The audience on opening night at Castle Hill Players production of Arsenic and Old Lace were having a great time from start to finish. This black comedy, written by Joseph Kesselring first became famous as a movie in 1944 staring Cary Grant and has been appearing on stages ever since.
All starts off so harmlessly in the home of the Brewster family with afternoon tea but it’s not long before we realize there is a lot more going on with the spinster aunts Abby, played with innocent guile by Kate Mannix and her equally gentile appearing sister Martha, played by Margaret Olive. These two complement each other beautifully throughout the story and despite all we learn, is it possible to call them evil or just deluded?
Into the scene comes their nephew Mortimer Brewster played with much energy and enthusiasm by Brett Watkins, a theatre critic is popping in to see his girlfriend, Elaine Harper. Elaine, played by Emily Lebeuf, with much determination to get her way and marry Mortimer, lives next door with her father Dr Harper, played by Christopher Clark.
Also living at home is the very obviously insane nephew Teddy Brewster, played by Myles Burgin in his larger-than-life role believing he is President Theodore Roosevelt.
This is just the start of the complexities. There is a third nephew, Jonathan Brewster played with considerable menace by Thomas Southwell, who had been away under mysterious circumstances for many years, and his very dubious companion Doctor Einstein played with much humour by Jem Rowe.
Throw into the mix elderly gentleman visitors with short life expectancies, some rather lethal elderberry wine and a cellar with its share of secrets and the scene is set for quite a ride. Of course there must be law involved – Officer O’Hara, played by Chris Scarpelino, determined to write a murder mystery while unbeknownst to him one is going on around him, and other police officers, played by Ross Alexander, Pam de Pomeroy and Matthew Robson.
A marvellous set designed Chris Lundie, Belinda Rowe and Steve Rowe draws us immediately into the Brewster life, costumes by Mia Rowe with Belinda Rowe and Lizzie Mill highlight each person’s character & lighting design, James Winters and sound design, George Cartledge add the final touches.
The question is whether any one is sane in the Brewster family and how can the tale possibly be unravelled. Come to The Pavilion Theatre, Doran Drive Castle Hill until 21 February to find the answer – you won’t be disappointed in this highly entertaining show expertly directed by Steve Rowe.
Photos Chris Lundie
