ANDY DRACHENBERG: What is it about You Can’t Take It With You that attracted you to the play?
ROSE BYRNE: The American family is such a traditional theme in theatre, film and novels, and this family is truly one of the original eccentric American families. The play is very radical and modern, particularly for 1936 when it debuted. All of the characters are really wild and interesting, but there’s also a lovely sentimentality to the play. I’m used to being part of somewhat cynical pieces or darker things, so it is really lovely to be able to step into a different kind of world.
AD: Who is your favorite character in the show?
RB: Reg Rogers, who is playing Boris Kolenkhov the Russian ballet teacher, is hysterical and the character he plays is just captivating! You’re not quite sure how long he’s been in America, whether he’s a ballet teacher or a gangster-all of these interesting questions. Whenever he comes on stage, there’s something about Kolenkhov’s personality that is singular, odd and kind of aggressive, but really intriguing.
AD: What about your character, Alice, have you found to be the most compelling?
RB: I grew up in a big family, not that dissimilar to the Sycamores in terms of the rambunctiousness of the house. We had people and animals coming in and out, so I am really able to relate to that. I was nervous about the play and the role, which is always a good indication that I should probably go ahead and do it, and why I wanted to do it. The role was irresistible: Alice is deceiving. She’s one of those characters that you kind of come in with a preconceived notion, but she’s actually very complicated. She is in a position where the stakes are really high for her and she has to try to pull everyone together. She’s really a conduit for the audience: a lot of what they see is through her eyes, so she certainly has to be grounded in many ways, but still be a part of this crazy family.
AD: How did the rehearsal process help recreate that sense of family?
RB: Since the beginning of rehearsal we’ve been sharing stories and discussing our experiences. It’s lovely because everyone gets to share these bits and pieces from their family. It’s really revealing, which is part of what is so great about the work that I get to do. I’m so grateful for being able to share those sorts of things.
AD: So, what can’t you take with you?
RB: Truly the sentiment of the play really rings true: external things are not important. It’s all the other stuff that’s really important. Material things can only bring a certain level of importance, but beyond that it is ephemeral.
ROSE BYRNE (Alice Sycamore). Rose is thrilled to be making her Broadway debut in You Can’t Take It With You. She is best known for her performance as “Ellen Parsons” in the critically acclaimed television series Damages, for which she was nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe. Byrne is also known for her performance as “Helen” in the film Bridesmaids, which won multiple awards including SAG, Critics Choice and a Golden Globe, among others. Other film credits include: This is Where I Leave You, Neighbors, Insidious: Chapter 2, I Give it a Year, The Internship, Place Beyond the Pines, X-Men: First Class, Get Him to the Greek, Knowing, Adam, Marie Antoinette, 28 Weeks Later, Sunshine, The Dead Girl, Troy, Wicker Park, I Capture Castle, The Tenants, Two Hands and The Goddess of 1967. Other TV credits include: Casanova.