Arsenic and Old Lace
Inspired by actual events of a real woman who took in boarders, promised lifetime care for the elderly, and then poisoned them for their pensions — the murderous little old spinster ladies' plot line in the loveable play and movie Arsenic and Old Lace. Written in 1939 by playwright Joseph Kesselring, this black comedy film was directed by Frank Capra and starred Cary Grant as Mortimer. It was Kesselring's most successful play.
Grant wasn't their first choice to play the role of Mortimer in the 1944 film. First, the part was offered to Bob Hope, but Paramount Pictures wouldn't release Hope for the role. Then Warner Bros. reached out to Jack Benny and Richard Travis, who played in the 1942 film comedy The Man Who Came to Dinner, before discovering that Grant would accept the role. To his immense displeasure, Karloff, who was in the original play production, wanted to be in the film of Arsenic and Old Lace, but he was kept under contract by the Broadway play producers and wasn't allowed to do the picture.
The play revolves around the Brewster ladies, Abby and Martha, and their two sons, Johnathan and Mortimer. Descended from the Mayflower settlers, most were homicidal throughout their generations; however, Abby and Martha are pillars of the community — with no one knowing they were serene maniacs. The loony Brewster family also has an eccentric nephew named Teddy, who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt. Teddy digs locks for the Panama Canal in the cellar for Brewster victims; he believes died of yellow fever.
After finding a dead body in the home, Mortimer, a drama critic, learns that his family has a murderous history. He discovers that his aunts have been killing lonely older men by poisoning them with a glass of homemade elderberry wine laced with arsenic. Compounding his troubles, his murderous brother, Jonathan, returned. To hide from the police, Jonathan altered his face; however, his alcoholic accomplice, Dr. Einstein — drinking caused Jonathan's face to look like horror film actor Boris Karloff.
And after Jonathan hears that his father's laboratory is still operational, he plans to take over the home and change it into a get-rich location where other criminals can change their appearance. But first, he needs to commit another crime. Kill his brother, Mortimer.
Original Broadway production by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and Directed by Ron OJ Parson, Court Theatre Arsenic and Old Lace is a comical masterpiece. Ron, who has been directing for 50 years, is no stranger to comedy. He has directed and acted in several comedies and was a member of the improv comedy group. Parson is a master at bringing out the best within the characters and cast, and his love for theater is one reason he loves to go to the source of any production.
Featuring a fantastic cast of A.C. Smith, Allen Gilmore, Allen D. Edge, Norm Boucher, Thomas J. Cox, returning to Court, along with first-timers Emma Jo Boyden, Matthew Lunt, and Guy Van Swearingen; the audience was treated to an outstanding night of theater.
The purist theater-goer who has seen classic plays or movies often frowns at the most superficial changes in an original production. However, changing to an African-Americans leader cast proved to be an excellent maneuver, as Taylar (Abby Brewster), Celeste Williams (Martha Brewster), and Eric Gerard (Mortimer Brewster) were simply outstanding.
Unless I missed it through all of the laughter this play provides, Court's rendition never provides a reason why these geriatric ladies decided to venture into their murderous path mentioned in the original play. The stage with the Victorian home was immaculate.
Arsenic and Old Lace, a form of dark humor that dealt with the tragic or distressing subject matter humorously, was used to provoke discomfort, profound thought, and amusement for their audience. Popular themes included death, crime, poverty, suicide, war, violence, discrimination, and racism. Literary critics have associated black comedy and black humor with authors as early as the ancient Greeks.
“Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility.”
American cartoonist, writer, humorist, journalist, and playwright James Grover Thurber wrote the above quote about humor.
Considering the times when this play opened during World War II, Americans needed anything to laugh about, and the dark humor of Arsenic and Old Lace was quoted as being "so funny that none of us will ever forget it by The New York Times. Using humor to describe a murderous event to bring levity can be construed as inhumane, but it's humanity's way of coping with a sinister society. Arsenic and Old Lace at the Court Theatre provides its audience with a tranquil evening of laughter before returning to the reality of division and anarchy.
Let's Play Theatrical Review Highly Recommends Arsenic and Old Lace at Court Theatre.
Court Theatre
Arsenic and Old Lace
Written by Joseph Kesselring
Directed by Ron OJ Parson
September 2 - October 2, 2022
