Cast photo by Emmie Beck
The Marlboro Players will present “Arsenic and Old Lace” on October 13, 14, and 15, at 7 p.m. nightly. I was given the honor of previewing the play on Tuesday evening.
Written by Joseph Kesselring in 1941, the play is one of Broadway’s most successful comedies. In 1944 it was adapted into a film starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra that proved to be a box office success.
After a stressful two days at work, I was ready to sit back and be entertained by some of the most talented people in Marlboro County and, as always, I was not disappointed!
The play, set in the 1940s, opens in the living room of the Brewster home in Brooklyn, NY, which has been passed down to two elderly spinster sisters, Abby and Martha.
The Brewster sisters appear to be quite selfless, providing help when needed for their neighbors as well as opening their door to strangers. They make soup for the sick, serve tea and cakes for the preacher and police officers, collect toys for needy children, and provide lodging for lonely old men at no cost. They must be the right kind of men though. The sisters also offer their homemade elderberry wine, but only to a select group of guests.
Living with the sisters is their nephew, Teddy, who believes that he is Teddy Roosevelt. He is constantly blowing his bugle and shouting “Charge!” each time he heads upstairs. Teddy created his own Panama Canal in the cellar of the home and is convinced that he is dealing with individuals who have contracted yellow fever.
Teddy’s brother, Mortimer, appears to the ‘responsible adult’ for the family, and works to ensure that Teddy will be taken care of once his elderly aunts have passed away. Mortimer, who works as a critic for a newspaper, has his hands full with Teddy and his aunts, while courting the preacher’s daughter, Elaine, who just happens to live next door to his aunts… who just happen to live next to the graveyard.
To add to Mortimer’s already full plate, the family gets a surprise visit from another brother, Jonathan, who has been traveling the world with his faithful companion Dr. Einstein. Jonathan is unrecognizable to the rest of the family, the result of several attempts at plastic surgery performed by Dr. Einstein – who just happens to love to take a nip from his trusty flask to calm his nerves. Jonathan’s current appearance is likened to that of Boris Karloff, the well-known actor who played monsters, mad scientists, and other menacing characters during his four-decade career.
Unbeknownst to the various family members, Abby and Martha share a similar ‘passion’ with their nephew Jonathan, which ends up becoming a competition. Teddy unknowingly acts as an accomplice to the three, believing that he is doing everything that Teddy Roosevelt would do as a good American.
The play has three acts and ran approximately two and a half hours during Tuesday night’s dress rehearsal.
The cast members could not have been better selected for their roles! Kara Hodge and Janet Smith are perfect as Abby and Martha Brewster. Iver Tranes’ Teddy is hilarious! Scott Andrews portrays Jonathan Brewster, and definitely gives off the ‘Boris Karloff vibe’! Hampton Hubbard as Dr. Einstein will certainly bring many laughs in his bumbling attempts to help Jonathan. Mortimer, the sanest of the Brewster clan, is played by Chad Tolson who does a wonderful job trying to handle all that has fallen into his lap in one night! Jennifer Yager is excellent as the preacher’s daughter, Elaine, and she sure does love her Mortimer!
I can’t share anything more without giving away the many secrets that are revealed during this unplanned ‘family reunion’. But I would definitely recommend that you make sure and get your tickets to experience this dark comedy! After leaving the beautiful Civic Center, you are sure to question how safe it is to accept a glass of elderberry wine from two kind spinster ladies… and never forget that being offered a glass of their homemade wine is reserved only for the most select visitors!
With a cast of 13 and a production staff of more than 30, it is evident how much The Marlboro Players enjoy making these performances available to our community and should be commended for their efforts. They put in countless hours to construct sets, create costumes, and practice, and their hard work shows! Director Sarah Crouch and Producer Emmie Beck have a winner in “Arsenic and Old Lace”!
Tickets are available at the Marlboro Civic Center ticket office located at 106 Clyde Street in Bennettsville. For more information, please call 843-454-9496. Also, please visit the Marlboro Civic Center website at https://marlborociviccenter.com for more information about the Marlboro Players!