You Can't Take it with You
by Boerne Community Theatre

Jul. 28 - Jul. 29 (2014)

At first the Sycamores seem mad, but it is not long before we realize that if they are mad, the rest of the world is madder. In contrast to these delightful people are the unhappy Kirbys. The plot shows how Tony, attractive young son of the Kirbys, falls in love with Alice Sycamore and brings his parents to dine at the Sycamore home on the wrong evening. The shock sustained by the Kirbys, who are invited to eat cheap food, shows Alice that marriage with Tony is out of the question. The Sycamores, however, though sympathetic to Alice, find it hard to realize her point of view. Meantime, Tony, who knows the Sycamores are right and his own people wrong, will not give her up, and in the end Mr. Kirby is converted to the happy madness of the Sycamores.

For more information iontact the director, Patty Loftis at plilllnd@gvtc.com or 210-378-4562

Characters Needed:

Please note:  Ages are approximate and act only as a guide.  Through makeup and actions, actors may appear both older or younger than actual age.  Please audition, if you feel comfortable playing a character of that approximate age.  The director will make the final decision as to your appropriateness for the part.

  • Martin Vanderhof - (60's-70's) Patriarch of the family.  Wise, collected and well-balanced.  Comfortable with himself and his individuality.  
  • Penelope Sycamore - (40's-50's) Daughter of Martin Vanderhof, Mother of Alice and Essie. Full of life and joy, but that is partly due to her own innocence and naivete.  
  • Paul Sycamore - Penelope's husband. (40's-50's) Essie and Alice's father.  Loving and childlike.  Unashamed to be himself at all times. Enjoys model train sets and helping Mr. DePinna make fireworks.
  • Essie - (20's-30's) Paul and Penelope's daughter.  An aspiring ballerina who falls down quite a bit.  Makes up for her shortfalls with a great deal of enthusiasm and youthful vigor.  Filled with even more innocence and naivete than her mother.  She should NOT look at all like a ballet dancer!
  • Ed - (20's-30's) Essie's newlywed husband.  A decidedly odd character who is somewhat distracted.  Enjoys playing the xylophone and printing.  Youthful and innocent. A true modern artist (without, perhaps, the artistic ability).
  • Alice - (20's) Romantic, pretty female lead.  Daughter of Paul and Penelope.  The most conventionally "normal" of the Sycamore family.  Loves her family but knows they seem very different to others.  Very "head over-heels" in love with Tony.
  • Tony Kirby - (20's-30's) Romantic male lead.  Heir to the Kirby empire.  Very "head-over-heels" in love with Alice.  Ready to accept her and her entire "unusual" family.  
  • Mr. DePinna - (40's-60's) Delivered ice to the Sycamore house many years ago and never left.  Loves his adopted family and the environment of total acceptance he found there.  Enjoys Making fireworks in the basement.
  • Rheba - (20's-40's) Live-in help.  Devoted to the Sycamore family as if they were her own.  Next to Grandpa, the wisest character in the play.  Enjoys life to the fullest. Written as black woman but ethnicities can be adjusted.
  • Donald - (20's-40's) Live-in help.  Gets very wrapped up in everything he does in an awkward and comical way.  Gets involved in some fast moving comedy.  Very close to Rheba. Also written as black but can change.
  • Boris Kolenkhov - (30's-50's) Russian ballet instructor who thrived under Czarist rule.  Loud, boisterous, opinionated and vivacious.  Very physical with everyone he meets.
  • Gay Wellington - (40's-50's) Aging actress who has taken to drink.  While drinking she often takes to singing, babbling and kissing strangers.  Hilariously comical role.
  • Mr. Henderson - (30's-60's) I.R.S. Agent.  Visits to confront Mr. Vanderhof regarding 25 years of unpaid taxes.  Flabbergasted when Mr.Vanderhof doesn't take him seriously.  Excellent "straight-comic" role.  The comedy of 
  • this scene is all in his reactions.
  • Mr. Kirby - (45's-60's) Tony's father.  Conservative, straightlaced,successful businessman who has sold his passion for success.  
  • Mrs. Kirby - (4's-60's) Tony's mother. Conservative and very class-conscious 
  • woman.  Completely taken aback by the Sycamores.
  • Olga Katrina - (40's-60's) A Grand-duchess of Russia, deposed in the 1917 Russian Revolution.  Now works in a diner and has made the adjustment rather well.
  • G-men #1 - #3 - (20's-50's) Official Government agents who have had the Sycamores under surveillance for awhile.  These men burst in for the arrest. Only in one scene at the end - great beginner roles.

Sunday, July 28 & Monday, July 29, both at 7 pm

Auditions consist of cold readings from the script.