Thursday
5th - Saturday 7th October 2006
Performance times: 19:45
Sat 11th Matinee: 15:00
in
the Main Auditorum
at the Kenneth More Theatre
Box
Office : 020 8553 4466
(credit cards bookings available)
CAST |
||
| Abby Brewster | Ann Rason | |
| The Rev. Dr. Harper | Mike Reed | |
| Teddy Brewster | Julian White | |
| Officer McGregor | Richard Elworthy | |
| Officer O’Hara | Neil Lovegrove | |
| Martha Brewster | Ally Fingerhut | |
| Elaine Harper | Liz Saunders | |
| Mortimer Brewster | Eugene Smith | |
| Mr Gibbs | George Hall | |
| Jonathan Brewster | Peter Wilson | |
| Dr. Einstein | Frazer Nelson | |
| Officer Klein | Andy Seaton | |
| Lieutenant Rooney | Mike May | |
| Mr Witherspoon | Bill Stansfield | |
"Arsenic and Old Lace is a black comedy play by American playwright Joseph Kesselring, written in 1939. It has become best known through the film version, which starred Cary Grant and was directed by Frank Capra.
The play is a farce revolving around Mortimer Brewster, a theatre-hating drama critic who must deal with his crazy family and local police as he debates whether to go through with marrying the woman he loves. His family include two spinster aunts who have taken to murdering old men by poisoning them with arsenic, a brother who believes he's Teddy Roosevelt, and another criminally murderous brother who - due to botched plastic surgery to evade the authorities - now looks like horror-film actor Boris Karloff (a self-referential joke, as the part was originally played by Karloff, but, as you have probably guessed in this Wanstead Players production). The basic plot matches that of the movie adaptation, with a few minor changes in background.
The first Broadway production of the play was at the Fulton Theater in New York City. It was produced by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse. The play was directed by Bretaigne Windust, and opened on 10 January 1941. On 25 September 1943, the play transferred to the Hudson Theater. It closed there on 17 June 1944 having played 1,444 performances."
Professional production currently touring and about to start in London starring Louise Jameson, a former member of Wanstead Players.
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known to the public as Teddy, was the 26th President of the United States (1901–1909). He is most famous for his personality — he dominated a generation by his energy, his vast range of interests and achievements, and his model of masculinity — the famous “cowboy” persona.
