From Hudson Players:
Arsenic and Old Lace Starts Off Hudson Players Season with Laughs There is no better description for the dark comedy classic Arsenic and Old Lace than "Insanity doesn't just run in the Brewster family - it gallops!" The timeless comedic gem kicks off the Hudson Player's 74th season when it premieres Friday, November 2, at the Barlow Community Center, 41 South Oviatt Street in Hudson. Written by Joseph Kesselring, it also will be presented November 3, 9, 10, 11, 16 and 17, with showtime at 8:00 p.m., except for the 2:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday, November 11. An uproarious farce, Arsenic and Old Lace is an American classic. Life is good for Mortimer Brewster. With a dream job as a drama critic for a prominent New York newspaper and recent engagement to his sweetheart Elaine, what could go wrong? Well, what about finding out that his sweet, spinster aunts Martha and Abby have been poisoning lonely old men for years with homemade elderberry wine laced with a touch of arsenic. More? What about learning that his brother Teddy, who thinks himself to be Teddy Roosevelt, has been burying his aunts' victims in the basement thinking they succumbed to Yellow Fever at the Panama Canal. Had enough? How about Mortimer's other brother, the maniacal criminal Jonathan, who decides to hideout from the police at his aunts' house with alcoholic sidekick, Dr. Einstein, on the same night that the aunts were planning to bury their latest victim, which also happens to be the same night Mortimer stops by with his fiancée. Mix in multiple policemen, including one who wants to be a playwright, and Elaine's pious minister father, Mortimer must rally to help his aunts and protect his fiancé - all while trying to keep his own sanity and avoid his murderous brother's intentions. Anne Guffey is directing Arsenic and Old Lace and says the cast has been having a lot of fun with this dark comedic material. "I have been blessed with an experienced cast that has worked hard and also laughed hard throughout the rehearsal process," said Guffey. "The actor playing Jonathan scares us regularly...he's pretty creepy but in a nice way!" Guffey had been looking for an opportunity to get back into directing and this show has always been a favorite, saying it is a "lovely period piece with humor that stands the test of time." The cast includes: Christian Achkar as Mortimer, Tammy Carder as Abby Brewster, Norene Jones as Martha Brewster, Brian O. Jackson as Jonathan, Brad Lane as Teddy, Will Bennett as Dr. Einstein, Mark Moore as Rev. Harper, Glen Johnson as Officer Brophy, Victoria Kirgesner as Elaine; Steve Bronfman as Mr. Gibbs/Mr. Witherspoon; and Nathan Hill as Officer O'Hara. The producer for Arsenic and Old Lace is Gary Maher; Mike Guffey is the stage manager; Kyle Shearer is the lighting designer; Kimberly Borukhovsky is the costume designer; the set is designed by Sally Marquinez and Tim Steiner, and Marianne Carlson is doing props. To purchase tickets for Arsenic and Old Lace to www.hudsonplayers.com<http://www.hudsonplayers.com>, or call the Hudson Players box office at (330) 655-8522 for more information. Regular tickets are $14.00. Students and Seniors are $12.00. Hudson Players season tickets offer the best opportunity for the best seats, the best savings and the best dates. A three-show season ticket subscription can still be purchased for only $30 - a $12 savings compared to purchasing the tickets at the regular price. Another advantage is season ticket holders get to pick their performance nights and seats in advance. Plus, they can exchange tickets to accommodate schedule changes at no added cost. Other shows in the Hudson Players 2018-2019 season include the new musical Hands on a Hard Body in February and the classic light opera favorite Pirates of Penzance in May. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The information contained in this message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately, and delete the original message.