Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 13, 2009)
Clackamas Print Photo illustration by John Shufelt Clackamas Print r David Smith-English shares some notes on acting with the cast of “You Can’t Take it With You.’’ The set, designed by Chris Whitten and constructed technical theater class, is reminiscent of a big, old house set in the 1930s. ight reasons to enjoy this play ¡s come together \ertain audiences u Cant Take it Vou, ’ a comedy ttwo families g Stoltz damas Print 4 spring at Clackamas unity College and that ithe theatre department ¡ng on its final show of ¡ar, “You Can’t Take it ou.” in New York City and roduced in 1936, “You Take it With You” is ory of the wacky and jictious Vanderhof- ore family. The entire fakes place in Grandpa jrhof’s house, a home If relatives, in-laws, help and various other |s-on. They are a free- Id, big-hearted bunch, Istered toward the feel- Inut end of the candy lectrum. |h a huge 20-member 111 flitting and scamper- lout for your viewing Ire, nearly everyone can [omething or someone to n this production. Here are eight specific rea- p'hy this particular pre- |onof“You Can’t Take th You” is especially, blarly - not in a vague feneral way, but specifi- cally — worth seeing. 8. “The family is a trip.” So says Kelly Renée Miller, who plays mother Penelope Sycamore. The Sycamores blatantly disregard society’s rules, and seem rapturously, infuriatingly happy because of it. These goofy misfits fill their house with spon taneous dancing and music, snake collecting, candy mak ing, play writing, the inno cent but ill-advised reprinting and distribution of Bolshevik . revolutionary propaganda and a highly flammable manu facturing enterprise. Gnarly, dude! 7. You get to watch people squirm Artist in residence James Sharinghousen, who plays grandpa Vanderhof, said one of the draws of the show is seeing people put into an awkward situation. Alice Sycamore, Vanderhof’s younger grand daughter, played by Madelynn Marcotte, is the only one in the family with a job. During the course of the play, she becomes engaged to Tony Kirby, the boss’s son. This sets up a deliciously cringe-tastic scene where the straight-laced Kirbys visit the wild-and-woolly Vanderhof- Sycamore household. Marcotte, whose character is caught most uncomfortably in the middle of the may hem, asks, “How horrified would you be if you were meeting your fiance’s parents for the first time, and they show up on the wrong night, when there’s xylophone play ing and dancing and portrait painting and you’re dressed in a horrible outfit?” Horrifying indeed - but not for you. Please, relax and enjoy the spectacle. 6. Superior Russian fire power Michael Mitchell comes across as a thoughtful, soft- spoken guy. The same can not be said for his charac ter, Russian dance instructor Boris Kolenkhov. “The family is a trip. Kelly Renee Miller Mother Penelope Marcotte said she loves Kolenkhov because he’s hilarious, loud and bois- terous. That, however, is a superpower-sized understate ment. Mitchell delivers a high-yield, mega-fun perfor mance. Get ready to duck and cover. 5. Women’s wear with flair to spare The women’s costumes in this production are fierce and fabulous. “First rate” is how director David Smith-English describes the work of long time Clackamas costumer Alva Bradford. The clothes are authentic styles from the period 1936-1938, a time when Bradford said women were decked out most every day. Showing style and talent, Hannah Munsey, who plays Alice’s older sister Essie, sewed some of her costumes herself. Look for her wrap around, paisley print dress with pink ruffled collar in Act 2. It’s 100 percent genu ine Munsey-Wear. Munsey said she also absolutely loves the ador able white dress with green and black print that Alice wears at the beginning of the show. Munsey said the fab ric is so light that it moves with Marcotte, “wherever she goes.” Oh my! 4. Curls gone wild Gorgeous dresses need scrumptious tresses, and all the main female characters have them. Liz Johnson, Clackamas student and hair designer for the show, said, “During that time period, it was all about the curls.” Describing one of her curly girly creations, Johnson said Alice’s hairstyle is rem iniscent of Allie’s in the movie “The Notebook.” She described it as a very fun, very young, very pretty style, and said Marcotte looks amazing in it. 3. Pyrotechnics For those who prefer fire works to feminine finery, this vintage production delivers a real blast from the past. Mr. De. Pinna, who inex plicably moved into the Vanderhof-Sycamore fun house years ago, spends his days and nights in the base ment with Mr. Sycamore making things that go boom. With such a huge arsenal of explosives, it’s almost incon ceivable that at least one won’t go off... 2. Senior SmackDown Don Wright, who plays Mr. Kirby, brings the thrill of professional wrestling to this production as he battles Boris “Twinkle Toes” Kolenkhov. The 67-year-old Wright, who also happens to be president of the Clackamas. Repertory Theatre board, will electrify audiences with his signature full-body flop onto the Sycamore’s couch. When asked about his foray into the manly grappling arts, Slam Master Wright said only, “I hurt.” And the number-one reason to see “You Can’t Take it With You” is ... Affordability. Theatre secretary and department “mom” Jennifer Schwartzman speaks to the discriminating theatergoer when she says, “It’s cheap entertainment.” Admission is only $10 for students, cr you can apply to the elite Usher Corps (motto: Semper Frugalis). Ushers get in free, and get to bring a civilian guest for free too. If you have what it takes (an extra hour), contact Schwartzman by May 15 at jens@clackamas.edu, or 503- 657-6958, ext. 2356. “You Can’t Take it With You” runs May 21-31, Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30; Sundays, at 2:30 in Niemeyer Center. $12 general admis sion, $10 for students/seniors 62 and over.
