Editor’s note: The review below contains spoilers for the Phipps Center for the Arts’ production of “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
Bold, macabre, matter of fact and zany — Phipps Center’s production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” is a laugh with a little bite mixed into it.
Some may recognize the title by its 1944 movie adaptation, starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra. The oddball characters, even more peculiar plot and lively production made for an engaging night at the John H. Potter Theater.
“Arsenic and Old Lace” by Joseph Kesselring follows Mortimer Brewster’s seemingly picturesque life with feats like a recent engagement, a promising job and a (mostly) adoring family. Despite Mortimer’s head-scratch-inducing siblings — one believes he is former President Teddy Roosevelt and the other has a haunting, maniacal reputation — the newspaperman marches on. All is well, until Mortimer unearths a secret regarding his two aunts, Abby and Martha. During the day, the two sisters are busy with domestic affairs, but at night they are on the search for their next kill. As soon as Mortimer finds a body in their family parlor, Abby and Martha are quick to tell the truth: they kill lonely people who find their way into the Brewster abode. This deadly duo, with their nonchalant attitudes regarding the killings, leads Mortimer down a crazed turn of events.
The production found a solid balance between sinister and comedic. The dark green tinted lighting, skull patterned, glow in the dark wallpaper and occasional melancholic sounds expressed the twisted nature of the Brewster bunch. Then — with bright, white lighting, physical, slapstick humor, ironic expressions and on-the-nose music — the cast and crew eased the audience through the story.
The characters themselves added to those killer yet humorous themes. Teddy Brewster, Officer O’Hara, and Officer Klein act as comic relief from the depraved Jonathan Brewster. Whereas the remaining characters, like Mortimer, Abby, Martha and Dr. Einstein, leveled between eyebrow-raising shock to knee-slapping ridiculousness.
Phipps' “Arsenic and Old Lace” made a 1940’s script feel fashionable, fun and downright absurd in the best way.
(1) comment
Abby and Martha steel the show in this production.
I was mesmerized by their conversations and explanations.
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