You Can't Take It with You (play)
A comedic play about a quirky New York family.
You Can't Take It with You is a comedic play in three acts by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.
- venue
- Chestnut Street Opera House, Philadelphia
- playwrights
- George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
Lore & Background
The play is set entirely in the home of the Sycamores, an eccentric New York City family. The patriarch, Grandpa Vanderhof, has not worked in thirty-five years and keeps pet snakes. His daughter Penny writes melodramas, her husband Paul manufactures fireworks in the basement, and their daughter Essie makes candy and dreams of ballet despite being a terrible dancer. The relatively normal daughter Alice works in an office and falls in love with Tony Kirby, the vice-president of the company where she works and the son of her boss.
Reader's Guide
The play's significance lies in its enduring popularity and cultural impact. The plot revolves around the clash between the free-spirited Sycamore family and the conventional Kirby family, culminating in a message about valuing happiness and family over material success. The play's humor and heart have kept it relevant for decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote You Can't Take It with You (play)?
The three-act comedy was a collaboration between George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, one of the most celebrated writing duos in American stage history.
What is You Can't Take It with You (play) about?
It follows an eccentric, wildly generous New York family whose free-spirited way of living collides with the rigid expectations of their more conventional neighbors and business partners.
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