Avon Players Presents: Arsenic and Old Lace
Classic dark comedy made “serial killing fun for audiences seventy years before Dexter first aired”
Rochester Hills – Avon Players is proud to present Arsenic and Old Lace opening Friday, March 21, 2014.
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The play revolves around the sweet but homicidal Brewster sisters, Abby and Martha. They have been cheerfully poisoning lonely old men as a “kindness” and soon have a basement filled with bodies. Their nephew, Mortimer, discovers their killing spree and tries to cover up for his aunts while dealing with: his murderous brother Jonathan, his psychotic brother Teddy who believes he is President Teddy Roosevelt, a frustrated fiancé, and several Brooklyn police officers.
Arsenic and Old Lace first opened on Broadway in 1941 and remains widely performed today. The American Film Institute considers the film adaptation one of the funniest American movies of all time.
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Veteran stage director Lesa Bydalek thinks audiences will embrace this American classic. “The Brewster sisters made serial killing fun for audiences seventy years before Dexter first aired,” Bydalek said. “It is a joy to direct our ensemble cast. They will make this jewel of a dark comedy come to life for our audience.”
The cast is filled with local talent, including - Rochester residents: Sheila Lyle as Abby Brewster, Judy Privasky as Martha Brewster. Rochester Hills residents: Ryan Donnellon as Officer Brophy, Victor Drucker as Officer Klein, Jim Canu as Mr. Gibbs. Shelby Township residents: Mark Palmer as Rev. Dr. Harper, Chuck Thompson as Dr. Einstein, Chuck Daugherty as Mr. Witherspoon. Orion Township residents: Dean Vanderkolk as Jonathan Brewster, Greg Schueller as Lieutenant Rooney. Fraser resident Tina Castiglione as Elaine Harper. Troy resident Paul Held as Mortimer Brewster. Oakland Township resident Mark Misch as Officer O'Hara. Sterling Heights resident Joseph Munem as Teddy Brewster.
“Arsenic and Old Lace makes for a perfect date night,” said Joseph Munem, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Avon Players. “The Rochester area has some of the best restaurants in the region. Anybody suggesting dinner and a play is actively avoiding time in the dog house.”
There are eight performances of Arsenic and Old Lace: Friday, March 21st at 8:00 P.M., Saturday, March 22nd at 8:00 P.M., Sunday, March 23rd at 2:00 P.M., Friday, March 28th at 8:00 P.M., Saturday, March 29th at 8:00 P.M., Sunday, March 30th at 2:00 P.M., Friday, April 4th at 8:00 P.M., and Saturday, April 5th at 8:00 P.M. Tickets are $16 per person and may be ordered by calling the box office at 248-608-9077 or order online at www.avonplayers.org.
