You Can't Take It With You

In the zany Sycamore household in You Can’t Take It With You, presided over by Grandpa Vanderhof, money is not a family priority. Instead, everyone does just what he or she pleases, from collecting snakes to playing the xylophone. The only “normal” family member is granddaughter Alice, who is in love with her boss, Tony Kirby. When Tony’s stuffy parents come to visit, you can expect a few fireworks and even a police raid!

Written in 1936, this Pulitzer Prize winning light-hearted comedy remains relevant today in addressing the main theme of finding one's own way in today’s complex society, while lightly touching on topics such as distrust of government, domestic terrorism, and fear of foreign conflicts. Perhaps America has been in love with You Can't Take It With You because we all see a little bit of ourselves in Grandpa Martin Vanderhof and his family. Or, if not, perhaps we want to be like them.