Spring Production 2009

Someone, sometime, may have written a murder mystery farce that is funnier than Joseph Kesselring's classic Arsenic & Old Lace but if so, we can't find it.

This is the story of the Brewsters of Brooklyn, a family touched with a fine lunacy. Nephew Teddy, for no apparent reason, imagines that he is Theodore Roosevelt, that the staircase is San Juan Hill and that the Panama Canal runs through the basement. Nephew Jonathan is a homicidal gangster who comes for a visit equipped with his own German plastic surgeon and a plan to give himself a new face and identity. The third nephew, Mortimer, is a theater critic and everyone knows how crazy they are.

Presiding over the household are Aunt Abby and Aunt Martha -- two of the sweetest old maiden ladies who ever baked biscuits, rushed hot soup to ailing neighbors or invited the minister to tea. Of course, among their charitable acts, they also include poisoning poor homeless old men who have no families to look after them, and burying them in the "Panama Canal" in the cellar.

All this madness and mayhem is ultimately resolved in a safe and sane manner, but not before a goodly amount of comic chaos ensues. This show -- a revival of a hugely popular CSP production staged nearly 20 years past -- offers a return to the sort of good, old-fashioned laugh-fest that was once a staple of American stage and screen comedies.

The curtain is going up soon on the MLS Court Street Players spring production of Joseph Kesselring’s madcap murder/comedy, Arsenic & Old Lace.

Performances will occur in the MLS auditorium on Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28, beginning at 7:00 p.m. and in matinee on Sunday, March 29, at 2:30 p.m.. Doors will open forty-five minutes before curtain time for each performance.

Both reserved seat and general admission tickets for this production may be secured in advance through the MLS Business Office  [Phone: 989-793-1041, Ext. 264],  or may be purchased at the door on the day of each performance.   Ticket prices are:

Reserved Seats:   $8 adult;   $6 child (under high school age)
General Admission:   $6 adult;   $4 child

This is the third production Arsenic & Old Lace to appear on the MLS stage.   At Saturday’s performance,  alumni from the casts of the 1973 and 1990 shows will be recognized. 

This year’s spring production features the following cast of characters:

LAURA KORTH is Abby Brewster,a cheerful, charitable spinster lady in her mid-70s
LAURA KRUGER is Martha Brewster, Abby’s equally cheerful, slightly younger sister
LUCAS PROEBER is Mortimer Brewster, the most normal of 3 Brewster nephews -- but a theater critic
JARED NATSIS is Teddy Brewster, a 2nd nephew who is convinced he is Theodore Roosevelt
GUS GULICK is Jonathan Brewster, the 3rd nephew and a cunning, sadistic criminal on the run
SETH KRUEGER is Dr. Einstein, a German plastic surgeon who is helping Jonathan avoid the police
MICAH PLOCHER is Rev. Harper, the Brewster’s neighbor and Mortimer’s potential father-in-law
BECKA WILKENS is Elaine Harper, the lovely lady who has won Mortimer’s heart
ANNA PRANGE is Sister Cecelia, chatty nun from St. Stanislav’s orphanage
MALLORY HALL is Sister Marie Annunciata, Sister Cecelia’s silent partner
JOEL STING is Mr. Gibbs., a down-and-outer who is only looking for a room
COURTNEY TEEPLES is Evelyn Glick, Aunt Abby’s 11-year-old piano student
MICAH EHLERS is Officer Brophy, a friendly neighborhood cop on the beat
CATHARINE WEBBER is Officer Klein, Brophy’s more capable partner
REMINGTON PAPPENFUSS is Officer O’Hara, night-duty officer and budding playwright
MICHAEL SCHWAB is Lt. Rooney, the tough boss cop from down at the station house
ANNA KRUEGER is Miss Ballentine, a starchy social worker employed at Happy Dale Sanitarium
JACOB BODE is Dr. Witherspoon, the lonely administrator of Happy Dale
NOAH WILLITZ is the Late Mr. Spenalzo, most recent victim of Jonathan Brewster
TODD BRASSOW is the Late Mr. Hoskins, most recent victim of elderberry wine

Directed & produced by: Prof. Marcus Manthey & Prof. Becky Berg