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Hays High to present award-winning comedy

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As Mr. DePinna (sophomore Eric Adams) decides to demonstrate while a rocket won’t light, IRS tax collector Wilma Henderson (sophomore Amiyah Gonzales) ducks to avoid being struck in a scene from “You Can’t Take It With You” to be presented by Hays High School at 7 p.m. on March 10-12 at 12th Street Auditorium. Henderson was visiting the Sycamore home to try to collect back taxes that had not been paid for a number of years. She was unsuccessful.
As Mr. DePinna (sophomore Eric Adams) decides to demonstrate while a rocket won’t light, IRS tax collector Wilma Henderson (sophomore Amiyah Gonzales) ducks to avoid being struck in a scene from “You Can’t Take It With You” to be presented by Hays High School at 7 p.m. on March 10-12 at 12th Street Auditorium. Henderson was visiting the Sycamore home to try to collect back taxes that had not been paid for a number of years. She was unsuccessful.

Submitted

“You Can’t Take It With You” has endured as one of the classic American comedies on both stage and screen for more than 80 years.

And why not? Who can resist a play whose theme is “spend your life doing things you enjoy”? After all, you can’t take it with you.

Kaufman and Hart’s Depression-era play will be presented by Hays High School at 7 p.m. on March 10-12 at 12th Street Auditorium. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the Tony Award and later an Academy Award, the play ran for 406 Broadway performances and enjoyed a recent Broadway revival.

It tells of an extended family living in a large house near Columbia University in New York City. Everyone who lives there believes in Grandpa’s philosophy of following their bliss, which makes for a very eccentric household.

When daughter Alice Sycamore falls in love with Tony Kirby and invites his high society parents to dinner, she orders her family to become more ordinary and act like normal people. Of course, the Kirbys arrives on the wrong night to see the Sycamores indulging in a variety of odd activities.

“I love this play for so many reasons,” director Bill Gasper said. “Not only is it a romantic comedy, but it also provides a historical glimpse of Depression-era society, including Russians in America, an impending war in another country, welfare, income tax, paranoid government agents, and the disparity between the rich and poor. These themes continue to ring true today, which is a testament to the genius of these two playwrights.”

The play features a cast of 19, which Gasper said is a blend of experienced actors and some relatively new, but talented newcomers to the stage.

“The kids have done a great job with the play,” Gasper said. “Over the last two years, we’ve graduated quite a few seniors who had been with the play for several years. But these kids have stepped right in and impress me with their talent every day.”

Tickets can be purchased at the Hays High office for $5 for adults and $3 for students. They will also be available at the door for $6 and $4. The three-act play is suitable for audiences of all ages and lasts just over 2 hours with a five-minute break between Act 1 and 2 and a 10-minute break between the final two acts.

“I think my favorite thing about this play is how it reminds us that we should accept people the way they are,” Gasper said. “It also asks questions about class and makes us ponder the value of the pursuit of wealth versus the pursuit of happiness. It truly is an outstanding play that deploys comedy to discuss real issues.”

You Can’t Take It With You Cast
Martin Vanderhof – senior Jared Thom
Penny Sycamore – junior Madison Crees
Paul Sycamore – sophomore Dawson Rooney
Alice Sycamore – junior Anniston Weber
Essie Carmichael – sophomore Erin Muirhead
Ed Carmichael – senior Mikey Ploutz
Rheba – senior Sylina Zhang
Donald – senior Tanner Moore
Mr. DePinna – sophomore Eric Adams
Anthony Kirby – senior Ben Sadler
Miriam Kirby – junior Kristen Nease
Tony Kirby – sophomore Ryan Will
Boris Kolenkhov – senior Trent Potter
Henderson – sophomore Amiyah Gonzalez
Grand Duchess Olga Katrina – senior Brianna Mathias
Gay Wellingon – sophomore Shelby Knoll
Department of Justice Agents – junior Jordyn Dake, freshman Rebekah Porter, senior Nikki Vuong

As she is courted by the wealthy Tony Kirby (sophomore Ryan Will), Penny Sycamore (junior Anniston Weber) modestly looks away during a scene from “You Can’t Take It With You.” The Pulitzer Prize winning play will be presented by Hays High School at 7 p.m. on March 10-12 at 12th Street Auditorium. General admission tickets are available at the door.
As she is courted by the wealthy Tony Kirby (sophomore Ryan Will), Penny Sycamore (junior Anniston Weber) modestly looks away during a scene from “You Can’t Take It With You.” The Pulitzer Prize winning play will be presented by Hays High School at 7 p.m. on March 10-12 at 12th Street Auditorium. General admission tickets are available at the door.
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