Dallas Review: Wandernook Theatre Presents “You Can't Take It With You”
Shawn Stalter, Chief Dallas/Ft. Worth Critic
The talented cast and crew of Wandernook Theatre once again crafted a solid theatrical performance with their production of “You Can’t Take It with You.” Molly Bower skillfully directs this crackerjack ensemble cast to deliver a message of carpe diem and, in Bower’s words, memento mori.
Written by the duo of Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, “You Can't Take It with You” offers an intimate view of the unorthodox lives of the Sycamores--an eccentric collection of free spirits. Despite their overt rejection of societal norms, they quickly discover that their bohemian lifestyle is now a source of angst for their teenage daughter, “Alice.”
We find “Alice” relishing her blossoming courtship with “Tony Kirby,” the son of conservative, well-to-do, stick in the mud parents, “The Kirbys.” Despite her love for “Tony,” she fears the inevitable moment when their two families will meet face to face and two distinct worldviews will collide. Her well-planned meet and greet and desire to make a good impression on the Kirbys turns awry when “Tony Kirby” intentionally brings his parents to the Sycamore’s home a day early.
As the show opens, each member of the Sycamore family illustrates the hilarious breadth of their eccentricities. “Essie Carmichael,” skillfully performed by Brenna Whitten, reacts with child-like excitement to the bustling activities around her all while practicing her dance moves. She endears herself instantly to the audience with charisma and positivity and maintains this energy and en pointe reactions throughout the show’s three acts. Gregory Forster, Jr. offered another standout performance as Alice’s father, the oddball engineer and fireworks enthusiast, “Paul Sycamore.” From the moment Forster hit the stage, he embodied “Paul’s” whimsical and endearing charm. Another highlight of the show came from Kelton Neals, as “Donald.” Armed with a robust stage presence and some incredible, laugh out loud, physical comedy, he added layers of depth to this production.
At the end of the day, the entire cast worked well together to create the notably intriguing, immersive and entertaining world of the Sycamores.
Beyond a wide range of great performances from the diverse cast, the set design and costuming for this show also deserve praise. The level of detail incorporated into the set design did not go unnoticed or unappreciated by the attentive audience. Aged portraits of the Sycamore family, along with quirky decor, helped construct a natural habitat for the family to express their characters’ distinct personalities appropriately. Costuming, courtesy of the talented Samantha Pettigrew, helped augment each character’s unique personality while maintaining period-specific accuracy.
Overall, this is a fun and well-rounded show. The skill in Molly Bower’s direction was evident throughout the entire production through the incorporation of a full range of meaningful non-verbals as well as emotionally charged character interactions. That, coupled with superbly choreographed tender moments, courtesy of Mandy Rausch, the intimate consultant, makes this show a knockout.
“YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU”
Wandernook Theatre’s production of “You Can’t Take It With You,” directed by Molly Bower, runs through February 15th, 2020. The cast, in order of appearance, includes Teri Lynn Williams as “Penelope Sycamore,” Brenna Whitten as “Essie Carmichael,” Randell LaShae as “Rheba,” Gregory Forster, Jr. as “Paul Sycamore,” Stephen Smith as “Mr. DePinna,” Valos Lowe in the role of “Ed Carmichael,” Kelton Neals as “Donald,” Jim Pikl as “Martin Vanderhof,” Meg Steffens as “Alice Sycamore,” Jim Craft as “Henderson,” Garrett Holton as “Tony Kirby,” Alex Guiva in the role of “Bolus Kolenkhov,” Jane Talbert as “Gay Wellington,” Joe Barr as “Mr. Anthony Kirby Sr.,” Colin Riegle as “Mrs. Miriam Kirby,” Logan Gaconnier as “The Man,” Travis Morrison as “Jim,” Burt Macklin as “Mac” and Erin Denny as the “Grand Duchess Olga Katrina.”
Reserve a seat for an upcoming performance by visiting www.wandernook.com.
Photo credit: Azure Photography