plays Donald. "It's like a second family."

For some, the play not only helps to form new friendships, but it also creates an appreciation for acting and helps perfect skills, explains senior Mason Riedl.

"I enjoy performing, and taking on the role of someone else," said Riedl, who plays Tony's father, Mr. Kirby. "Working on how I move and the speed at which I talk has been a shift for me."

The moral of the play calls for mutual understanding and looking past small eccentricities, as well as living for happiness rather than material gain. According to Hoffman, the play "promotes acceptance of quirks and foibles in society."

While the humor and meaningful message of the play are important, senior Nick Reedy, who plays Grandpa Vanderhof, feels the cast's connection is the element that will ultimately bring the show to life.

"I really enjoy the atmosphere," said Reedy. "It's a bunch of really awesome people, and I like working together with them to make a great production."

If you go

What: Dundee-Crown High School's production of "You Can't Take It With You"

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday Nov. 6 and Saturday Nov. 7

Where: 1500 Kings Rd, Carpentersville

Tickets: $8, $7 for seniors and children 14 and under

Details: Call Helen Hoffman, (224) 484-5206

Cast of 'You Can't Take it With You'

Dan Boulnois, Alex Campe. Rachael Downing, Kim Glasciel, Anastasia Jareckyj, Jackie Kelly, Joe Kuczynski, Sam Moore, Zach Olafson, Gina Paxson, Belia Portillo, Shane Rakow, Nick Reedy, Mason Riedl, Brooke Schleehauf, Tara Shedor, Leah Soderstrom, Nick Spindler, Karl White