By Christine Paradis

What do sex and alcohol have to do with Fitchburg State University’s theatre opportunities?   They are two main themes of the Main Stage production of “You Can’t Take It With You.” The play, presented by the FSU English department, will begin a 6-day run on campus starting April 12.
Ryanne Belanger, a senior at FSU, will be portraying the colorful character Gay Wellington.  The character, according to Belanger, is “an actress who’s out of work, who’s an alcoholic and a nymphomaniac.”  She jokingly adds, “I’m going to use heavy method acting for this particular role.”
“This play is really all about characters,” says Belanger.  “It focuses on the Sycamore family, who do what they like to do because they don’t want to waste their whole lives doing something that they hate just so they have tons of money,” Belanger says.
“The youngest daughter, Alice, is in love with [her boss’s] son,” Belanger said, “They get engaged and so the families come together for a dinner, and his family is the total opposite of hers. He’s worked all his life and his parents have worked all their lives and they’re really unhappy with it all, and her family is so happy because they’re all doing what they love,” Belanger said.
But adapting to a role can have its challenges, even for experienced actors.  Belanger, who played Martine in “The Learned Ladies” last year, says of her new role, “I tend to get out of character very easily.  This play is a comedy, so I find certain aspects of it make me laugh.”
“You Can’t Take It With You” will be performed at 4:30 p.m. April 12 and 13; 7:30 p.m. April 14, 15 and 16; and 2 p.m. April 17. All the performances will be held in the McKay Auditorium.  Tickets are free with an FSU ID, and $5 for the general public.