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{{Short description|Comedic play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart}}
{{Infobox_Film
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
|name = You Can't Take It With You
{{Infobox play
|image = 38A.gif
| name = You Can't Take It with You
|caption= original movie poster
| image =
|director = ]
| caption =
|writer = ] (play),<br>] (play),<br>]
|starring = ],<br>],<br>] | writer = ]<br>]
| characters = Alice Sycamore<br>Anthony Kirby<br>Boris Kolenkhov<br>Donald<br>Ed Carmichael<br>Essie Carmichael<br>] (FBI Agents)<br>Gay Wellington<br>Martin Vanderhof<br>Miriam Kirby<br>Mr. De Pinna<br>Paul Sycamore<br>Penelope Sycamore<br>Rheba<br>The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina<br>Tony Kirby<br>Wilbur C. Henderson
|producer = ]
| setting = ] at the home of Martin Vanderhof in 1936
|distributor= ]
|budget = ~ US$1,644,736 | premiere = November 30, 1936
| place = ]<br>], Pennsylvania, U.S.
|released= ] ]
| orig_lang = English
|runtime = 126 minutes
| subject = &nbsp;
|language = English
|imdb_id = 0030993 | genre = Comedy
|}} }}
'''''You Can't Take It with You''''' is a ] in three acts by ] and ]. The original production of the play premiered at the ] in ], on November 30, 1936.<ref>{{cite book|page=506|title=The Encyclopedia of American Facts and Dates|first=Gorton|last= Carruth|publisher=]|isbn=9780061811432|year= 1987}}</ref> The production then transferred to ]'s ] on December 14, 1936, where it played for 838 performances.


'''''You Can't Take It with You''''' is a ] winning comedic play in three acts by ] and ], and was the basis for the 1938 ] winning film directed by ]. The original production of the play opened at the Booth Theater on December 14, 1936 and played for a respectable 838 performances. The play won the 1937 ], and was adapted for the screen as '']'' in 1938, which won the ] and ].


The play is popular among theater programs of high school institutions, and has been one of the 10 most-produced school plays every year since ] became available in 1939.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/09/29/427138970/the-most-popular-high-school-plays-and-musicals|title=The Most Popular High School Plays And Musicals|work=NPR.org|access-date=March 30, 2018|language=en}}</ref>
The movie cast included
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==Play Synopsis== ==Plot==
{{Spoilers}}


=== Overview === === Act One ===


The story takes place entirely in the large house of a slightly odd New York City family. Various characters in the lives of the Vanderhof-Sycamore-Carmichael clan are introduced in the first act.
At first the Sycamores seem mad, but it is not long before you realize that if they are mad, then the rest of the world is madder. In contrast to these delightful people are the unhappy Kirby's. Tony the attractive young son of the Kirbys falls in love with Alice Sycamore and brings his parents to dine at the Sycamore house on the wrong evening. the shock sustained by the Mr. and Mrs. Kirby who are invited to eat cheap food, shows Alice that marriage with Tony is out of the question. The Sycamores find it hard to realize Alice's view. Tony knows the Sycamore's live the right way with love and care for each other, while his own family is the one that's crazy. In the end Mr. Kirby is converted to the happy madness of the Sycamores (particularly because he happens in during a visit by the Ex Grand Duchess of Russia Olga Patrina, who is currently earning her living as a waitress).


The ] of the family, Grandpa Vanderhof, is a whimsical old man who keeps pet snakes and has never paid his ]. His daughter is Penelope "Penny" Vanderhof, a writer of adventure- and sex-filled ] plays. Penny is married to Paul Sycamore, a tinkerer who manufactures fireworks in the basement with the help of his assistant, Mr.&nbsp;De&nbsp;Pinna, who used to be the family's iceman. One of Paul and Penny's two daughters is Essie Sycamore Carmichael, a childish candy maker who dreams of being a ], even though she is a terrible dancer. Essie is married to Ed Carmichael, a ] player who lives with the family and helps distribute Essie's candies. Ed is an amateur ] who prints any phrase that sounds catchy. Paul and Penny's other daughter Alice Sycamore is quite obviously the only "normal" family member. She has an office job and is sometimes embarrassed by the eccentricities of her family, yet deep down, she still loves them. In addition, the Vanderhof-Sycamore-Carmichael clan employs a maid, Rheba, who is dating Donald, a handyman who performs odd jobs for the family.
=== Act One ===


Essie tells Grandpa Vanderhof that some letters have arrived for him from the "United States Government", but that she misplaced them. Shortly afterwards, Alice comes home and announces that she has fallen in love with her co-worker, Tony Kirby, the son of the company's ]. Before going upstairs to change clothes, Alice tells her family that Tony will be coming over shortly to take her on a date. The family members excitedly discuss Alice's new relationship.
The story takes place entirely in the large house of a slightly batty ] family. Various characters in the lives of the Vanderhof/Sycamore clan are introduced in the first act.


The doorbell rings. Penny answers the door and greets the man standing there, thinking he must be Tony, but the man clarifies that he is a tax investigator named Wilbur C. Henderson, and he is investigating Grandpa for his evasion of ]. When Henderson asks Grandpa why he owed twenty-four years of back income tax, Grandpa states he never believed in it, and that the government wouldn't know what to do with the money if he did pay it. Henderson becomes infuriated by Grandpa's answers to his questions. Henderson spots Grandpa's pet snakes, and runs out of the house in fear, but not before promising Grandpa that he will hear – one way or another – from the United States government.
The ] of the family, '''Grandpa Vanderhof''', is an eccentric old man who hunts snakes and has never paid his ]. '''Penelope "Penny" Vanderhof Sycamore''' is his daughter (a writer of sex-filled ] plays), who is married to '''Paul Sycamore''', a tinkerer who manufactures fireworks in the basement with the help of his assistant '''Mr. De Pinna'''. One of Paul and Penny's two daughters is '''Essie''', a childish ] who dreams of being a ] (but in reality is terrible at dancing). Essie is married to '''Ed''', a ] player who lives with them and helps distribute Essie's candies along with pamphlets. Ed is an amateur ] who prints anything that sounds good to him. Paul and Penny's other daughter '''Alice Sycamore'''is quite obviously the only "normal" family member. She has an office job and is rather embarrassed by the eccentricities of her family, yet deep down, she still loves them. In addition, the Vanderhof/Sycamore clan employs a colored maid '''Rheba''', who is engaged to a colored idiot, '''Donald'''.


The real Tony Kirby arrives, and Alice is nervous that her eccentric family will scare him away. As they attempt to leave, Mr.&nbsp;Boris Kolenkhov, Essie's extremely eccentric Russian ballet instructor, arrives and chats with the family, complaining about the ]. During this discussion, Alice and Tony make their escape. The rest of the family sit down for dinner.
The real action begins when Essie tells Grandpa Vanderhof that some letters arrived for him from the "United States Government," but that she misplaced them. Shortly afterwards, Alice comes home and announces that she has fallen in love with a young man whom she works with, '''Tony Kirby''', the son of the company's ]. Before going upstairs to change, Alice tells her family that he will be coming over shortly to take her on a date. The entire family is still joyfully discussing her boyfriend when the doorbell rings. Penny answers the door and greets the man standing there, thinking he must be Tony, but only upon forcing the stranger to shake hands with the entire family do they realize that he is not Alice's boyfriend: he is a tax investigator.


=== Act Two ===
His name is '''Wilbur C. Henderson''', and he is investigating Grandpa for his evasion of ]. When Henderson asks Grandpa why he owed twenty-four years of back income tax, Grandpa states he never believed in it, and that the government wouldn't know what to do with the money if he did pay it. Henderson becomes infuriated by Grandpa's answers to his questions. Henderson spots Grandpa's snakes, and runs out of the house in fear, but not before promising Grandpa that he will hear, one way or another, from the United States government.
The second act takes place several days later. Alice has invited Tony and his father and mother over for dinner the next evening, and it is the only thing on the entire family's mind. Alice runs around the house telling her family to try to act as normal as possible. Penny has brought actress Gay Wellington over to read over Penny's latest play, but Gay becomes very drunk, and passes out onto the living room couch after looking at the snakes.


Ed returns from distributing Essie's candies, worried that he is being followed by someone. When Mr.&nbsp;De&nbsp;Pinna looks out the window, he sees no one other than a man walking away. Ed is still sent out by Essie to deliver more candies. Paul and Mr.&nbsp;De&nbsp;Pinna are downstairs the whole time making fireworks. Mr.&nbsp;De&nbsp;Pinna comes up from the basement carrying a painting that Penny had started of him as a discus thrower. Mr.&nbsp;De&nbsp;Pinna asks if Penny would finish it and she agrees. She leaves to put on her painting gear and Mr.&nbsp;De&nbsp;Pinna leaves to put on his costume.
Shortly afterwards, '''Mr. Boris Kolenkhov''', Essie's extremely ]n ballet instructor, arrives and makes chitchat with the family, complaining of how his cousin, the '''Grand Duchess Olga Katrina''', was thrown out of Russia after the ]. In the middle of Essie's lesson, the real Tony Kirby arrives, and Alice is nervous that her eccentric family will scare him away, so she promptly leaves with him on their date.


At the same time, Mr.&nbsp;Kolenkhov arrives and begins Essie's ballet lesson. Ed provides accompanying music on the xylophone. Rheba runs in and out of the kitchen cleaning. Grandpa takes this time to practice darts and feed the snakes. In the midst of all this hullabaloo, Tony appears in the doorway with Mr.&nbsp;Kirby and Mrs.&nbsp;Kirby. Before them is the entire eccentric spectacle. Apparently, Tony has forgotten for which night dinner was planned, and Alice is incredibly embarrassed.
Later that night, Alice and Tony come back very late from their date and sit by the fire, drinking wine. Though it is revealed that they both love each other very, very much, Alice has doubts as to whether a marriage of Tony and Alice's families could ever work out fine. Tony insists that, if they love each other, it shouldn't matter, but Alice ignores him and tearfully shouts that it just would never work. She divulges how Grandpa could have been "a very rich man," but instead, he had an epiphany one day and rode the elevator right back down to the lobby of his building and quit work. Alice explains that her family is too odd to get along with any other.


Penny tells Alice not to worry, and that they can manage a nice dinner easily. She gives a list of things to Donald and tells him to run down to the store. Grandpa tries desperately to keep the party normal and under control for the sake of his granddaughter. Mr.&nbsp;Kirby reveals himself to be a very straitlaced fat-cat, who raises ] as a hobby. Mr.&nbsp;Kirby investigates a child's model and finds it is Paul's "hobby". Mrs.&nbsp;Kirby tells them that her true passion is ], which Penny derides as a "fake". During a discussion of hobbies, Mr.&nbsp;Kolenkhov brings up that the Romans' hobby was ], and demonstrates on Mr.&nbsp;Kirby by throwing him on the floor.
In the course of their conversation, which is interrupted by Essie and Ed (who come home from a ]/] movie) at one point, Tony wins Alice over, and they agree to get married. Paul comes up from the basement and tells Alice to watch his latest firework masterpiece, and she lovingly says: "It's the most beautiful red fire in the world..."


To pass the time after this awkward incident, Penny suggests they play a ] game. Alice imagines what is coming and immediately tries to quash the suggestions, but Penny shrugs her off and instructs everyone to write down "the first thing that pops into their heads" after she says certain words.
=== Act Two ===


Penny offers the words "potato", "bathroom", "lust", "honeymoon", and "sex". Penny reads Mr.&nbsp;Kirby's list first, with reactions of, respectively: "steak", "toothpaste", "unlawful", "trip", and "male". Mrs.&nbsp;Kirby's list, however, causes much controversy. "Starch" is her response to potatoes, which is not that bad, but her response for "bathroom" is "Mr.&nbsp;Kirby", and she covers it up with the fact that Mr.&nbsp;Kirby spends a lot of time in there "bathing and shaving". Her response to "lust" is "human", claiming it is a perfectly human emotion. Mr.&nbsp;Kirby disagrees, saying "it is depraved". "Honeymoon"'s reply is "dull", as Mrs.&nbsp;Kirby explains that there was "nothing to do at night". The shocker comes when Mrs.&nbsp;Kirby says her reply to "sex" was "]". She at first claims she doesn't know what she meant by it, but once provoked she yells at Mr.&nbsp;Kirby "You're always talking about Wall Street, even when&nbsp;..." and then stops.
The second act takes place a few days later. Alice has invited Tony, his father, and his mother over for dinner tomorrow night, and it is the only thing on the entire family's mind. Alice runs around the house telling her family to try to act as normal as possible. Penny has brought ] '''Gay Wellington''' over to read over Penny's latest play, but Gay becomes very drunk, and passes out onto the living room couch.


Wholly embarrassed and humiliated, Mr.&nbsp;Kirby and Mrs.&nbsp;Kirby order Tony home with them immediately but Tony refuses to go. Alice finally decides that their marriage will never work and ends their engagement, and also decides to resign her job at Kirby's company. Before the Kirbys can leave, ] agents come through the door. The head agent tells them that Ed's pamphlets from the candy boxes, on which he has printed anything that "sounds nice", read "DYNAMITE THE CAPITOL", "DYNAMITE THE WHITE HOUSE", "DYNAMITE THE SUPREME COURT", and "GOD IS THE STATE, THE STATE IS GOD". Grandpa tries to explain to the head agent, but he informs them they are all under arrest.
Ed returns from distributing Essie's candies with news that he is being followed by someone. When Donald looks out the window, no one is there. Ed resumes printing ]. Paul and Mr. De Pinna are downstairs the whole time making fireworks. Penny recalls her days as a ], and immediately remembers that she never finished her painting of Mr. De Pinna as a ] thrower. She calls Mr. De Pinna up from the basement and orders him into costume so she may finish her masterpiece.


The agents discover enormous amounts of ] in the basement and think it is for dynamiting ], and one agent returns from the basement dragging Mr.&nbsp;De&nbsp;Pinna with him, who was in the basement the whole time. De&nbsp;Pinna desperately tries to explain to the agent that he had left his lit pipe downstairs and must go and get it, but the agent disregards him. Meanwhile, another agent brings down Gay Wellington from upstairs, singing drunkenly. At that point, the fireworks in the basement go off, lit by De&nbsp;Pinna's untended pipe, and everyone (aside from Grandpa and Wellington) panics, leaving the whole house in an uproar as Act&nbsp;II ends.
At the same time, Mr. Kolienkhov arrives and begins Essie's ballet lesson. Ed provides accompanying music on the xylophone. Rheba runs in and out of the kitchen cleaning. In the midst of all this hullabaloo, Tony appears in the doorway with '''Mr. Kirby''' and '''Mrs. Kirby'''. Before them is the entire eccentric spectacle. On accident, Tony has forgotten which night dinner was planned for, and Alice is incredibly embarrassed.


=== Act Three ===
Penny tells Alice not to worry, and that they can manage a nice dinner easily. She gives a list of things to Donald and tells him to run down to the store. Mr. Kirby reveals himself to be a very straightlaced fat-cat, who owns ] so that he may relax and raises ] as a hobby. Grandpa thinks that Mr. Kirby is not a ''truly'' happy man, but Mr. Kirby insists that he is just fine with his plot in life. Mr. Kirby investigates a child's model and finds it is Paul's "hobby." Mr. Kolienkhov brings up that the Roman hobby was ], and demonstrates on Mr. Kirby (to much ado.) Mrs. Kirby tells them that her true passion is ], to which Penny replies, "We all know that's a fake." To say it concisely, the conversation is a fiasco.
The next day, Donald and Rheba sit in the kitchen reading the paper, which focuses on the story of both families being arrested, with Mr.&nbsp;Kirby's presence causing the story to make headlines. Also, Paul and Mr.&nbsp;De&nbsp;Pinna's fireworks have been completely destroyed. Meanwhile, Alice has decided to leave for a prolonged trip to the ] to think things over. When the family forgets to call for a cab, she finally shows her exasperation, angered that her family can't be "normal" at all. Tony then arrives and tries to reason with Alice, but she refuses, heading upstairs with Tony following.


Soon, Mr.&nbsp;Kolenkhov appears with the Grand Duchess Olga Katrina, in all of her former glory. After discussing the sad fate of former Russian royalty now working menial jobs in New York, the Grand Duchess soon insists upon going into the kitchen to cook the dinner for the family.
To pass the time, Penny suggests they play a ] game. Alice knows what is coming and immediately tries to quash the suggestions, but Penny shrugs her off and instructs everyone to write down the first thing that "pops" into their heads after she says certain words.


Mr. Kirby arrives to pick up Tony and to settle his score with Grandpa. Soon, Mr.&nbsp;Kirby and Tony get into a heated argument, the pinnacle of which finds Tony admitting that he had purposely brought his family on the wrong night, the night before. He explains that he wanted each family to see each other as they really were, and that he sees the Sycamores as "normal", that they are a family that loves and understands one another, saying that Mr.&nbsp;Kirby never had time to understand Tony. Grandpa tells Mr.&nbsp;Kirby that he's happy with no longer working and getting to enjoy life every day, and that has made him happy ever since, though Mr.&nbsp;Kirby is not convinced, especially as Grandpa suspects that Mr.&nbsp;Kirby doesn't like his job. Tony affirms this by pointing out that he found letters that Mr.&nbsp;Kirby had written to his father, expressing desires to be a trapeze artist and later a saxophone player, and that Mr.&nbsp;Kirby still has a saxophone in his closet. Grandpa tells Mr.&nbsp;Kirby that he should get to enjoy his life and riches now while he can, pointing out, "you can't take it with you". Tony agrees with this, deciding to leave the family business to do something he wants to do, and Mr.&nbsp;Kirby finally gives in, giving his blessings to Alice and Tony getting back together, which they do.
Penny offers the words "potato, bathroom, lust, ], and sex." Penny reads Mr. Kirby's list first, with reactions of, respectively: "steak, toothpaste, unlawful, trip, male." Mrs. Kirby's list, however, causes much controversy. "Starch" is her response to potatoes, which is not that bad, but her response for "bathroom" is "Mr. Kirby," and she explains how rude it is that he hogs the bathroom in the morning. Her response to "lust" is "human," claiming it is a perfectly human emotion. Mr. Kirby disagrees, saying "it is depraved." "Honeymoon"'s reply is "dull," as Mrs. Kirby explains that there was "nothing to do at night." The shocker comes when Mrs. Kirby says her reply to "sex" was "]." She at first claims she doesn't know what she meant by it, but once provoked she yells at Mr. Kirby "You're always talking about Wall Street, even when--" and then stops.


Essie then brings a letter to Grandpa that's from the government. Grandpa had lied to the government that he was actually Martin Vanderhof Jr., and that the Martin Vanderhof the government was looking for was his father. This is corroborated because the family had buried the deceased milkman (who had lived with them prior to De&nbsp;Pinna) using Grandpa's name, since they never knew the milkman's real name. Grandpa's trick works, as the government tells him that they now owe him a refund, instead of him owing them taxes.
The entire family knows what has happened, and Mr. Kirby and Mrs. Kirby are so embarrassed that they order Tony home with them immediately. Tony refuses to go. Alice agrees with Tony's parents, but Tony insists they stay. Before anyone can do anything, ] overrun the house. The head agent tells them that Ed's pamphlets, on which he prints anything that "sounds nice," read "] THE CAPITOL," "DYNAMITE THE WHITE HOUSE," "DYNAMITE THE SUPREME COURT." Grandpa tries to explain to the head agent, but he informs them they are all under arrest.


The play comes to a conclusion as the family, along with Tony and Mr.&nbsp;Kirby, sit down to dinner with the Grand Duchess. Grandpa says a touching prayer, and then they dive into the food.
The agents discover enormous amounts of ] in the basement and think it is for dynamiting ], so Paul and Mr. De Pinna rush down to save the fireworks. Meanwhile, the agents bring down Gay Wellington from upstairs, and she begins singing drunkenly. Alice and Tony cling to each other while the family argues with the agents. themselves. The fireworks go off. and Act II ends with the entire house in an uproar.


=== Act Three === == Characters ==
; Penelope Sycamore: Usually goes by Penny, Penelope is the mother of Essie and Alice, wife of Paul, and daughter of Martin. She writes plays and paints as ] because it makes her happy, but is terrible at both. Penny is a loving mother and wife who is constantly concerned with the welfare of her family. Her main goal is to make sure everyone is happy, particularly her daughter Alice. She is a main character.
; Essie Carmichael: Wife of Ed, daughter of Penny and Paul Sycamore, Granddaughter of Martin, sister of Alice. She is childlike. As a ] she makes candy that Ed sells. Essie dreams of being a ]. She has spent 8&nbsp;years studying with Boris Kolenkhov, but is a terrible dancer.
; Rheba: The African-American ] and cook to the Sycamore family. She is treated almost like a part of the family. She is dating Donald. In the words of Mrs.&nbsp;Sycamore, "The two of them are really cute together, something like ]."
; Paul Sycamore: Father of Essie and Alice, husband of Penny, son-in-law of Martin. He is a tinkerer who manufactures ] in the ] with the help of his assistant Mr.&nbsp;De&nbsp;Pinna. His ] is playing with ]s.
; Mr. De Pinna: The ice man who came inside to speak to Paul eight years before, and never left. He helps Mr.&nbsp;Sycamore build ], and moonlights as a model in Mrs.&nbsp;Sycamore's paintings.
; Ed Carmichael: Husband of Essie, son-in-law of Paul and Penny. He is a xylophone player, and distributes Essie's candies. Ed is an amateur ] who prints anything that sounds 'catchy' to him. He prints up dinner menus for his family and communist pamphlets that he places in the boxes of Essie's candy. He also likes to make masks.
; Donald Curry: The African-American boyfriend of Rheba, who seems to serve as volunteer handyman for the Sycamores.
; Martin Vanderhof: Referred to mostly as Grandpa in the play. Father-in-law to Paul, father of Penny, grandfather of Alice and Essie. He is an eccentric happy old man who has never paid his ] because he doesn't believe in it, as he feels that the government wouldn't know what to do with the money if he paid it. Once a very successful businessman, he left his job 35&nbsp;years prior for no reason other than to just relax. He lives his life by the philosophy "don't do anything that you're not going to enjoy doing". He goes to circuses, ]s, throws darts, and collects stamps. He is a main character.
; Alice Sycamore: Fiancée of Tony Kirby, daughter of Paul and Penny, granddaughter of Martin, sister of Essie. She is the only "normal" member of the extended family. She has an office job, and is rather embarrassed by the eccentricities of her family when she has Tony and his parents at her house, yet she still loves them. She tends to be a pessimist.
; Wilbur C. Henderson: An employee of the ]. He comes to collect the tax money owed by Grandpa, and can't understand why the latter won't pay income tax.
; Tony Kirby: Fiancé of Alice, son of Mr. and Mrs.&nbsp;Kirby. He sees how, even though the Sycamores appear odd, they are really the perfect family because they love and care about each other. His own family is very proper and has many issues none of them will admit. He is vice president of Kirby and Co.
; Boris Kolenkhov: A Russian who escaped to America shortly before ]. He is very concerned with world politics, and the deterioration of Russia. He is the ballet instructor of Essie, aware that she is untalented at dancing, but knows that she enjoys dancing so he keeps working with her. He admires the ancient ] and the ], questions society, and is interested in world affairs.
; Gay Wellington: An actress whom Mrs.&nbsp;Sycamore meets on a bus and invites home to read one of her plays. She is an alcoholic, gets very drunk, and passes out shortly after arriving at the Sycamore's home.
; Anthony W. Kirby: Husband of Mrs.&nbsp;Kirby, father of Tony. He is a very proper man who is president of Kirby and Co. and secretly despises his job. His hobby is raising expensive ]. He is also a member of the Harvard Society, the Union Club, the ], and the Racquet Club.
; Miriam Kirby: Wife of Mr.&nbsp;Kirby, mother of Tony. She is an extremely prim and proper woman and is horrified by the goings-on in the Sycamore household. Her hobby is ].
; G-Man 1 (The Man), G-Man 2 (Jim), G-Man 3 (Mac): Three agents who come to investigate Ed because of the ] origin of some of the 'catchy' quotes he printed and placed in Essie's candy boxes, such as "''God is the State &ndash; the State is God''" and "''Dynamite the White House''".
; The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina: She was one of the Grand Duchesses of Russia before the Revolution, another being her sister, the Grand Duchess Natasha. Since then she has been forced to flee to America where she has found work as a ] in ]. The rest of her family has had a similar fate, such as her Uncle Sergei, the Grand Duke, who is now an ]. She loves to cook as a ].


==Productions==
The next day, Donald and Rheba sit in the kitchen reading the paper. The entire family was arrested. Mr. Kirby's presence during the arrest has caused scandal on Wall Street.
The play premiered at the ] in Philadelphia on November 30, 1936.<ref>{{cite book|page=506|title=The Encyclopedia of American Facts and Dates|first=Gorton|last= Carruth|publisher=]|isbn=9780061811432|year= 1987}}</ref> The production transferred to Broadway at the ] on December 14, 1936, and ran there until September 3, 1938; it transferred to the ], running from September 5, 1938, to October 29, 1938, and finally transferred to the ] from October 31, 1938, to December 3, 1938, for a total of 838 performances. George S. Kaufman was the director.<ref>{{cite web |title=''You Can't Take It With You'' (Broadway, Booth Theatre, 1936) |url=https://www.playbill.com/production/you-cant-take-it-with-you-booth-theatre-vault-0000001799 |website=Playbill |access-date=June 6, 2022}}</ref>


The play was revived on Broadway with a production opening at the
Alice has decided to leave home forever and never come back. She was truly in love with Tony, and her family ruined her chances of ever falling in love, and for doing that, she can never forgive them. Penny keeps trying to tell Alice to stay, but Grandpa knows that Alice cannot be swayed.
] on April 4, 1983, to December 10, 1983, and transferring to the ] from December 13, 1983, to January 1, 1984, for a total of 312 performances. Directed by ], the cast starred ] as Martin Vanderhof, ] as Olga, ] as Boris Kolenkhov and ] as Penelope Sycamore.<ref>{{cite web |title=''You Can't Take It With You'' (Broadway, Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 1983) |url=https://www.playbill.com/productions/you-cant-take-it-with-you-plymouth-theatre-vault-0000009567 |website=Playbill |access-date=June 6, 2022}}</ref>


A 1985 revival starred ] as Grandpa Vanderhof, ] as Grand Duchess Olga Katrina and Jack Dodson as Paul Sycamore.
Tony arrives and tries to convince Alice not to leave home. Instead, Alice begins to cry and shouts that she hates her entire family. Mr. Kirby arrives to settle his score with Grandpa Vanderhof. Grandpa Vanderhof tries to explain his government problems and presuades Alice to stay home and marry Tony.


A two-act version was staged at the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester from December 2011 to January 2012. It received excellent reviews and played to packed houses throughout.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}
Then Mr. Kirby visits Mr. Vanderhof's home, with no intention of apologizing, but instead to pick up his son. Grandpa explains to Mr. Kirby how he is wasting his life by doing things he does not want to do. The play ends with Mr. Kirby relaxing with the Sycamores's over a chaotic dinner.


A revival opened on Broadway at the ] on August 26, 2014 (previews) and on September 28, 2014 (officially). Directed by ], the cast starred ] as Martin Vanderhof, ] as Alice Sycamore, ] as The Grand Duchess Olga, ] as Essie Carmichael (a role which earned her a ] for Featured Actress in a Play), ] as Mrs. Kirby, ] as Gay Wellington, ] as Mr. Kirby, ] as Paul Sycamore, Crystal Dickinson as Rheba, ] as Mr. De Pinna, Will Brill as Ed, Marc Damon Johnson as Donald Curry, ] as Boris Kolenkhov, ] as Tony Kirby, ] as Penelope Sycamore, Karl Kenzler as Henderson, and the G-Men played by Nick Corley, Austin Durant, and Joe Tapper. Understudies include Corley, ], Durant, Ned Noyes, Pippa Pearthree, Tapper, and Charles Turner.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Verdict: Critics Review ''You Can't Take It With You'', Starring James Earl Jones and Elizabeth Ashley, on Broadway |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/the-verdict-critics-review-you-cant-take-it-with-you-starring-james-earl-jones-and-elizabeth-ashley-on-broadway-com-331651 |website=Playbill |access-date=June 6, 2022 |date=September 28, 2014}}</ref>
== Characters ==

==Film, radio and TV adaptations==
{{Main|You Can't Take It with You (film)|You Can't Take It with You (TV series)}}

] and ] in ]]]


The play was the basis for the ] directed by ]. The film cast included ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and the uncredited ]. It was awarded the ] and ] of 1938. The film version has the same overall plot and themes as the play but includes new scenes, dialogue, and slightly different characterizations, such as a side plot about Kirby Sr.'s attempt to acquire the Vanderhof house for a real estate development, and removed the side plot of Grand Duchess Olga Katrina.
In order of appearance
*'''Penelope Sycamore'''
**Mother of Essie and Alice, wife of Paul, and daughter of Martin. She writes plays and paints as ] but is terrible at both. She never finishes any job she starts.
*'''Essie'''
**Wife of Ed, daughter of Penelope and Paul Sycamore, Grand-daughter of Martin, sister of Alice. She is childish. As a ] she makes ] that Ed sells. Essie dreams of being a ]. She has spent 8 years studying with Boris Kolenkhov but in reality is terrible at dancing.
*'''Rheba'''
**The black ] and cook to the Sycamore family. She is dating Donald. In the words of Mrs. Sycamore, "The two of them are really cute together, something like ]."
*'''Paul Sycamore'''
**Father of Essie and Alice, husband of Penelope, Son-in-law of Martin. He is a tinkerer who manufactures ] in the ] with the help of his assistant Mr. De Pinna. His ] is playing with erector sets.
*'''Mr. DePinna'''
**The ice man who came inside to speak to Paul and never left. He helps Mr. Sycamore build ], and moonlights as a model in Mrs. Sycamore's paintings.
*'''Ed'''
**Husband of Essie, son-in-law of Paul and Penelope. He is a ] player, and helps distribute Essie's candies. Ed is an amateur ] who prints anything that sounds good to him. He prints up dinner menus for his family and little quotes that he places in the boxes of Essie's ]. Those quotes get the whole family in big trouble.
*'''Donald'''
**The black boyfriend of Rheba. In the words of Mrs. Sycamore, "The two of them are really cute together, something like ]." He loves ].
*'''Martin Vanderhof'''
**Refered to mostly as Grandpa in the play. Father-in-law to Paul, father of Penelope, grandfather of Alice and Essie. He is an eccentric old man who hunts ] because he doesn't believe in it. He lives his life by the ], don't do anything that you're not going to enjoy doing.
*'''Alice'''
**Fiancee of Tony Kirby, daughter of Paul and Penelope, Grand-daughter of Martin, sister of Essie. She the only "normal" ] member. She has an office job, and is rather embarrassed by the eccentricities of her family, yet deep down, she still loves them.
*'''Henderson'''
**An employee of the ]. He comes to collect the tax money owed by Martin, and can't understand why Martin won't pay income tax.
*'''Tony Kirby'''
**Fiancé of Alice, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Kirby. He sees how even though the Sycamores appear odd, they are really the perfect ] because they ] and care about each other. His own family is very proper and has many issues none of them will admit. He tries to show his parents how the Sycamores are a good family.
*'''Boris Kolenkhov'''
**A ] who escaped to America shortly before the revolution. He is very concerned with world politics, and the deterioration of ]. He is friends with many ex Russian leaders including the Grand Duchess Olga Patrina. He is the ] instructor of Essie, he knows she's not good at dancing, but knows that she enjoys dancing so he keeps working with her. He has a very ] attitude, meaning he likes the ] and the ], questions society, and is interested in world affairs.
*'''Gay Wellington'''
**An ] who Mrs. Sycamore meets on a bus and invites home to read one of her plays. She is very drunk and passes out shortly after arriving at the sycamore's home. What a shitty mess!!
*'''Mr. Kirby'''
**Husband of Mrs. Kirby, father of Tony. He is a very stuck up man who works at ] and secretly despises his job. His hobby is raising expensive ].
*'''Mrs. Kirby'''
**Wife of Mr. Kirby, mother of Tony. She is a very prim and proper woman. She stays up with the fads of the times. Her hobby is ].
*'''] Agent 1'''
**One of four agents who come to investigate Ed because of the ] things he prints up.
*'''] Agent 2'''
**One of four agents who come to investigate Ed because of the ] things he prints up.
*'''] Agent 3'''
**One of four agents who come to investigate Ed because of the ] things he prints up.
*'''] Agent 4'''
**One of four agents who come to investigate Ed because of the ] things he prints up.
*'''The Grand Duchess Olga Patrina'''
**She was the Grand Duchess of Russia before the revolution. Since then she has been forced to flee to America where she has found work as a ]. The rest of her family has had a similar fate. She loves to cook for a ].


Two short-lived radio series based on the play aired in 1944 and 1951. The 1944 series, with ] as Grandpa Vanderhof, ran on the ] network from August 27 to November 19 of that year. The 1951 series, with ] as Grandpa, ran on the ] network from May 13 to November 16 of that year.<ref name="dunning">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2e0RDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA734 |last=Dunning |first=John |author-link=John Dunning (detective fiction author) |title=On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio |date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0-19-507678-3 |pages=734-735 |edition=Revised |access-date=2024-11-15}}</ref>
== Academy Awards ==


CBS produced a notable television adaptation of the original play in 1979. It featured ] as Grandpa, along with ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. A second television adaptation was produced in 1984 by ]. This version, featuring ] as Grandpa, was based on the Broadway revival and filmed at Royale Theatre, New York City<ref>{{IMDb title|0194572|You Can't Take It With You (1984)}}</ref> and was included in ] (November 21, 1984).
The movie won two ] from seven nominations: ], and ] for Frank Capra. This was Capra`s third academy award for Best Director in just five years, following '']'' in 1934 and '']'' in 1936.


A ] based on the play, produced by ], ran in the United States during the 1987&ndash;1988 season. ], who had played Mr. De Pinna in the 1979 telefilm, appeared in the series as Grandpa.<ref>{{IMDb title|0092489|You Can't Take It With You (1987)}}</ref>
The film was also nominated for ] for ], ] script was nominated for ], ] was nominated for ], ] was nominated for ], and ] was nominated for ].


==External link== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{imdb title|id=0030993|title=You Can't Take It with You}}
*{{tcmdb title|id=4336|title=You Can't Take It with You}}


== Further reading ==
* {{cite book | last=Hart | first=Moss |author2=Kaufman, George S. | title=You Can't Take It With You | edition=Archival manuscript | location=New York | publisher=Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman | year=1936 | oclc=44091928}}


==External links==
{{AcademyAwardBestPicture 1927-1940}}
{{Commons category|You Can't Take It with You (play)}}
* {{IBDB show|9527}}
* {{IBDB title|9741}}
* {{IMDb title|30993}}
*
* at ]


{{Pulitzer Prize for Drama 1926-1950}}
<!-- Spring Byington -->
{{George Kaufman}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:You Can't Take It With You}}
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Latest revision as of 09:04, 14 December 2024

Comedic play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart

You Can't Take It with You
Written byGeorge S. Kaufman
Moss Hart
CharactersAlice Sycamore
Anthony Kirby
Boris Kolenkhov
Donald
Ed Carmichael
Essie Carmichael
G-Men (FBI Agents)
Gay Wellington
Martin Vanderhof
Miriam Kirby
Mr. De Pinna
Paul Sycamore
Penelope Sycamore
Rheba
The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina
Tony Kirby
Wilbur C. Henderson
Date premieredNovember 30, 1936
Place premieredChestnut Street Opera House
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Original languageEnglish
Subject 
GenreComedy
SettingNew York City at the home of Martin Vanderhof in 1936

You Can't Take It with You is a comedic play in three acts by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The original production of the play premiered at the Chestnut Street Opera House in Philadelphia, on November 30, 1936. The production then transferred to Broadway's Booth Theatre on December 14, 1936, where it played for 838 performances.

The play won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and was adapted for the screen as You Can't Take It with You in 1938, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director.

The play is popular among theater programs of high school institutions, and has been one of the 10 most-produced school plays every year since amateur rights became available in 1939.

Plot

Act One

The story takes place entirely in the large house of a slightly odd New York City family. Various characters in the lives of the Vanderhof-Sycamore-Carmichael clan are introduced in the first act.

The patriarch of the family, Grandpa Vanderhof, is a whimsical old man who keeps pet snakes and has never paid his income tax. His daughter is Penelope "Penny" Vanderhof, a writer of adventure- and sex-filled melodrama plays. Penny is married to Paul Sycamore, a tinkerer who manufactures fireworks in the basement with the help of his assistant, Mr. De Pinna, who used to be the family's iceman. One of Paul and Penny's two daughters is Essie Sycamore Carmichael, a childish candy maker who dreams of being a ballerina, even though she is a terrible dancer. Essie is married to Ed Carmichael, a xylophone player who lives with the family and helps distribute Essie's candies. Ed is an amateur printer who prints any phrase that sounds catchy. Paul and Penny's other daughter Alice Sycamore is quite obviously the only "normal" family member. She has an office job and is sometimes embarrassed by the eccentricities of her family, yet deep down, she still loves them. In addition, the Vanderhof-Sycamore-Carmichael clan employs a maid, Rheba, who is dating Donald, a handyman who performs odd jobs for the family.

Essie tells Grandpa Vanderhof that some letters have arrived for him from the "United States Government", but that she misplaced them. Shortly afterwards, Alice comes home and announces that she has fallen in love with her co-worker, Tony Kirby, the son of the company's executive. Before going upstairs to change clothes, Alice tells her family that Tony will be coming over shortly to take her on a date. The family members excitedly discuss Alice's new relationship.

The doorbell rings. Penny answers the door and greets the man standing there, thinking he must be Tony, but the man clarifies that he is a tax investigator named Wilbur C. Henderson, and he is investigating Grandpa for his evasion of income tax. When Henderson asks Grandpa why he owed twenty-four years of back income tax, Grandpa states he never believed in it, and that the government wouldn't know what to do with the money if he did pay it. Henderson becomes infuriated by Grandpa's answers to his questions. Henderson spots Grandpa's pet snakes, and runs out of the house in fear, but not before promising Grandpa that he will hear – one way or another – from the United States government.

The real Tony Kirby arrives, and Alice is nervous that her eccentric family will scare him away. As they attempt to leave, Mr. Boris Kolenkhov, Essie's extremely eccentric Russian ballet instructor, arrives and chats with the family, complaining about the Revolution. During this discussion, Alice and Tony make their escape. The rest of the family sit down for dinner.

Act Two

The second act takes place several days later. Alice has invited Tony and his father and mother over for dinner the next evening, and it is the only thing on the entire family's mind. Alice runs around the house telling her family to try to act as normal as possible. Penny has brought actress Gay Wellington over to read over Penny's latest play, but Gay becomes very drunk, and passes out onto the living room couch after looking at the snakes.

Ed returns from distributing Essie's candies, worried that he is being followed by someone. When Mr. De Pinna looks out the window, he sees no one other than a man walking away. Ed is still sent out by Essie to deliver more candies. Paul and Mr. De Pinna are downstairs the whole time making fireworks. Mr. De Pinna comes up from the basement carrying a painting that Penny had started of him as a discus thrower. Mr. De Pinna asks if Penny would finish it and she agrees. She leaves to put on her painting gear and Mr. De Pinna leaves to put on his costume.

At the same time, Mr. Kolenkhov arrives and begins Essie's ballet lesson. Ed provides accompanying music on the xylophone. Rheba runs in and out of the kitchen cleaning. Grandpa takes this time to practice darts and feed the snakes. In the midst of all this hullabaloo, Tony appears in the doorway with Mr. Kirby and Mrs. Kirby. Before them is the entire eccentric spectacle. Apparently, Tony has forgotten for which night dinner was planned, and Alice is incredibly embarrassed.

Penny tells Alice not to worry, and that they can manage a nice dinner easily. She gives a list of things to Donald and tells him to run down to the store. Grandpa tries desperately to keep the party normal and under control for the sake of his granddaughter. Mr. Kirby reveals himself to be a very straitlaced fat-cat, who raises orchids as a hobby. Mr. Kirby investigates a child's model and finds it is Paul's "hobby". Mrs. Kirby tells them that her true passion is spiritualism, which Penny derides as a "fake". During a discussion of hobbies, Mr. Kolenkhov brings up that the Romans' hobby was wrestling, and demonstrates on Mr. Kirby by throwing him on the floor.

To pass the time after this awkward incident, Penny suggests they play a free association game. Alice imagines what is coming and immediately tries to quash the suggestions, but Penny shrugs her off and instructs everyone to write down "the first thing that pops into their heads" after she says certain words.

Penny offers the words "potato", "bathroom", "lust", "honeymoon", and "sex". Penny reads Mr. Kirby's list first, with reactions of, respectively: "steak", "toothpaste", "unlawful", "trip", and "male". Mrs. Kirby's list, however, causes much controversy. "Starch" is her response to potatoes, which is not that bad, but her response for "bathroom" is "Mr. Kirby", and she covers it up with the fact that Mr. Kirby spends a lot of time in there "bathing and shaving". Her response to "lust" is "human", claiming it is a perfectly human emotion. Mr. Kirby disagrees, saying "it is depraved". "Honeymoon"'s reply is "dull", as Mrs. Kirby explains that there was "nothing to do at night". The shocker comes when Mrs. Kirby says her reply to "sex" was "Wall Street". She at first claims she doesn't know what she meant by it, but once provoked she yells at Mr. Kirby "You're always talking about Wall Street, even when ..." and then stops.

Wholly embarrassed and humiliated, Mr. Kirby and Mrs. Kirby order Tony home with them immediately but Tony refuses to go. Alice finally decides that their marriage will never work and ends their engagement, and also decides to resign her job at Kirby's company. Before the Kirbys can leave, Department of Justice agents come through the door. The head agent tells them that Ed's pamphlets from the candy boxes, on which he has printed anything that "sounds nice", read "DYNAMITE THE CAPITOL", "DYNAMITE THE WHITE HOUSE", "DYNAMITE THE SUPREME COURT", and "GOD IS THE STATE, THE STATE IS GOD". Grandpa tries to explain to the head agent, but he informs them they are all under arrest.

The agents discover enormous amounts of gunpowder in the basement and think it is for dynamiting Washington, and one agent returns from the basement dragging Mr. De Pinna with him, who was in the basement the whole time. De Pinna desperately tries to explain to the agent that he had left his lit pipe downstairs and must go and get it, but the agent disregards him. Meanwhile, another agent brings down Gay Wellington from upstairs, singing drunkenly. At that point, the fireworks in the basement go off, lit by De Pinna's untended pipe, and everyone (aside from Grandpa and Wellington) panics, leaving the whole house in an uproar as Act II ends.

Act Three

The next day, Donald and Rheba sit in the kitchen reading the paper, which focuses on the story of both families being arrested, with Mr. Kirby's presence causing the story to make headlines. Also, Paul and Mr. De Pinna's fireworks have been completely destroyed. Meanwhile, Alice has decided to leave for a prolonged trip to the Adirondack Mountains to think things over. When the family forgets to call for a cab, she finally shows her exasperation, angered that her family can't be "normal" at all. Tony then arrives and tries to reason with Alice, but she refuses, heading upstairs with Tony following.

Soon, Mr. Kolenkhov appears with the Grand Duchess Olga Katrina, in all of her former glory. After discussing the sad fate of former Russian royalty now working menial jobs in New York, the Grand Duchess soon insists upon going into the kitchen to cook the dinner for the family.

Mr. Kirby arrives to pick up Tony and to settle his score with Grandpa. Soon, Mr. Kirby and Tony get into a heated argument, the pinnacle of which finds Tony admitting that he had purposely brought his family on the wrong night, the night before. He explains that he wanted each family to see each other as they really were, and that he sees the Sycamores as "normal", that they are a family that loves and understands one another, saying that Mr. Kirby never had time to understand Tony. Grandpa tells Mr. Kirby that he's happy with no longer working and getting to enjoy life every day, and that has made him happy ever since, though Mr. Kirby is not convinced, especially as Grandpa suspects that Mr. Kirby doesn't like his job. Tony affirms this by pointing out that he found letters that Mr. Kirby had written to his father, expressing desires to be a trapeze artist and later a saxophone player, and that Mr. Kirby still has a saxophone in his closet. Grandpa tells Mr. Kirby that he should get to enjoy his life and riches now while he can, pointing out, "you can't take it with you". Tony agrees with this, deciding to leave the family business to do something he wants to do, and Mr. Kirby finally gives in, giving his blessings to Alice and Tony getting back together, which they do.

Essie then brings a letter to Grandpa that's from the government. Grandpa had lied to the government that he was actually Martin Vanderhof Jr., and that the Martin Vanderhof the government was looking for was his father. This is corroborated because the family had buried the deceased milkman (who had lived with them prior to De Pinna) using Grandpa's name, since they never knew the milkman's real name. Grandpa's trick works, as the government tells him that they now owe him a refund, instead of him owing them taxes.

The play comes to a conclusion as the family, along with Tony and Mr. Kirby, sit down to dinner with the Grand Duchess. Grandpa says a touching prayer, and then they dive into the food.

Characters

Penelope Sycamore
Usually goes by Penny, Penelope is the mother of Essie and Alice, wife of Paul, and daughter of Martin. She writes plays and paints as hobbies because it makes her happy, but is terrible at both. Penny is a loving mother and wife who is constantly concerned with the welfare of her family. Her main goal is to make sure everyone is happy, particularly her daughter Alice. She is a main character.
Essie Carmichael
Wife of Ed, daughter of Penny and Paul Sycamore, Granddaughter of Martin, sister of Alice. She is childlike. As a hobby she makes candy that Ed sells. Essie dreams of being a ballerina. She has spent 8 years studying with Boris Kolenkhov, but is a terrible dancer.
Rheba
The African-American maid and cook to the Sycamore family. She is treated almost like a part of the family. She is dating Donald. In the words of Mrs. Sycamore, "The two of them are really cute together, something like Porgy and Bess."
Paul Sycamore
Father of Essie and Alice, husband of Penny, son-in-law of Martin. He is a tinkerer who manufactures fireworks in the basement with the help of his assistant Mr. De Pinna. His hobby is playing with erector sets.
Mr. De Pinna
The ice man who came inside to speak to Paul eight years before, and never left. He helps Mr. Sycamore build fireworks, and moonlights as a model in Mrs. Sycamore's paintings.
Ed Carmichael
Husband of Essie, son-in-law of Paul and Penny. He is a xylophone player, and distributes Essie's candies. Ed is an amateur printer who prints anything that sounds 'catchy' to him. He prints up dinner menus for his family and communist pamphlets that he places in the boxes of Essie's candy. He also likes to make masks.
Donald Curry
The African-American boyfriend of Rheba, who seems to serve as volunteer handyman for the Sycamores.
Martin Vanderhof
Referred to mostly as Grandpa in the play. Father-in-law to Paul, father of Penny, grandfather of Alice and Essie. He is an eccentric happy old man who has never paid his income tax because he doesn't believe in it, as he feels that the government wouldn't know what to do with the money if he paid it. Once a very successful businessman, he left his job 35 years prior for no reason other than to just relax. He lives his life by the philosophy "don't do anything that you're not going to enjoy doing". He goes to circuses, commencements, throws darts, and collects stamps. He is a main character.
Alice Sycamore
Fiancée of Tony Kirby, daughter of Paul and Penny, granddaughter of Martin, sister of Essie. She is the only "normal" member of the extended family. She has an office job, and is rather embarrassed by the eccentricities of her family when she has Tony and his parents at her house, yet she still loves them. She tends to be a pessimist.
Wilbur C. Henderson
An employee of the IRS. He comes to collect the tax money owed by Grandpa, and can't understand why the latter won't pay income tax.
Tony Kirby
Fiancé of Alice, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kirby. He sees how, even though the Sycamores appear odd, they are really the perfect family because they love and care about each other. His own family is very proper and has many issues none of them will admit. He is vice president of Kirby and Co.
Boris Kolenkhov
A Russian who escaped to America shortly before the Russian Revolution. He is very concerned with world politics, and the deterioration of Russia. He is the ballet instructor of Essie, aware that she is untalented at dancing, but knows that she enjoys dancing so he keeps working with her. He admires the ancient Greeks and the Romans, questions society, and is interested in world affairs.
Gay Wellington
An actress whom Mrs. Sycamore meets on a bus and invites home to read one of her plays. She is an alcoholic, gets very drunk, and passes out shortly after arriving at the Sycamore's home.
Anthony W. Kirby
Husband of Mrs. Kirby, father of Tony. He is a very proper man who is president of Kirby and Co. and secretly despises his job. His hobby is raising expensive orchids. He is also a member of the Harvard Society, the Union Club, the National Geographic Society, and the Racquet Club.
Miriam Kirby
Wife of Mr. Kirby, mother of Tony. She is an extremely prim and proper woman and is horrified by the goings-on in the Sycamore household. Her hobby is spiritualism.
G-Man 1 (The Man), G-Man 2 (Jim), G-Man 3 (Mac)
Three agents who come to investigate Ed because of the communist origin of some of the 'catchy' quotes he printed and placed in Essie's candy boxes, such as "God is the State – the State is God" and "Dynamite the White House".
The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina
She was one of the Grand Duchesses of Russia before the Revolution, another being her sister, the Grand Duchess Natasha. Since then she has been forced to flee to America where she has found work as a waitress in Childs Restaurant. The rest of her family has had a similar fate, such as her Uncle Sergei, the Grand Duke, who is now an elevator operator. She loves to cook as a hobby.

Productions

The play premiered at the Chestnut Street Opera House in Philadelphia on November 30, 1936. The production transferred to Broadway at the Booth Theatre on December 14, 1936, and ran there until September 3, 1938; it transferred to the Imperial Theatre, running from September 5, 1938, to October 29, 1938, and finally transferred to the Ambassador Theatre from October 31, 1938, to December 3, 1938, for a total of 838 performances. George S. Kaufman was the director.

The play was revived on Broadway with a production opening at the Plymouth Theatre on April 4, 1983, to December 10, 1983, and transferring to the Royale Theatre from December 13, 1983, to January 1, 1984, for a total of 312 performances. Directed by Ellis Rabb, the cast starred Jason Robards as Martin Vanderhof, Colleen Dewhurst as Olga, James Coco as Boris Kolenkhov and Elizabeth Wilson as Penelope Sycamore.

A 1985 revival starred Eddie Albert as Grandpa Vanderhof, Eva Gabor as Grand Duchess Olga Katrina and Jack Dodson as Paul Sycamore.

A two-act version was staged at the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester from December 2011 to January 2012. It received excellent reviews and played to packed houses throughout.

A revival opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theater on August 26, 2014 (previews) and on September 28, 2014 (officially). Directed by Scott Ellis, the cast starred James Earl Jones as Martin Vanderhof, Rose Byrne as Alice Sycamore, Elizabeth Ashley as The Grand Duchess Olga, Annaleigh Ashford as Essie Carmichael (a role which earned her a Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Play), Johanna Day as Mrs. Kirby, Julie Halston as Gay Wellington, Byron Jennings as Mr. Kirby, Mark Linn-Baker as Paul Sycamore, Crystal Dickinson as Rheba, Patrick Kerr as Mr. De Pinna, Will Brill as Ed, Marc Damon Johnson as Donald Curry, Reg Rogers as Boris Kolenkhov, Fran Kranz as Tony Kirby, Kristine Nielsen as Penelope Sycamore, Karl Kenzler as Henderson, and the G-Men played by Nick Corley, Austin Durant, and Joe Tapper. Understudies include Corley, Barrett Doss, Durant, Ned Noyes, Pippa Pearthree, Tapper, and Charles Turner.

Film, radio and TV adaptations

Main articles: You Can't Take It with You (film) and You Can't Take It with You (TV series)
James Stewart and Jean Arthur in You Can't Take It With You (1938)

The play was the basis for the 1938 film directed by Frank Capra. The film cast included James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, Edward Arnold, Spring Byington, Ann Miller, Dub Taylor, Charles Lane, Mischa Auer, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, and the uncredited Arthur Murray. It was awarded the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director of 1938. The film version has the same overall plot and themes as the play but includes new scenes, dialogue, and slightly different characterizations, such as a side plot about Kirby Sr.'s attempt to acquire the Vanderhof house for a real estate development, and removed the side plot of Grand Duchess Olga Katrina.

Two short-lived radio series based on the play aired in 1944 and 1951. The 1944 series, with Everett Sloane as Grandpa Vanderhof, ran on the Mutual network from August 27 to November 19 of that year. The 1951 series, with Walter Brennan as Grandpa, ran on the NBC network from May 13 to November 16 of that year.

CBS produced a notable television adaptation of the original play in 1979. It featured Art Carney as Grandpa, along with Jean Stapleton, Beth Howland, Blythe Danner, Robert Mandan, Harry Morgan, Barry Bostwick, Kenneth Mars, Howard Hesseman and Polly Holliday. A second television adaptation was produced in 1984 by Public Broadcasting Service. This version, featuring Jason Robards as Grandpa, was based on the Broadway revival and filmed at Royale Theatre, New York City and was included in Great Performances (November 21, 1984).

A syndicated situation comedy based on the play, produced by NBC, ran in the United States during the 1987–1988 season. Harry Morgan, who had played Mr. De Pinna in the 1979 telefilm, appeared in the series as Grandpa.

References

  1. Carruth, Gorton (1987). The Encyclopedia of American Facts and Dates. Harper & Row. p. 506. ISBN 9780061811432.
  2. "The Most Popular High School Plays And Musicals". NPR.org. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  3. Carruth, Gorton (1987). The Encyclopedia of American Facts and Dates. Harper & Row. p. 506. ISBN 9780061811432.
  4. "You Can't Take It With You (Broadway, Booth Theatre, 1936)". Playbill. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  5. "You Can't Take It With You (Broadway, Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 1983)". Playbill. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  6. "The Verdict: Critics Review You Can't Take It With You, Starring James Earl Jones and Elizabeth Ashley, on Broadway". Playbill. September 28, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  7. Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 734–735. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  8. You Can't Take It With You (1984) at IMDb
  9. You Can't Take It With You (1987) at IMDb

Further reading

  • Hart, Moss; Kaufman, George S. (1936). You Can't Take It With You (Archival manuscript ed.). New York: Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. OCLC 44091928.

External links

Pulitzer Prize for Drama
1918–1950

1951–1975
1976–2000
2001–2025
George S. Kaufman
Plays and musicals
Musicals based on his plays
Films
Films as a director
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