Overview
Synopsis
Mortimer Brewster is living a happy life: he has a steady job at a prominent New York newspaper, he’s just become engaged, and he gets to visit his sweet spinster aunts to announce the engagement. Mortimer always knew that his family had a bit of a mad gene -- his brother believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt and his great-grandfather used to scalp Indians for pleasure -- but his world is turned upside down when he realizes that his dear aunts have been poisoning lonely old men for years! When Mortimer’s maniacal brother, Jonathan. (who strangely now resembles Boris Karloff) returns on the night that the aunts were planning to bury the newest victim, Mortimer must rally to help his aunts and protect his fiancé -- all while trying to keep his own sanity. as well. An uproarious farce on plays involving murder, Arsenic and Old Lace has become a favorite amongst regional theatres throughout America.
Show Information
- Book
- Joseph Kesselring
- Text And Format
- Joseph Kesselring
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1941
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Unit/Single Set, Contemporary
- Time & Place
- a house in brooklyn, 1940’s
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Elderly, Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Joseph Kesselring’s Arsenic and Old Lace opened on Broadway on August 18, 1941. New York Times theatre critic Brooks Atkinson praised the play: "At some time there may have been a funnier murder charade than Arsenic and Old Lace … But the supposition is purely academic. Joseph Kesselring has written one so funny none of us will ever forget it.” The play was an immediate success, and has remained so ever since.
However, the inspiration for Arsenic and Old Lace came decades before. A
to read the context for Arsenic and Old Lace and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
On a September evening, Abby Brewster is entertaining her neighbor, Reverend Harper, while her sister Martha is delivering soup to a sick neighbor. With her is one of her nephews, Teddy (who believes that he is former president Theodore Roosevelt). They muse on the war in Europe, and how it can be so peaceful in Brooklyn when atrocities are happening overseas. The subject changes to Mortimer Brewster, Abby and Martha’s other nephew and romantic interest of Rev. Harper’s daughter,
to read the plot for Arsenic and Old Lace and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
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Supporting |
Female |
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Featured |
Male |
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Featured |
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Featured |
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Featured |
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Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A supporting actor who specializes in unusual or eccentric roles.
A speaking voice developed by an actor that is inspired by the attributes of the character they are portraying.
Slapstick is a style of physical comedy, often involving chases, silly and exaggerated movements and activities, and simple practical jokes. It can also represent violence in an over-the-top, comical guise.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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