You can’t take it with you Moss hart & George S. Kaufman artist note: Eric Peterson I started off with a pretty modest opinion of this play. I worried that, with its gentle humor, loving relationships and sentimental, improbable plot, it might be too old fashioned; too far from the raucous profanity and violence of entertainment tastes today. These concerns become irrelevant the more we work on the piece. The company of people working on the production allow me to see that this is in fact a beautifully crafted play with an amazing generosity in its storytelling and themes. And each day brings new discoveries as these characters come to life, emerging from the bodies and imaginations of these wonderful actors: Essie’s on her toes, Ed is playing the xylophone; inspiration is happening all over the place. The snakes can move and the explosions are hilarious. Director Joe is moved to tears discussing the confrontation of Father and Son. I’m almost weeping myself watching him. I start to realize this is the first old guy I’ve played, since I started playing old guys, that isn’t grouchy, and angry; who is happy and brave. A bit of a stretch for me. The longer I work on it the more I realize that this is in fact theatre of the spirit. Its ambition is to engage the imagination of the audience in a contemplation of courage and hope. The writers wanted us to be able to come to the theatre burdened by the state of the world (and who isn’t these days) and leave revived in spirit and a little more hopeful.
Eric Peterson, Grandpa in You Can’t Take It With You
a message from the artistic director Eric Peterson is a remarkable artist and a remarkable man. He is simultaneously sweet, goofy and intense, incredibly smart and articulate, and very, very funny. He is also one of the greatest actors I have ever worked with or seen. There are actors who “set” a performance and bring it in night after night. Some of these actors are extremely good. Then there is the very rare actor who engages all of his considerable technique at the service of the inspiration of this moment. These actors are always brilliantly alive, a thrill to watch and an absolute joy to work with. Eric Peterson is the best of these. Every single day before rehearsal, Eric comes upstairs to the administration offices and, in a whirlwind Royal Tour, greets each member of the staff leaving joy and laughter in his wake. Soulpepper has been so fortunate to be a part of Eric’s life and art for the last few years, and we look forward to much more.
Albert Schultz, Artistic Director