Grandpa VanderHof and his wacky family, the Mallees, have been happily living their zany lives in his house in Perth for many years. This family (and their friends) are a madcap group of eccentrics, marching to the beat of their own drum, with pride and joy. Their hobbies include playing the xylophone, building fireworks in the cellar, writing a myriad of plays that never get published, and taking ballet lessons. Things like stress, jobs, and paying taxes to the government are for other people, not for them! But when practical young Alice Mallee becomes engaged to her company’s Vice President Tony Connell, the VanderHof/Mallee clan must straighten up to meet the new in-laws. Disaster ensues when the Connells arrive on the wrong day and, despite the best laid plans, see Alice’s family in all of its crazy glory. The evening ends with everyone in the house getting arrested, and Alice ending the engagement. It isn’t until Grandpa’s wise speech to Mr. Connell about the importance of living life to the fullest that the two families find a way to accept each other, and love conquers all.
The original production of the play premiered at the Chestnut Street Opera House in Philadelphia, on November 30, 1936. The play won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was adapted for the screen as You Can't Take It with You in 1938, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
This production is set in 1987 in Perth, Western Australia during the era of “WA Inc”.
The Cast were as follows…
* 1st Associate, Isabelle.
* Sarge, Helen C.
* 1st Secretary, Annie.
* 2nd Associate, Malcolm.
* Johnno, Fiona W.
* 2nd Secretary, Amanda.
* Alice Mallee, Annie.
* Anthony P Connell, Stephen.
* Ed Carmichael, Caro.
* Essie Carmichael, Isabelle.
* Grandpa VanderHof, Malcolm.
* John Porteous, Helen P.
* Maggie O'Neill, Amanda.
* Miriam Connell, Fiona M.
* Mr. Iraklidis, Helen C.
* Mr. Kolenkhov, Fiona W.
* Narrator, Fiona M.
* Night Court Judge, Ian.
* Penny Mallee, Helen P.
* Mr. Poppins, Ian.
* Removalist, John.
* Tony Connell, John.
* Wilbur G Henderson, Stephen.
This production was Directed and Produced by Tim.
