Murder, two old women, and a crazy nephew together in a house \u2014 what could possibly go wrong?<\/p>\n
\u201cArsenic and Old Lace,\u201d a classic story about making insanity look normal, is both entertaining and clever, and is now being performed at the Coronado Playhouse (CPH). This play was previously produced at the playhouse in 1990 and 1998.<\/p>\n
\u201cArsenic and Old Lace\u201d refers to someone old-fashioned and sweet on the outside but wicked on the inside. Written by Joseph Kesselring, the play was a hit on Broadway and was performed from 1941 to 1944. It also inspired a film directed by Frank Capra starring Cary Grant, which came out in 1944.<\/p>\n
The play at CPH is directed by Kira Blaskovich and features some returning actors: the two aunts, Amy Dell, who plays Martha Brewster; Kat Fitzpatrick, who plays Abby Brewster; and Board Member Steven Jensen, who plays nephew Jonathan.<\/p>\n
The play is set in the aunts\u2019 house in the 1940s, where all seems well. The aunts live with their nephew Teddy, played by Mark Holley, who believes he is President Teddy Roosevelt and wakes up the neighbors when he plays the bugle at night. Police officers show up at the house \u2014 Officer Brophy (Claire Sparr), Officer Klein (Joseph Hunt), and finally Officer O\u2019Hara (Murphy Walsh), an aspiring playwright who tells Mortimer (Paul Bonner), a theatre critic, about the plot of his play. James Flaherty plays both Rev. Harper and Lt. Rooney. As both characters, he\u2019s also fooled, like everyone else, into believing the two aunts are harmless and good-natured.<\/p>\n
Mortimer is engaged to the vicar\u2019s daughter, Elaine (Anya Bella Veach), and while he does not live with the aunts, one night at their house he discovers a body inside the window seat \u2014 and that\u2019s when the mystery starts. Teddy, who believes he has been digging the Panama Canal in the basement, is in reality burying bodies. In the middle of the discovery, Jonathan, who is considered a bad apple by the family, arrives with his sidekick Dr. Einstein (Joseph Vitti). Vitti plays a humorous, jumpy, nutty doctor who has operated on Jonathan\u2019s face. Vitti is very entertaining with his facial expressions, his German accent, and his antics. Thom Vegh, who plays both Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Whiterspoon, is the aunts\u2019 last victim.<\/p>\n
Mortimer is frantic and runs around the stage trying to figure out what is happening and how to fix it to help the aunts. Another body makes an appearance thanks to Jonathan.<\/p>\n
The aunts tell Mortimer to forget the whole thing and try to justify what they are doing as just taking care of lonely men. To solve the problem, Mortimer tries to commit Teddy to Happy Dale, a place for the mentally ill, so the murders are pinned on him and not the aunts. A rivalry ensues over who has killed the most people between the aunts and Jonathan. Finally, a surprise is in store that makes Mortimer happy.<\/p>\n
The unexpected storyline with its twists and turns keeps the story interesting and entertaining for the audience.<\/p>\n
\u201cArsenic and Old Lace\u201d plays through Sept. 6, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at coronadoplayhouse.org<\/a> or in person at the box office. Prices: Adult: $30; student, active military, & senior (62+) discounts are $ 24 with valid ID $24. Group discounts are available for parties of 8 or more.<\/p>\n