Playcrafters presents ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ in Skippack
SKIPPACK — Gothic horror meets humor in the most endearing way at the home of two delightful seniors in Playcrafters’ stage production, “Arsenic and Old Lace.” The charm in playwright Joseph Kesselring’s farcical black comedy is that while there is no blood, there’s a whole lotta murder going on at the hands of the most unsuspecting perpetrators.
The story takes place in 1941 Brooklyn, where, apparently, the Victorian era never left the home — both in décor and dress code — of the Brewster sisters, (Marianne Green and Jean Laustsen). Everything turns wild when their nephew Mortimer (Matthew Clay), a theater critic who’s about to marry his fiancée Elaine (Caity Brown), comes to the home and finds his beloved aunts involved in the unthinkable. In the words of Mortimer to Elaine, “Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops.”
“This dark comedy has become a classic,” said director Michele King. “I’m very lucky to have this extremely talented cast.”
The tale features the deadly antics of the eccentric Brewster sisters, who entertain lonely gentlemen and then poison them out of “charity” when serving them wine laced with strychnine. The ensuing absurdity lends to the play’s relentless humor in the face of the unimaginable. In fact, according to the sisters-in-crime, there have been 12 murders. “Or is it 11?” the sisters muse in their all-too-fetid minds.
Meanwhile, Mortimer’s menacing brother Jonathan (Sam Gugino) and his drunken sidekick Dr. Einstein (Eric Rupp) have their own agenda and want to use the family home for nefarious reasons. Another brother, Teddy Brewster (Benjamin Fried), provides some additional comic relief as he delusionally believes he’s Teddy Roosevelt. The oblivious cop, Officer O’Hara (Dustin Lee Yenser), also lends to the lighter side of things.
It’s a masterful blend of screwball comedy using visual gags and macabre themes, making it a riotous farce. The film version of “Arsenic and Old Lace,” which once starred Cary Grant, Raymond Massey, and Peter Lorre, has a strong legacy. It’s ranked the 30th funniest film by the American Film Institute in 2000.
“However dark the subject matter, it’s presented in a very delightful and charming way, in no small part due to the sweet nature of the Brewster sisters. Their sweetness allows them to get away with murder,” said King.
Other than murder (without the violence), “Arsenic and Old Lace” is a family-friendly show that is sure to delight all ages.
If you go:
Playcrafters presents “Arsenic and Old Lace” at The Barn, 2011 Store Road and Skippack Pike
March 13, 14, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 at 8 PM; March 15, 22, 29 a 2 PM
Tickets: $26.70
610-584-4005
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