February 25, 2008
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The Daily News
“Arsenic and Old Lace”
(Jan. 12, 1941) John Alexander, Boris Karloff, Helen Brooks, Allyn Joslyn, Josephine Hull and Jean Adair of “Arsenic and Old Lace.”1 Drama news: I just got an e-mail from the illustrious Angie Higgins yesterday reminding me that Northside Theatre Company presents Arsenic and Old Lace this Thursday, Friday and Saturday and next Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays both weekends at 3 p.m. in the Olinder Center on William Street. Here is the proper news release:
Northside Theatre Company
proudly presents
Arsenic and Old Lace
by Joseph Kesselring
Directed by R. Michael Price
Featuring: Kezia Radke, Steven Lewis, Doll Piccotto, Jerry Hitchcock, Jeff Paulson, Erik Browne, Angie Higgins, Michael Champlin, Rob Snevely, Ricky Dilley, Christian Pizzirani, Tony DiCorti.
Located at Olinder Center in the
Black Box Theatre
848 E. William Street
San Jose, CA. 95116
(at 18th Street)
WHEN: February 14 – March 9, 2008
Thursdays-Saturdays @ 8pm, Sundays @ 3pm
Ticket Prices
$15 General Admission
$12 Seniors 62+ and young people under the age of 18For more information or to purchase tickets online, go to the following link:
http://www.northsidetheatre.com/website/ntc.html
2 I directed Arsenic many years ago and loved every second of working on it! It’s a classic if ever there were a classic and is everything a good comedy should be. The show used to be a staple of all theatre companies, and I had wanted to make sure that in my directing experience, I would be able to enjoy working with this time-honored show.
3 I think my favorite moment involving our 1990 production was when we began curtain call with two guys from the original Drama Workshop coming out of the cellar, or Teddy’s Panama Canal, to take a curtain call.
4 Two original members of the very first Workshop production of Silents, Mike Maldonado and Keith Ancar, appeared on the stage after the tag line, dressed as though they had been buried in the storied Arsenic cellar. Standing at center stage after the last line of the play, they appeared dusty, bewildered and disoriented. They each took a bow, Mike first, then Keith. They moved off to the side, and soon eleven other “bodies” came out of the basement and also took bows.
5 At first the audience gave a courtesy clap, as though they might have missed something, since neither of Mike nor Keith had appeared in the performance. Mike looked lost, and Keith presented an Amish appearance of sobriety and solemnity. It unfolded perfectly. Each fellow gave a mannerly and dignified bow.
6 It was only after the eleven other bodies (the tech class dressed as old men!) came up that the audience realized these were the guys that the two old aunts had been killing with elderberry wine laced with arsenic all evening.
7 As the last “corpse” crossed down center, the cast came out and began the real curtain call, and the audience responded with instant laughter and a thundering ovation. The absolute off-the-wall surprise ending lit up the night and everyone went home with a classic Drama Workshop memory!
8 Anyone who was there that night will remember the flowers and smiles after that performance. Both Mike and Keith had shown up to watch the show, but I quickly kidnapped them and being great sports and classic tech tricksters, they both joined in, making a memorable night for all. Good times, good times in the good ol’ theatre.
9 There are hundreds of such moments in the annals of the Drama Workshop, and thousands of moments of memorable tech days, rehearsals, performance nights, and anecdotes.
10 And it’s good to see that companies are still doing Arsenic. This macabre and hilarious comedy from the 40′s went on to become a perennial audience favorite wherever it has played.
11 Historically the show went on to become a classic 1944 film directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant as Mortimer Brewster. The rest of the cast was a virtual who’s who of great character actors from that period. Here is a cast list of the film Arsenic and Old Lace:
Cary Grant … Mortimer Brewster 
Josephine Hull … Aunt Abby Brewster Jean Adair … Aunt Martha Brewster Raymond Massey … Jonathan Brewster 
Peter Lorre … Dr. Herman Einstein Priscilla Lane … Elaine Harper John Alexander … Theodore Brewster 
Jack Carson … Officer Patrick O’Hara John Ridgely … Officer Saunders Edward McNamara … Police Sgt. Brophy James Gleason … Lt. Rooney Grant Mitchell … Reverend Harper 
Edward Everett Horton … Mr. Witherspoon Vaughan Glaser … Judge Cullman Chester Clute … Dr. Gilchrist 
A rare cast photo from the Peter Lorre collection. This
picture was taken on set and copies were
distributed to each cast member. This is a copy
of Peter Lorre’s personal photo.I lifted this picture from the book
The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre
By Stephen D. Youngkin12 As with anything, given the chance of seeing the film or a live production, I would always take the live performance. Arsenic has so many wacky characters that watching a fellow who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt blowing a horn, yelling “Charge!” and running upstairs can’t miss for live theatre. The fact that he thinks he is digging the Panama Canal when in fact he is digging graves for his aunts’ rather peculiar hobby adds a deeper dimension to the entire live experience.
13 Northside has been staging quality theatre for over thirty years now and if you haven’t seen a production, it’s high time you did.
14 I love this show and I am thrilled to devote an entire DN to its promotion.
15 …not to mention that Christian, Angie, Jeff and others who have worked with our very own Drama Workshop will be appearing in the production.
16 I won’t be in town this weekend, but if you are in town, you should find a night to go to the Olinder Center on the edge of William Street Park and enjoy one of the best shows you’ll ever see.
17 I hope you all get a chance to see this rare and wonderful show. And if those guys are in the cast, it should a slam dunk.
18 That’s it for today.
19 I’ll throw one more DN at you this week and then I’m going to be gone to Reno for a four-day convention. Seems I was just up there!
20 Meanwhile, work your way over to the Olinder Center this weekend.
21 Insanity runs through the show, that I promise.
22 In fact, it practically gallops.
23 Enjoy your day.
24 Peace.
~H~
http://www.xanga.com/bharrington
