Coming to the Colonia High School Auditorium November 17-19 is the hysterical dark comedy Arsenic and Old Lace. The play was written by American playwright Joseph Kesselring, written in 1939, making its debut performance at Colonia High School in 1967.
Arsenic and Old Lace was the first show to ever be performed at Colonia High School over 50 years ago. The performance has been loved throughout the decades by a wide range of audiences. Because of the shows humor and ability to create laughter, it is considered a timeless comedic production.
Synopsis
The show is to be set in the living room of the Brewster home in Brooklyn, New York throughout the 1940s. The storyline revolves around the characters Mortimer, Abby, and Martha Brewster. Mortimer Brewster is living a happy life: he has a steady job at a prominent New York newspaper, he’s just become engaged, and he gets to visit his sweet spinster aunts to announce the engagement.
Mortimer always knew that his family had a bit of a mad gene. His brother believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt and his great-grandfather used to scalp Indians for pleasure. But his world is turned upside down. He suddenly realizes that his dear aunts have been poisoning lonely old men for years! Martha and Abby use their charm to persuade lonely old men to drink with them. What their guests don’t know, is the fact that their drinks have been laced with arsenic.
The title Arsenic and Old Lace is supposed to ironically represent elderly ladies as in old lace and death through the means of arsenic.
Colonia High Adaptation
The cast for the Colonia performance of Arsenic and Old Lace includes Ryan Cambell (Mortimer Brewster), Amanda Kavaija (Martha Brewster), Sarah Gregory (Abby Brewster), Anthony Piccininni (Teddy Brewster), Kelly Branco (Elaine Harper), and Kurt Jackson (Jonathan Brewster).
The students involved in the performance have become connected to not only their characters but all aspects of the play.
Anthony Picininni believes the message of the play is that “even though the crazy aunts kill people, you still need family no matter how dysfunctional.” Another comment made on the message of the play includes Ryan Cambell’s statement “To embrace your true self. Whether you’re a manic theatre critic a crazy old aunt or a man who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt. Just be you. Everyone can find their place in this world.”
The cast has worked extremely hard to prepare for their roles and they are excited for the audience to see their take on their characters. Amanda Kavaja explains which scene she thinks the audience will enjoy the most. “I look forward to the audience seeing the scene where Martha and Abby explain their process of murdering people to their favorite nephew Mortimer. Soon after we try to kill Mr. Gibbs in front of Mortimer. These are the most fun scenes to me because they are really comical. They show the audience that the Brewsters are anything but innocent.”
The audience will be able to pick their favorite characters and scenes at the show’s conclusion. But the cast has their favorite parts as well. “My favorite part is when my character first sees the body. He’s in such disbelief and as he hears his aunts explain that they are the ones who killed the man my character gets more and more wrapped in this disbelief,” explains Ryan Cambell.
Arsenic and Old Lace then and now
In 1967 some students involved in the fall play include Christine Corallo, Maria Ciardiello, Ann Cahill, Denise Danko, Robert Hess, and Jeffrey Horner. These members were involved in all aspects of the performance, just as Colonia students are today.
