COTTAGE GROVE – Kicking off its 38th season with a tale of merry mayhem and murderous aunts, ”Arsenic and Old Lace” opens Jan. 31 for a three-weekend run at the Cottage Theatre.
In Joseph Kesselring’s classic play, Abby and Martha Brewster are charming spinster sisters who lovingly care for their eccentric nephew, Teddy, who believes himself to be President Theodore Roosevelt.
The sisters give generously to local causes, and serve homemade biscuits and jam whenever Reverend Harper comes to tea. So their nephew Mortimer is flabbergasted to discover that the cellar is filled with a dozen deceased gentlemen who ”benefitted” from his aunts’ peculiar brand of end-of-life charity.
”Arsenic and Old Lace” premiered in 1939 and still ranks among the best-selling Broadway plays of all time.
Cottage Theatre’s production of ”Arsenic and Old Lace” is directed by Keith Kessler, with set design by Tony Rust, costume design by Rhonda Turnquist and lighting design by Amanda Ferguson.
Nikki Pagniano and Marcee Shriver Long lead the cast as Abby and Martha Brewster, along with Kory Weimer, Dale Flynn and Earl Ruttencutter as their three Brewster nephews. Rounding out the ensemble are Josh Coon, Dylan Skye Kennedy, John Vaughan Lemhouse, Blake Nelson, Garrhett Nelson, James Scoggins and Ashlee Winkler.
”Arsenic and Old Lace” runs for three weekends at the theatre from Jan. 31 – Feb. 16. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 for adults and $15 for youth. Visit cottagetheatre.org, call 541-942-8001 or purchase in-person at the Cottage Theatre Box Office, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove.
