Displaying items by tag: Arsenic and Old Lace
Review: 'Arsenic and Old Lace' at Court Theatre
Murder’s a hoot in Court Theatre’s revival of Joseph Kesselring’s “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Lighthearted and stylish, director Ron OJ Parson’s production makes for a charming season opener. Court Theatre was awarded a Tony award for best regional theatre and it feels fitting for a well-known classic to be this year’s kick-off. Slapstick humor and sinfully crackling dialogue are brought to life by an excellent ensemble of some of Chicago’s favorite performers.
It's hard to imagine this subversive comedy finding a mass audience in a less cynical era, but the 1941 Broadway production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” ran for years spawning a successful West End run as well. Boris Karloff, a major star of the 1940s, featured in the original Broadway run, contributing to its success. Frank Capra directed the popular film version starring Carey Grant.
According to lore, Kesselring had set out to write a serious play about the famed serial killer Amy Archer-Gilligan, but during the writing process found the story played better as a farce. The current popularity of murder-related podcast and docuseries makes this an especially relevant play to remount. It serves as an ironic satire of one of our nation’s favorite subjects—murder.
“Arsenic and Old Lace” tells the story of two sweet old spinster sisters who live in a Brooklyn mansion, they just happen to poison some of their guests. Hijinks ensue when their two nephews pay them a visit and discover their grizzly hobby.
In Parson’s production the Brewster sisters, Abby and Martha are played by Taylar and Celeste Williams. Their stage chemistry is fun to watch as they’re chased around the set by their adult nephews Mortimer and Jonathan (played by Eric Gerard and A.C. Smith). The latter, A.C. Smith, turns in another stage-filling and hilarious performance as the deranged long-lost nephew who returns to the family home with a secret to dispose of. Eric Gerard masters physical humor as he balances his frightening older brother, his murdering aunts and his engagement to the minister’s daughter Elaine (Emma Jo Boyden).
The action of the play is contained to the living room of the mansion. John Culbert’s set is the perfect backdrop for the door-slamming, stair climbing romp. Rachelanne Healy’s costumes transport us back to the 1940s and the absurd funeral costumes worn by the Brewster sisters play their own role in the laugh-out-loud spectacle.
Appealing to the popular anti-hero tropes in today’s pop culture, Court finds a pleasant way to welcome back audiences with an amusing production of a beloved classic. Thrills and laughs abound in this refreshing yet traditional staging. Ron OJ Parson nods to heartfelt film director Frank Capra, famous for ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and many other classics in his endearing production. Comedies in the “farce” style have mostly disappeared from new work, so plays like “Arsenic and Old Lace” are a nice trip down memory lane to a simpler time. Though the play is about murder, there’s a sweet natured charm to the tongue-in-cheek candor of the lines and plot. Seeing this excellent cast counter physical humor with witty banter is sure to bring a smile to your face.
Through October 2nd at Court Theatre. 5535 S Ellis Ave. www.courtthreatre.org
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