REVIEW: Old Lyric opener is slice of Americana
In presenting “You Can’t Take It With You,” the Old Lyric Repertory Company is striving to bring a bit of Americana to its summer audience. It’s part of a package — the production being teamed with “Cat On a Hot Tin Roof,” “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “The Fantasticks.”
The opening weekend production, it seemed, tipped its hat to days after the Depression, crime-free New York City streets, a slower-paced lifestyle, holidays with fireworks and trips to the Adirondacks. The only thing wrong with that affectionate nod was that the slower-paced lifestyle presented itself a bit too slow. This production needs a metronome. Before this play has finished it’s summer run, director Vosco Call will likely be able to trim five minutes off it’s nearly two and one-half hour running time just by trimming out some dead time and urging actors to jump on the back of each other’s lines.
A wonderful, colorful and just-busy-enough set design sets the stage for the collection of oddballs that live in the Vanderhof home, circa mid-1930s. Like peeling back layers of an onion, the audience is introduced to the house full of characters and their idiosyncrasies, including Penelope Sycamore (Keri Larsen), mother of the home who writes plays because a typewriter was misdelivered to their home; daughter Essie (Hollie Campbell), who has been taking dance lessons for eight years to little avail; Mr. DePinna, a fireworks maker who lives in the basement (played by W. Lee Daily); father Paul (Corey Ewan); son-in-law Ed (Tyson Smith) and daughter Alice (Megan Walker), who, as luck would have it, is the only “normal” one of the bunch.
Oh, and let’s not forget Grandpa Vanderhof, played by visiting Actor’s Equity artist Bart Williams, around whom the play revolves. Williams and Daily prove to the strongest elements of the production. Williams has a richness and cadence to his voice that envelopes the audience. The fact that he is to be seen in three of the four OLRC Americana pieces this summer can only warm patrons’ hearts.
Daily also delights, just by walking on stage. This OLRC veteran is so perfectly at ease in his character and projects perfectly to every row of the grand Old Lyric Theatre. Larsen — who in past season has been much too reserved, much to ill-at-ease on stage — has her best effort to date as Penelope. Her voice and mannerism during the parlor game scene — though the scene itself plods a bit — are examples of her improvement.
Dan Merket is also near perfect as Russian Boris Kolenkhov, Essie’s dance teacher and a frequent guest for dinner. His loud, overdone entrances and movements on stage threaten to push too hard, but end up being just enough ham. In fact, one of the pleasant aspects of this production is that is doesn’t end up being filled with over-the-top cartoon characters, which often is the case with this Moss Hart and George Kaufman play.
A pat on the back must go to Kent Hadfield, who stepped in as Mr. Kirby when Equity artist Glen Shadix left the summer cast for personal reasons, just days before opening night. Hadfield is just stiff enough for the ultra-tight prospective in-law.
As a slice of apple pie, “You Can’t Take It With You” spits and sputters a bit to get going and even its final scene might be a bit too sincere for the comedy it is. But better-than-usual acting and Pulitzer Prize-winning wordplay makes it well worth a bite.
You Can’t Take It With You
Director: Vosco Call
Three acts, two intermissions
running time 2 hours 28 minutes.
Runs in repertory until Aug. 6
Old Lyric Theater: 28 W. Center, downtown Logan