The lights flickered and dimmed in the crowded auditorium on Saturday night; the audience hushed as the ornate orange set was illuminated and Mrs. Penelope Sycamore, played by Paige Terch, drafted a new play on her old-fashioned typewriter.

I nestled deeply into my seat as a cacophony of actors lined the stage and the eccentric Sycamores, an eclectic but loving family, were introduced.

Essie Carmichael (Lorelei Frank) quickly pirouetted her way into the audience’s hearts, while her husband, Ed Carmichael (Riley Threlkeld), performed his original symphony—written by Beethoven, of course.

Mr. Paul Sycamore (Neal Bozark) and his friend Mr. De Pinna (Dylan Triplett) generated fireworks in their basement.

And there was grandpa, Martin Vanderhof (Luke Goeckner), who stole the show with his tirade about income taxes and the government doing next to nothing for him.

In her debut role, Devin Johnson portrayed Alice Sycamore, a black sheep in her peculiar family who doesn’t always buy into their antics.  She swooned over Tony Kirby (Myles Daughtery), her intended, in such a believable sense that the audience fell in love right along with her.

Enter Boris Kolenkhov (Andreas Ellinas), who was, by far, my favorite character in the show.  Sporting a Russian accent, a fur hat and a dour outlook, he brought a touch of anti-communism to the production that ushered in laughter by all, even the little girl sitting in front of me (who hopefully did not pick up on the occasional bland honeymoon remark by Mrs. Kirby (Sophie Schaefer)).

Other actors kept the audience firmly engaged, such as Sarah Jobe, playing the role of the sassy maid Rheba and her boyfriend Donald, portrayed by Eian Sims. Grace Pellock delivered a knockout (or pass out, rather) performance as Ms. Wellington, a tipsy (to say the least) want-to-be actress.  And Mitchell George delighted as the tycoon Mr. Kirby.

The basic plot centered on the clash between the peculiar and wealthy as Alice gets engaged to Tony, with his family nesting deep-seated disapproval.

The production was a smashing success with literal fireworks. In her first production, show director Ms. Ashley Melton divulged a new standard of excellence with a set of returning and debut stars.

The play is sure to bring delight to those young and old, and that, you can certainly take with you.