Comedy ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ Opens at Westfield Community Players Saturday

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Westfield Community Players will kick off their 2024-25 season on Oct. 12 with the first of six performances of “You Can’t Take It With You.”

Taking place in the large house of a slightly odd New York City family, the madcap, idealistic comedy reinforces the notion that you can only live life to the fullest by doing whatever makes you happy. Written in three acts by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, the play won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for drama, and was adapted for the screen in 1938; the film earned Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director.

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“Audiences can expect to have a good time. It’s fun. It’s a lighthearted comedy, but at the same time it has a lot of heart. The theme is timeless,” said Christie Storms, a member of the Westfield Community Players’ board who also is in the cast.

The plot unfolds after Alice — the one member of an unconventional family with crazy hobbies who herself works in an office and is involved in conventional activities — starts dating Tony, who is from a family of rich snobs. Shenanigans ensue when members of the two families meet unexpectedly.

Storms plays Essie, a member of Alice’s family who wants to be a ballet dancer even though she’s older and already married.

“The top message you’ll get out of this show is to make the most of your time here on Earth doing what makes you happy,” Storms said.

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“It’s a feel-good show,” added Director Linda Viel. “It’s an upper.”

Both Storms and Viel praised the efforts of the cast, which is unusually large for a Westfield Community Players production at 19 members.

“That’s a lot of people on stage at once,” Storms said. “The size affects how we interact in the space on stage. Having a bigger cast makes it that much more challenging.”

The cast includes Sharon McGuire, Christie Storms, Debbie Badal, Paul Grote, Greg Northam, PJ Campacci, David Ciampichini, Tim McGovern, Anastasiya Shpilevskaya, Robert Blitz, Trevor Henderson, Ed Bontempo, Ruth Rocky, David Baker, Kathy Quinn Vaccari, Richard Bull, Allan Gershenson, Blas Lozano and Kathy Gordon.

Reflecting on the opportunities that WCP offers individuals both on stage and behind the scenes, Viel said of the cast, “We have a lot of new faces, a lot of people traveling here from North and South Jersey. This cast made the show come alive. I’m truly blessed. They made my job easy.”

“The ‘icing on the cast,’ if you will, is someone who’s originally from Eastern Europe, and she’s making her American debut on our stage.” Viel said. “She acted in Eastern Europe, but this is not her native language. I’m thrilled with her.”

And for those who’d like to get involved in a Westfield Community Players production but remain behind the scenes, there are plenty of opportunities.

“We’re always looking for volunteers. We’ve done 90 years’ worth of shows, all pulled off by volunteers,” Storms said. “It’s a testament to many, many dedicated people donating their time both on stage and behind the scenes.”

Seven behind-the-scenes teams handle props, stage managing, costumes, lights and sounds, box office, hospitality and programs/flyers/posters, Viel said.

“I have the most amazing, talented behind-the-scenes people,” Viel added. “We have three tables filled with props, all creatively made, such as fireworks and blintzes props.”

Founded in 1934, the Westfield Community Players is committed to offering hands-on participation for those wishing to learn more about various aspects of live theatrical production and performance while providing a varied theater experience to a broad audience. WCP actively seeks volunteers to keep its theater functioning, and maintains an open-casting policy where everyone can audition for all scheduled plays.

The Westfield Community Players has more shows planned for its current season, including “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” in January 2025, “Rope” in March 2025 and “Steel Magnolias” in May 2025.

If you go:

The Westfield Community Players will present “You Can’t Take It with You” at 8 p.m. on Oct. 12, Oct. 19, Oct. 25 and Oct. 26, and at 2 p.m. on Oct. 13 and Oct. 20 in their 150-seat theater at 1000 North Ave. West in Westfield.

Tickets are $25 for adults — $15 for students and veterans with valid ID brought to the show — and can be purchased in advance at www.wcptheatre.org or by calling 908-232-1221 and leaving a message.

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