The Fort Lewis College Theatre Department and cast members of the play “You Can’t Take It With You” have dedicated much time and talent in preparing for the October premier.
The play, written by George Kaufman and Moss Hart in 1936, provides a comedic twist to a classic love story, said Felicia Meyer, a visiting professor and the director of “You Can’t Take It With You.”
The play embodies the concept of American capitalism by showing the clash of the corporate world with the independent happy-go-lucky lifestyle, Meyer said.
Alice, a Wall Street secretary and member of the eccentric Sycamore family, falls in love with Tony Kirby, a successful businessman with a privileged upbringing. The plot revolves around the dysfunctional relationship that Alice shares with her unconventional family and her Wall Street sweetheart, she said.
Tony accepts and loves Alice for her quirky family. However, the Kirby family feels that because of contrast in familial cultural values, the relationship is a mistake. The conflict between the Kirby and Sycamore family causes Alice to attempt to shadow her family’s nontraditional way of living in order to conform to the social standards that the Kirby’s have, Meyer said.
“The main theme of the play is that you have to live in the moment and realize that the future is not as important as today,” Meyer said. “Appreciate the fact that making money is not the only thing in life, that is one thing you cannot take with you.”
The cast of “You Can’t Take It With You,” includes six freshman, nine sophomores, one junior, and two seniors, Meyer said.
In this production, there are no main characters. The cast consists of over twenty performers with equal amounts of importance throughout the production. This piece is considered an ensemble, Meyer said.
“We also have a really committed and strong group of technical theatre students in the department,” she said.
On any given day, there will be anywhere from two to eight students helping with the set, Peter Salinger, the technical director and scene shop manager, said.
FLC sophomore, Kristen Jacobsen is considered a live-in volunteer.
“This is how I relax, I like to build sets and be involved,” Jacobsen said.
“It’s a lot of work. We’re on a time crunch,” Salinger said. “It gets a little stressful and loud, but it’s really fun.”
The work that the Theatre Dept. has put into the production provides the FLC community with the opportunity to experience live theatre and support the department, Salinger said.
“You Can’t Take It With You,” premieres at the FLC Mainstage Theatre on October 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on Saturday, October 20, at 3:00 p.m. The event is free to all FLC students with a current student I.D. and $12 for all community members.