When the high-class Wall Street business-minded parents of one man meet his fiancée’s all-too-quirky family, it makes for a comedic adventure.
    Middletown High School students will illustrate this scenario in “You Can’t Take it With You,” a play set in 1938, on Friday, Nov. 7, and Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m.
    Director Amanda Chas said she wanted to do a comedy and she considered this play for several years.
    “I thought it was really funny and it was just a good fit for this year,” she said. “We had a lot of kids audition and the talent was there, and this has a large cast. It was a perfect match.”
    The play stars student Lexi Lemper as Alice Sycamore, whose family has an abundance of guests and hobbies in their household.
    After Alice lands a job on Wall Street, she falls for her boss’ son, Anthony “Tony” Kirby Jr., played by Julian Willingham.
    “The play is a lot of fun because I have a very crazy family and I want to live a normal life,” Lemper said. “The contrast between my family and my in-laws is really neat to see. It’s a fun comedy and everyone does such a good job with it.”
    Behind the scenes, the student stage crew crafted the entire two-story set including a staircase, bookshelf, basement and printing press.
    “The acting is amazing. The set is amazing,” Chas said. “The kids work so hard. They deserve to be seen.”
    Willingham said anyone who comes to see the show will enjoy themselves.
    “It’s a comedy and the characters make the play the masterpiece it’s going to be,” he said.
    The cast ranges from freshmen to seniors who will keep the audience in hysterics with their antics.
    Mrs. Sycamore, played by Tonisha Jones, writes plays about her wildest fantasies, while Mr. Sycamore, played by Alex Cummiskey, makes fireworks with his friend.
    Mr. DePinna, played by Jahlil Peterson, isn’t a member of the family but lives in the house like many have before.
    The cast also includes ballerina wannabe Essie, played by Alix Gardner, and Ed, played by Dalian Simpson, who prints circulars when he’s not playing the xylophone.
    Mr. Kolenkhov, played by Jake Degler, is Essie’s Russian ballet instructor, who frequently talks Russian politics with Grandpa. Grandpa, played by Kyle Moran, fills his time hunting for snakes and going to commencements.
    “It’s hysterical. This family is wild, they’re bizarre and they do it all,” Chas said. “Wall Street meets the family of artists and it’s funny to see the two worlds collide.
    “It’s going to be a good time. The audience will definitely laugh,” Chas said. “While it’s set in the 1930s and early ’40s, people still deal with some of the issues they’re dealing with.”
    Tickets are $6 at the door, and may be pre-ordered by calling 376-4140, ext. 3056.