140 E. Roosevelt Ave. / PO Box 783 / Dover, DE 19903 / 302-674-3568 / email: kctg@kctg.org
at the Patchwork Playhouse
Providing Quality Community Theatre
to Central Delaware Since 1953
Our 61st Season begins...
Kent County Theatre Guild presents
Arsenic and Old Lace
written by Joseph Kesselring
directed by Nancy Muller
Fridays SEP 26, OCT 3 & 10 at 8:00p
Saturdays SEP 27, OCT 4 & 11 at 8:00p
Sunday Matinee OCT 5 at 2:00p
The Patchwork Playhouse
140 E. Roosevelt Ave., Dover DE
ABOUT THE SHOW
In 1941, New Yorkers were looking for some entertainment to take their minds off of the war in Europe and the growing fear that America would be pulled into it. On January 10, Broadway gave them exactly what they were looking for in the form of a hilarious new play by Joseph Kesselring, Arsenic and Old Lace.
The play became an immediate critical and popular success, running for 1,444 performances. It also became a hit in England in 1942 as theatergoers who were suffering through London post-blitz lined up for tickets. In 1944, Hollywood produced a film version staring Cary Grant that became a huge box office success.
The play, a clever combination of the farcical and the macabre, centers on two elderly sisters who are famous in their Brooklyn neighborhood for their numerous acts of charity. Unfortunately, however, their charity includes poisoning lonely old men who come to their home looking for lodging. The two women are assisted in their crimes by their mentally challenged nephew who believes he is Teddy Roosevelt and who frequently blasts a bugle and yells "charge" as he bounds up the stairs.
Matters get complicated when a second nephew, a theater critic, discovers the murders and a third nephew appears after having just escaped from a mental institution. In his adroit mixture of comedy and mayhem, Kesselring satirizes the charitable impulse as he pokes fun at the conventions of the theater.
Source- http://library.uvm.edu/~pmardeus/theat/arsenicandoldlaceplot.html
THE CAST
Abby Brewster... Linda Hyler
Rev. Harper... Paul Janiga
Teddy Brewster... Will McVay
Officer Brophy... Edy Makariw
Officer Klein... Briana Hyler
Martha Brewster... Linda Smith
Elaine Harper... Aubrey Edwards
Mortimer Brewster... Brandon Twilley
Mr. Gibbs... Andrew Sanchez
Jonathan Brewster... Sean Finley
Dr. Einstein... Steve Caporiccio
Officer O'Hara... Kevin Smith
Lt. Rooney... Art Paul
Mr. Witherspoon... David Wharff
THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Director... Nancy Muller
Consulting Director... Patti Gatto
Stage Manager... Brianna Hyler
