Glenbard South actors take on screwball comedy

One of the most stressful times in a newly-engaged woman's life has got to be when she meets her fiance's family for the first time.

Imagine, then, if that family shows up unannounced to meet her family at her home -- where dad makes fireworks in the basement, the neighborhood ice man's taken up residence and grandpa stopped working and lounges around all day.

Oh, and grandpa hunts snakes, too.

No worries, it's all just a part of "You Can't Take it With You," the comedy on tap this week at Glenbard South High School in Glen Ellyn.

Teacher Laura Samper said she selected the 1930s screwball comedy because it provided students with a different opportunity. Many of the same students had done the heavy drama "Witness for the Prosecution" in 2006.

"It's sort of like The Munsters, where (the family) is in their own little world and they don't understand why everyone isn't like them," she said.

The play won a Pulitzer Prize, then subsequently received an Academy Award in 1938 when a young Jimmy Stewart played one of the lead roles.

Alice, the strikingly normal daughter in this quirky but loving family, falls in love with her boss' son, Tony, to whom she becomes engaged. Tony's family is expected for dinner, but arrives a day ahead of time and well before she can get everyone prepared for his father's staid approval, Samper said.

It turns out Tony arranged the mistake so his father could see that appearing successful on the outside doesn't equate with success.

While it all works out, there are plenty of mishaps to be had, Samper said.

If you go

"You Can't Take it with You," a comedy presented by Glenbard South High School students

7:30 p.m. today through Saturday

23W200 Butterfield Road, Glen Ellyn

$5 for reserved seats; booster family passes may be used

Details: (630) 942-6640 or www.glenbardsouthhs.org.

Cast

Erika Wagner as Penelope Sycamore

Erina Johnson as Essie

Taylor Cochran as Rheba

Alex Diedrick as Paul Sycamore

Dan Alfonzo as Mr. DePinna

Joe Moese as Ed

Andre Finney as Donald

CJ Vana as Martin Vanderhof

Emi Hayashi as Alice

Jack Buckley as Henderson

Grant Deliberto as Tony Kirby

George Bouchard as Boris Kolenkhov

Elizabeth Murphy as Gay Wellington

Mitch McNeily as Mr. Kirby

Linzi Johnston as Mrs. Kirby

Sean Holmes, Ivan Mistele, Bryan Killian as G-Men

Mallory Houser as Olga