One of the most nerve- wracking moments in a couple’s relationship is meeting the significant other’s family. Tonight, Theatre Baton Rouge will present “You Can’t Take It with You,” a play where the relatives are nothing like the child.
Playwrights George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart wrote “You Can’t Take It with You” in 1936. The play centers around a man from a rich family and his engagement to a young woman with a quirky family.
“You Can’t Take It with You” won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1937 and received a screen adaptation that won an Academy Award for Best Picture. The production has often been compared to a more modern and comedic “Romeo and Juliet.”
Keith Dixon, managing director of Theatre Baton Rouge and director of “You Can’t Take It with You,” said this is his last show as part of Theatre Baton Rouge.
“I’ve been here 10 years and I find it appropriate that my last show is so aptly titled,” Dixon said.
The show is set in 1936, but the play’s themes are applicable to modern times. The grandfather of the play raises questions about the government often asked today, and the love story is happening between different social classes.
“This is one of those shows that you don’t tamper with,” Dixon said.
Dixon said the characters’ relatability to viewers is another reason for the production’s popularity. Each character is intended to remind the audience of themselves or someone they know.
Theatre Baton Rouge picks its plays 1 1/2 years ahead of schedule. Dixon said selecting the right cast and crew determines the outcome of any production. The clear communication between the actors and production staff allows Dixon to focus on the play’s overall success instead of constantly fixing smaller errors.
Dixon also said comedy is one of the hardest genres to perform on stage. While the goal of comedy is to make people laugh, Dixon said forced comedy can lead to an uncomfortable audience that may miss the joke.
“You don’t want to play for the humor. You want to play for the truth,” Dixon said. “The humor comes from the truth of the situation.”
The set’s design caused problems for the production during the first few rehearsals. Dixon and the set design crew realized the background must replicate the peculiar family the story centers around.
Dixon said the size of the cast was another struggle for “You Can’t Take It with You.” At one point in the play, 18 people will be on stage, creating an intentional feeling of chaos that works with the play’s motif.
“It’s a classic show that stands the test of time,” Dixon said.
General admission tickets for “You Can’t Take It with You” will be $25 and $15 for students who provide ID. There will be a pay-what-you-can show at 7:30 p.m. tonight. The play’s official opening night is Friday and it will run until May 18. Tickets can be purchased at theatrebr.org or at the Theatre Baton Rouge box office at 7155 Florida Blvd.
“It’s a classic show that stands the test of time.”