To all appearances, they’re sweet old spinsters who provide a warm, comfortable home for gentlemen who otherwise might spend their days alone, unnoticed and anonymous.
Mind you, there’s much more to the Brewster sisters than meets the eye. So much more.
For those who have seen and adore the classic comedy Arsenic and Old Lace – penned by Joseph Kesselring in 1939 and arguably made most famous on the big screen starring Cary Grant – the fact Pine Tree Players is staging the black comedy April 22 to May 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Canmore Miners’ Union Hall is welcome community theatre news.
For those unfamiliar with Kesselring’s play, or Frank Capra’s screen adaptation, you’ll want to get to know Abby and Martha Brewster and their in-laws – nephew Mortimer, a drama and marriage critic, his deluded brother Teddy, who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and his other brother and gangster, Jonathan.
… and you may never partake of elderberry wine again.
To avoid issuing a spoiler alert at this point, suffice it to say that Arsenic and Old Lace, directed by Elizabeth Green and set in the 1940s, is funny, often manic, features a cast of a dozen, including Pine Tree newcomers and veterans alike, is chock full of villains and coppers, a love interest, much movement on stage and a set brimming with period pieces and costumes.
“It’s definitely an old favourite,” said Green. “We have four brand new actors in Jason Wilkinson (Mortimer), Shawn Allen (Officer O’Hara), former judge John Reilly (Lt. Rooney) and Ashley Sieben (Elaine Harper).
“We also have Melissa Clements, who won best actor at the High River one-act festival, Blake Monroe, who did our set construction and Sara Mattson who did the painting. We’re very grateful to those two for their hard work.” Elaine Smith was in charge of wardrobe and Antique Junction was instrumental with set materials.
“It’s great fun,” said Green. “We’ve been rehearsing for a couple of months and it’s a great cast. We’ve had a lot of rehearsals, and long rehearsals, everyone has shown a lot of dedication.”
The cast is rounded out by Jon Bjorgum as Dr. Harper; Francoise Campbell as Abby Brewster; Gerry McAuley, Teddy Brewster; Erin Walshe, Martha Brewster; Melissa Clements, Officer Klein; Evan Burr, Jonathan Brewster; Ron Deans, Dr. Einstein; Doon Wilkins (Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Witherspoon) and Cody Howes as Officer O’Hara.
Tickets to Arsenic and Old Lace are $20 and available at Café Books on Main Street and at The Cellar Door on Benchlands Trail in Canmore and at the door. Pine Tree Players is in need of volunteers and anyone interested can call Heath Hutchings at 403-678-2554.
