Recently I did a podcast episode with my friend Jacks about community theater and in it I gave recommendations of 5 plays I said are ‘surefire hits for community theater.’

One of those 5 plays I mentioned in the episode is Arsenic and Old Lace. It’s such a funny play and one I never tire of seeing especially if the 2 aunts are well cast it’s hard to not have a good time with it. And fortunately the production at The Empress does cast well and continues this tradition of being a fun time at the theater.

I saw the Arsenic Cast (they did 2 shows the Saturday I attended which is very impressive for a volunteer cast. Well done!) which features Rose Lagos as Abby and Diana Sorensen as Martha Brewster. At first I was a little concerned that these actors didn’t seem much older than Marc Reading who plays Mortimer. I might have gone with white haired wigs for them just to make them look a little older but I grew used to it quite quickly and both actresses pull off the naivete of the characters quite well. They are convincing as completely believing they are in the right to be murdering which is hilarious and crazy (of course.)

Reading dials up the manic-nature of Mortimer to an 11 and his comic timing is very funny. I particularly enjoyed his expressions when Adrian Young as Officer O’Hara drowns on and on about his play. One of my favorite parts of Arsenic and Old Lace is all of the jabs at critics the playwright Joseph Kesselring throws in. “Mortimer hates the theatre,” says one of the aunts. “He was so happy writing about real estate and then they just made him take this terrible night position.” It’s ironic now because most anyone would do anything to be a theatre critic in New York City as a full time career but my things have changed since this was written back in 1939.

I do find the Jonathan Brewster/Dr Einstein element of this play to be the less funny/compelling part of the story. Although, when Mortimer finds the additional body in the window sill it is very humorous indeed. Mike Brown and Ryan Munsey do what they can with the characters respectively and it is still an enjoyable comedy.

The production at The Empress is directed by Carleigh-Jo Naylor who I’ve usually seen at MadKing Productions and she brings some of that indie spirit over. Like I said, particularly with Mortimer the madcap antics are dialed up to 11 in a true screwball comedy that’s a lot of fun.

The set by James Naylor is simple but effective with the unique 2nd story at the Empress being the perfect place for JD Robison’s Teddy to blow his bugle horn. Arsenic and Old Lace does have 2 intermissions which can make it feel on the long side but I don’t mind it since I’m laughing throughout. It is playing at The Empress until April 18th and tickets can be purchased here.

Arsenic and Old Lace was written by Joseph Kesselring in 1939 and first premiered in 1941. The popular Frank Capra directed film with Cary Grant and stars Josephine Hull and Jean Adair as Abby and Martha respectively premiered in 1944.

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.