Classic Black Comedy for Heidelberg

There’s something strange about the Brewsters.

Mortimer, recently betrothed and therefore facing the end of his bachelorhood, finds himself working as a reluctant theatre critic, and Teddy simply believes that he’s President Theodore Roosevelt. The only normal ones in the family appear to be the sweet, charitable spinster Aunts, Martha and Abby. But, appearances can be deceiving!

Written in 1939, Joseph Kesserling’s farcical black comedy Arsenic and Old Lace first opened to rave reviews in 1941 and went on to enjoy highly successful runs in New York and London, playing 1,444 performances on Broadway. The 1944 film adaptation starring Cary Grant was a box office smash.

Audiences and critics alike praised the play’s dark comedy and intricate storyline, with one New York Evening Post reviewer writing: ‘The evening is at once so side-splitting and terrific that it can be guaranteed to make even dramatic critics care about the Theatre’. The New York Times reviewer said it was "so funny that none of us will ever forget it.”

Since then Arsenic & Old Lace has continued to keep audiences in stitches with its zany characters and outrageous plot.

Heidelberg Theatre Company (Vic), celebrating it’s 60^th Anniversary in 2012, is staging the classic black comedy from November 22, the first time since 1989.

Bringing the Brewsters to life will be Andrew Pennycuick as Mortimer, Chris Baldock as Teddy, Andrew van de Gumster as Jonathan, Paula McDonald as Abby and Wendy Drowley as Martha. Sandy Green, who was to have played the role of Abby, has been forced to withdraw after breaking her foot.

Theodora Neeve as Elaine Harper, Mick Poor as Rev. Dr. Harper, Alastair Rice as Dr. Einstein, Andrew McNess as Officer O’Hara, Colm Carthy as Officer Brophy, Jim Thomson as Lieutenant Rooney, Ryan Purdey as Officer Klein, DavidDodd as Mr. Gibbs and David Small as Mr. Witherspoon round our the cast.

Bruce Akers directs, with David Dodd as Production Assistant. This production of Arsenic and Old Lace has been selling so well, with four performances sold out before opening night, that the Company has added an extra performance at 2pm on Saturday December 8 at 2pm.

Since its inception in 1952 Heidelberg Theatre Company has produced over 370 plays.

HEIDELBERG THEATRE COMPANY INC.

36 Turnham Avenue, Rosanna

Season – November 22 to December 8.

Bookings: htc.org.au or (03) 9457 4117

Rehearsal Photos: (top) from left: Andrew Pennycuick as Mortimer, Wendy Drowley as Martha and Sandy Green as Abby; (middle) from left: Colm Carthy as Officer Brophy and Ryan Purdey as Officer Klein and (bottom) from left: Sandy Green as Abby and Mick Poor as Rev. Dr. Harper. As mentioned above, the role of Abby is now being played by Paula McDonald, after Sandy Green broke her foot. Photographer – David Belton.