Wright College Spring Play Preview: Perform Comedic Arsenic and Old Lace

By: Sammie Vasquez

Wilbur Wright’s spring play is the dark comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace” by Joseph Kesselring. 

This play tells the story of two aunts who live together and poison people. The play also focuses on their nephews. One is a theatre critic who ends up over his head, and another believes that he is President Roosevelt. 

The play is based on the 1944 film of the same name, starring Cary Grant and Peter Lorre. “This play is a classic,” said director Kristen Williams. “It’s kind of a murder mystery/comedy/classic, so it’s just been a lot of fun.”

Since this play is derived from an old movie, many of the cast members have already seen the movie and are having a good time working on the production. They’re also excited to perform it for the audience next week.

This is Williams' sixth production at Wright but her first play. She said, “Most of my other ones here have been musicals. We played a lot with a physical humor in this play, so I’m excited to see how that reads with the audience and what works and what doesn’t… I’ve seen it so many times now that I’m like ‘Gosh, I don’t even know if that’s funny anymore, you know?’”

Cast member Danny Blair said, “I’m hoping we get a bunch of laughs. I’m hoping that some of the jokes that we tell, like, a lot of people pick up on them because they’re pretty funny.”

Comedy is a highlight of what the audience could look forward to. Williams said, “We have a lot of physical humor in this, and so I kind of went back to my childhood when I used to watch the old televisions shows, like "I Love Lucy" "Carol Burnett" and "The Three Stooges", and just taking some of those comedic bits that they used to do in those old television shows.”

While Elaine Harper (Emily Ortiz) is held captive by Jonathan Brewster (Nolan Crimmins) and Dr. Einstein (Mateo Pouska), Teddy Brewster (Jaime Cianca) charges right past them. Photo Credits: Caleb Zibell

The show opens March 12th at 2 p.m., along with the 11 a.m. show on March 13th, is free. The following shows, on March 13th, 14th, and 15th at 7 p.m., are $5, in cash, for students and staff and $10, in cash, for everyone else.