For fans of dark comedy, it¹s hard to imagine a play funnier than Joseph Kesselring¹s Arsenic and Old Lace, slated for Tuesday, July 26 through Saturday, July 30 at 8:00 p.m. at The Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth. Directed by Sharon LaJoie and starring an impressive ensemble cast of Barnstormer veterans, Arsenic and Old Lace promises a madcap romp through the hilarious and bizarre secrets of the oddball Brewster family. And like many families, there are skeletons; but in the case of the whacky Brewsters, the skeletons are hauntingly real.
Kesselring penned Arsenic and Old Lace in 1939, yet it has survived as his most successful play due to its improbable but hysterical plot and richly drawn characters. The action takes place in the living room of the Brewster house where dear old Aunt Abby and sweet old Aunt Martha are serving up elderberry wine laced with a certain poison to unsuspecting single gentlemen who are alone in the world. Abby and Martha are joined by their three nephews Teddy, who believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt; Jonathan, a true criminal accompanied by a poor excuse for a plastic surgeon; and Mortimer the relatively sane playwright‹who has brought news of his intention to marry the reverend¹s daughter, Elaine. What unfolds is a riotous evening of mistaken identities, unidentified bodies, and wild, macabre commotion.
"It seems very fitting that an anniversary year for The Barnstormers would include this most beloved hit," said director Sharon LaJoie. "Even though the characters are so outrageous, we can all see a little bit of ourselves in any one of these characters, which is why we return to this play so often." LaJoie is a seasoned director and theater scholar who returns to the Barnstormers to bring her own brand of theater history and interpretation to this classic play. She added, "We return to this play to laugh at our foibles and our follies and to leave the theatre in celebration of all that makes us human."
Arsenic and Old Lace features an ensemble cast of Barnstomers favorites who bring the eccentric Brewster family characters and their associates to life. Elaine Anderson returns to Tamworth from New York for this production as Abby Brewster, joined by talented character actress Jean Mar Brown. David Brown plays their nephew Teddy, who believes he is digging the Panama Canal in the Brewster basement. (In reality, he is digging the graves of the 11 [or is it 12] bodies the sisters have stacked up.) The sinister Jonathan Brewster is played by John Rahal Sarrouf, a resident member of Shakespeare and Co. in Lenox, Massachusetts, who joins The Barnstormers for a second season. Other cast members include Bob Bates as Reverend Harper, Dale Place as Officer Brody, Parker Roberts as Officer Klein, Amanda Baker as Elaine Harper, and Darrell Keene as the strange Dr. Einstein who botches a plastic surgery job on Jonathan in an effort to help him escape his murderous acts. Pat Tierney and Frank Wells join the cast as Officer O'Hara and Lt. Rooney.
The play's set, which is based on an actual boarding house that is now the home of the president of Bethel College, in North Newton, Kansas, is designed by Jesse Beecher, who fans enjoyed as Tom Sawyer in Big River and Anthony Marston in And Then There Were None. Costumes are created by Sandra King, who returns to The Barnstomers for her third season and brings with her myriad experience including Gilbert and Sullivan costume design. Karen Perlow sets the scene with her lighting prowess. Karen teaches and designs at MIT and was the IRNE award winner for Best Lighting Design in 2003.
"If you've never seen this play, it's a must," said Interim Artistic Director, Bob Shea. And if you've seen it, then of course you'll want to see it again. The play never loses its joy or its exuberance. And given this director and this cast and this crew, this is the time to get to the theater for an evening of theater history and pure fun.
Independent Color Press, LLC,is the underwriting sponsor for Arsenic and Old Lace. Located in Center Ossipee, Independent Color Press offers full service offset printing for business or personal needs. They also offer free pickup and delivery and work with both Macintosh and PC formats.
Tickets for Arsenic and Old Lace are $25 for orchestra and $20 for balcony seats‹and are sure to sell quickly, so be sure not to delay in ordering. The play is fine for the whole family, though tiniest children may not necessarily appreciate the darkly humorous elements. The theater is air-conditioned and handicapped accessible. Season and scrip tickets are available for the remainder of the season call (603) 323-8500 to reserve your tickets or to inquire about group rates.
For more information:
Donna Woodward
207 935-3959
