AUBURN — That pair of loopy spinsters, Abby and Martha Brewster, are up to their hilarious homicidal antics once again as Community Little Theatre stages “Arsenic and Old Lace” beginning Oct. 4.
CLT’s 74th season opens with that classic comedy which also goes back about three-quarters of a century. It was 1939 when Joseph Kesselring wrote “Arsenic and Old Lace” and only a few years later when the movie directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant introduced the lunatic Brewster family to American audiences.
This year’s production marks the fourth time CLT has done “Arsenic and
Old Lace.” The first time was in 1947. It would be 30 years later in
the 1976-77 season when CLT would do the show again, and nearly 10 years after that for the third go-round.
Adam P. Blais, who is directing the current production, said “Arsenic
and Old Lace” was totally new to him. He said there’s a fine line
between reliving the show’s familiar features and putting a new spin
on it. Discovering and emphasizing some delightful subtleties are
Blais’ key to creating his own variations on the show’s insanity.
The plot revolves around Mortimer Brewster, played by Eric Brakey. He is a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, homicidal family and local police as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves. Amanda Martin returns to the CLT stage as Mortimer’s fiancée.

The leading roles of the show’s spinster aunts are played by Andrea Quaid and Vicki Machado. Mortimer is dismayed to learn their secret. They poison lonely old men with their elderberry wine, but it’s just their charitable way of helping them out of an undesirable existence.
The rest of the Brewster clan is no less eccentric. There’s brother Teddy (played by Gregory Charette), who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt, and there’s the menacing brother Jonathan portrayed by Mitchell Clyde Thomas. Jonathan’s alcoholic accomplice and occasional plastic surgeon, Dr. Einstein, is played by Sean Wallace.
Paul G. Caron, frequent musical director at CLT and director of CLT’s production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” for the 1994-95 season, plays the hilarious role of Officer O’Hara. Thomas played the role of O’Hara in that production nearly 20 years ago.
George Sheckart returns to CLT after a long break to play the roles of Rev. Dr. Harper and Lt. Rooney. Henrik Strandskov will fill the roles of both Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Witherspoon. James McKinley and Tyler Pulk round out the cast in the roles of Officer Klein and Officer Brophy.
Blais said the set makes use of three principal areas of the stage representing the living room and its entrance doors, the dining room and the stairway. With lighting, those “islands” keep the action moving smoothly from scene to scene. He said the sound of a ticking and chiming grandfather clock is used to indicate the passage of 24 hours.
Sabrina Yokono is assistant director of the show. Stefanie Lynn is producer and Melody Driscoll is the show’s prompter. Phil Vampatella, Bill Hamilton and Glenn Thibeault are building the set and Carol Hodgkin and Glynnis Nadel are handling scenic décor. Brandon Chaloux is the stage manager.
“Arsenic and Old Lace” performances are at the Great Falls Performing Arts Center, 30 Academy Street, Auburn. Times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 4 and 11, and Saturdays, Oct. 5 and 12, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays, Oct. 6 and 13. There is also a performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10. For tickets, call 783-0958 or visit www.laclt.com.

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