Playhouse to resume with comedy ‘You Can’t Take It With You’

Lively conversations in the Vanderhof home are all part of the fun in a scene from the Putnam County Playhouse season-finale production of the comedy, “You Can’t Take It With You.” Joining in the fun (from left) are Ric McFadden as Martin Vanderhof, Jack Earles as dance instructor Mr. Kolenkhov, Jim Rambo as fireworks enthusiast Mr. DePinna, Michael L. McClaine as Vanderhof’s son-in-law Paul and Shelly McFadden as the free-spirited Penny. “You Can’t Take It With You” will be staged Sept. 7-11 and Sept. 14-16 at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre in Greencastle.

BannerGraphic/ERIC BERNSEE

The Putnam County Playhouse is once again open for your entertainment, following the cancellation of “Joseph” last month. The Pulitzer-Prize winning comedy “You Can’t Take It With You” will be presented Sept. 7-11 and Sept. 14-16 at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre off Round Barn Road in Greencastle.

All performances will begin at 8 p.m. and all tickets are $10. The box office is open daily (except Sunday, Sept. 12) at 5 p.m. Persons may call 653-5880 for reservations.

The comedy is directed by Dustin Bond, who also designed the lighting.

Getting up close and personal with the snakes in the Vanderhof house, visiting Mrs. Kirby (Holly Pritchett) is taken aback as Martin Vanderhof (Ric McFadden) tries to calm her in a a scene from the Putnam County Playhouse production of the comedy,"You Can't Take It With You."

The Pulitzer Prize-winning 1936 play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart is about a man from a family of rich snobs who becomes engaged to a woman from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family.

The cast includes Ric McFadden in the leading role of Martin Vanderhof – a man who has gone his own way in life. Playing members of his eccentric family are Michael L. McClaine as son-in-law Paul who is married to free spirit Penny played by Shelly McFadden, who also costumed the production. Paul’s two granddaughters, Essie, an aspiring ballet dancer, and Alice, a secretary are played by Hannah Lafever and Anna Harris respectively.

Essie’s husband, Ed, who plays the xylophone and sells homemade candy is played by Bart Jones making his PCPH debut. Jim Rambo is Mr. De Pinna, who assists Paul in making fireworks.

The household domestic couple are played by Morgan Asher and Noah D. Pettit. Tony Kirby, a suitor to Alice, is played by Cameron Wunderlich. Bond and Holly Pritchett are his parents, the stuffy Mr. and Mrs. Kirby.

Other visitors to the house include Mr. Kolenkhov, Essie’s dancing teacher played by Jack Randall Earles; an actress who Penny is trying to recruit to be in one of the plays she has written, Gay Wellington, played by Sandi Rossok; and a deposed Russian duchess, Karen Temple. Ethan Lawler is a G-Man who pays a surprise visit to the household.

Ruby Sullivan will run the light board. The set was designed by Linda Gjesvold.

Wunderlich, Harris, Lawler, and Pettit are also working backstage.

The production is sponsored by Shuee’s Great Buys Plus.

This production will close the 60th anniversary season of Putnam County Playhouse.