Past productions

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE

2 – 11 December 2021

by Joseph Kesselring

Originally performed in 1941 and made famous by the film starring Cary Grant as Mortimer Brewster, Arsenic and Old Lace was one of the first and funiest comedies of multiple murders, putting black comedy truly back on the theatrical map. It tells the story of two charming and gentle old ladies who poison their lonely, elderly lodgers in order to save them from the sorrows of this world – however, not everybody shares their views!

Described as an inspired and delightful concoction, combining the charm and ingenuity of an Agatha Christie Whodunit but having a sharper satirical perspective.

CAST

Photography by Gail Bishop

Review | December 2021 | Theo Spring

With all due deference to the excellent cast, the shining star of this production was, for me, designer Jenny Kingman’s glorious set. A main room in a well to do house in Brooklyn in 1939, it excelled in finesse. The woodwork, the staircase with its platform from which Teddy could realistically “Charge”, its beautifully glazed front door and its general ambience. Congratulations to the set construction team for a really great job. I wanted to move in!

Abby and Martha Brewster are two elderly ladies who consider it their duty to relieve their gentlemen lodgers, who have no family or it appears, friends, of continuing life with such suffering. To this end, a cocktail of poisons is offered with a glass of red wine and – bingo – there are twelve bodies, buried with all due services, resting in peace in their cellar.

Anne Gregory and Diane Ebden delivered the kindly dotty lady roles with aplomb. Anne as Abby with a real twinkle in her eye and a concern for human suffering and Diane as Martha – the creator of the lethal mix, equally looking out for her fellow man. Two delightful roles bringing to life this well-loved play.

Teddy is their eccentric nephew, believing himself to be President Teddy Roosevelt, often leading troops into battle. Here Chris Hannigan created a loveable, odd but happy fellow, taking salutes from the tame cops who went along with his charade and helping his aunts with the manual side of burying the poisoned without, it seemed, a qualm.

In a role in which he seems to have cornered the market at The Miller, Robin Clark delivered the required mania to Mortimer Brewster, the ladies’ youngest nephew, who discovers the latest body in the window seat. Robin’s knack of going so far, but not over the top, is a great asset to such roles, particularly as he had to switch from crisis to calm when proposing to his girlfriend, in the same room.

Abigail Waterfield played girlfriend Elaine Harper, starting the play delightfully dewy-eyed but with anger rising due to confusion and misunderstandings. Was she engaged or wasn’t she?

Reference is made early in the play to Martha and Abby’s other nephew, Jonathan – a real gangster with no compassion. Sure enough, he turns up with Russ Gregory making the very most of all Jonathan’s vile threats. He has a partner in crime – Dr Einstein – played with every sinister nuance and an excellent accent by Peter Damesick.

The play gives a great chance to actors who may just want a small role and these there are aplenty. Jay Rolfe and Bram Stein as Officers Brophy and Klein, Robert Randall as Officer O’Haradedicatedly boring everyone to bits with his plot for a play, David Kay doubling up as victim Mr Gibbs and Lieutenant Rooney, Tony Richardson being genteel over teacups as Rev. Dr Harper and Phil Wright patiently waiting until right at the end of the play to come on as Mr Witherspoon of the Happy Dale Sanatorium. And just who is Mr Spenalzo?

So many comic moments, such well-sustained Brooklyn accents, some wonderful costumes by Berry Butler and Helena Shore and all directed by Sheila Carr who gave the audience an uplifting and, in spite of the subject of murder, a very happy and much missed evening at the theatre.