Arsenic and Old Lace

Adelaide’s rich community theatre scene stretches to the outer suburbs where passionate theatre goers have created companies whose work is particularly tailored to loyal local audiences. Since a small group of enthusiasts banded together in 1976 to establish the first live theatre within the City of Tea Tree Gully, Tea Tree Players (TTP) have come a long way. By fundraising and with local and state grants, funds were garnered, and over 46 years TTP have mounted 304 productions. Unique to TTP audiences and honouring a couple who were almost single handedly responsible for establishing the theatre, they annually award the bespoke Lamerton Awards. Given in six categories for “excellence on our stage”, these are based entirely on audience opinion gathered at each performance and if last night’s queues to fill out nominations are an indication, TTP regulars are passionate about the importance of these awards. Known for showcasing more light-hearted comedies and the farces of authors like Ray Cooney, comedies like ‘Up Pompeii’ and feel good seasonal pantomimes, TTP present packed seasons tailored for a loyal, local following.

Featuring 12 roles, Arsenic and Old Lace, directed by popular TTP awarded actor and director Barry Hill, is a macabre comedy by Joseph Kesselring, written in 1939. Best known as a 1944 film featuring some of the greats of the time including Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Cary Grant and Raymond Massey it was billed as a ‘riotous black comedy’. The play is still widely performed and has been translated into many languages.

The story revolves around Brooklyn’s Brewster family, descended from Mayflower settlers but now composed of maniacs, most of them homicidal. The hero, Mortimer Brewster, played very ably by Kieran Drost, is a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, murderous family and local police in Brooklyn, New York, as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry his love, Elaine Harper, played with passion by Cheyenne Loveday, who lives next door and is the daughter of Tom Moore, in a cameo appearance as the local minister.

His family includes two spinster aunts, Abby, very confidently created by Heather Riley and somewhat ‘ditsy’ Martha Brewster, played by glamorous Lilly Dolman. They have taken to murdering lonely old men by poisoning them with home-made elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychnine (hence the title), and "just a pinch" of cyanide. Mentally challenged, bugle playing brother Teddy, who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt, is digging locks in the Panama Canal (that happen to be in the Brewster’s cellar), and subsequently serve as graves for the aunts' victims. Adrian Heness garbed in an appropriately awful short Safari suit, whilst not looking like Teddy Roosevelt, eagerly seizes every comic opportunity. There is also a murderous brother, Jonathan, a role where Clinton Nitschke uses both thoughtfully applied make up to create a Frankenstein look and the resonant timbre of his voice to create menace.  He had concealing plastic surgery performed by an alcoholic accomplice, Dr. Herman Einstein (not to be confused with the revered physicist), and he now looks like horror-film actor Boris Karloff. Mike Phillips carves out the role of the bumbling make out doctor, effortlessly bringing into play his 50 years of acting experience.

Throughout, Jonathan plots to kill his brother, while Mortimer (remember him, he’s the hero) struggles to find solutions to deal with his crazy family, eventually sending Teddy and his aunts to a seniors’ home and letting local Police Officer O'Hara, played by TTP stalwart comic Tim Cousins, deal with his brother.

Several actors also have cameo roles and Hill has updated Officer Brothy to a female role played by earnest, focussed Amber Wilkshire. Brothy is possibly the only Police person in the story who shows any interest in actual policing. Lance Jones as Lieutenant Rooney appears to tie up the loose ends and may have written the 1940 text book on police corruption. Russell Ford appears as two well-dressed different characters ripe for being murdered by the deluded sisters. His dialogue is about him being totally alone in both instances and may be more believable were he not wearing a prominent wedding ring.

A star of this revered ‘comedy chestnut’ is the TTP set. Created and constructed on a tiny stage by Hill, Samuel Creighton, Russell Ford, Dean Berlemon, Mike Phillips and Lilly Dolman, it is rich in attention to detail. To fashion the somewhat tired Victorian home, the team designed stencils to make a wallpaper look, doors painted rich mahogany feature intricate corner detailing, windows and doors work well and the set features a 1940’s telephone, period appropriate paintings and family photos that all create a believable family home. Importantly, all aspects of he set complement the acting and story.

One of the challenges when doing period pieces is ensuring costume accuracy. TTP’s costume team led by Jo Allenby and Hill have chosen to ‘suggest era and a look’, and whilst men in the 40’s did not wear two tone coloured hair, spinster ladies eschewed false lashes and long acrylic nails had not been invented, and 1970’s cut suits were not yet in vogue, these departures from period do not detract from the audience’s enjoyment of this show.

TTP have a show that is already heavily pre-booked and audiences are loving Arsenic and Old Lace.

It is a rollicking laugh out loud show and is very much represents, ‘For the people, of the people and by the people’. The warm, welcoming TTP team is to be congratulated on a show that warms these cold nights.

Jude Hines