Murder has never been so delightfully entertaining!
Coronado Playhouse invites audiences to experience Joseph Kesselring’s beloved classic, Arsenic and Old Lace, a fast-paced dark comedy that has delighted theatergoers for generations with its exaggerated characters, improbable situations, mistaken identities, and rapidly escalating chaos.
When critic Mortimer Brewster stops by his sweet elderly aunts’ Brooklyn home to share news of his recent engagement, he discovers a shocking family secret. His seemingly charming and charitable aunts have been quietly poisoning lonely old men as an act of mercy. As Mortimer desperately tries to protect his family, his fiancée, and his own sanity, the arrival of his delusional brother, who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt, and his murderous criminal brother creates an escalating whirlwind of mistaken identities, hidden bodies, and comic chaos.
Filled with witty dialogue, eccentric personalities, and nonstop surprises, Arsenic and Old Lace “explores the contrast between reality and appearances through its blend of comedy and crime” offers Director Kira Blaskovich on what continues to make the play resonate with audiences today. Blaskovich also reflects on her artistic approach to the production:
“This play also has a wealth of comedy – both physical and situational. If we’ve developed a good process and thoroughly explored the play and its characters’ psychology, the product should reveal a compelling story – hopefully with some new insight.”
Whether you’re discovering this theatrical favorite for the first time or revisiting a beloved classic, Arsenic and Old Lace promises an evening of delightfully wicked fun.
Arsenic and Old Lace will be performed at Coronado Playhouse (1835 Strand Way, Coronado, CA 92118) August 14 – September 6, Friday-Saturday at 7 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets available at CoronadoPlayhouse.org.
VOL. 116, NO. 29 – July 22, 2026