'Arsenic and Old Lace' a solid hit

Playmakers Theater of Covington has taken the grand old style farce “Arsenic and Old Lace” and turned it into a solid hit.

Playing to a very appreciative audience at its opening this past Friday, the play is a tale of two seemingly sweet elderly ladies, Abby and Martha Brewster, who are actually a gruesome twosome with a quaint habit of dispatching old and lonely men to eternal peace by serving them poisoned homemade wine.

This is all part of their supposedly community charitable work.

This endeavor all started when the first of these men had a heart attack and died while he was there looking at a room the ladies had to rent. They thought he looked so happy and peaceful that they thought it would be nice to make more lonely men just as happy.

Abetting them in their macabre endeavor is a lunatic brother Teddy, who thinks he is President Theodore Roosevelt, and the ladies have him believing he is digging a new lock for the “Panama Canal” in the basement when actually he is burying the departed victims.

He does this when he is not busy blowing his bugle or charging up the stairs, believing them to be San Juan Hill.

Then there is Mortimer Brewster, the aunts’ nephew, having discovered a body in a window seat, frantically attempts to keep the murders a secret. Toss in this mix a vicious criminal, the aunts’ brother Jonathan Brewster, his evil sidekick Dr. Herman Einstein, who have a body of their own to dispose of, plus some other odd characters and what come out is a play written by Joseph Kesselring that on stage is a satirical, exciting, humorous production.

Making his directorial debut of a Playmakers play, Weston Twardowski has expertly blended together some of Playmakers more popular performers with some exceptionally talented newcomers to the Playmakers stage.

The two aunts, Abby and Martha Brewster, are played by Elizabeth Pfeffer Williams and Lynn Larsen-Ruffin, respectively, with just enough charming lunacy to make them the hit of the show.

Philip Lawrence plays Mortimer Brewster and is quite believable as the frustrated nephew after discovering his aunts’ dark deeds. John Carambat, stepping out of his leading men’s roles, is very credible as the sinister Jonathan Brewster. Robert Jahncke adds to the comedy as Dr. Einstein through his alcoholic imbibing, which causes him to remake Jonathan into the image of Boris Karloff.

Christine Carey lights up the stage as Elaine Harper as she engages witty and sometimes flirty banter with Mortimer whom she intends to marry.

Kenneth Faherty is just perfect as the half-witted Teddy (a role he was born to play).

Other actors who give fine performances include Rex Badeaux, Bill Larsen-Ruffin, Daniel Matthew, Mack Maginnis Jr., Kaitlyn Seiler, Ronnie Pogue and Ken Thompson.

This play is a classic and you are encouraged to check it out. In fact you will have to see the show to learn what happens to the two quaint aunties. But caution, don’t drink the wine.

Other evening performances are today, Saturday and Nov. 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. Matinee performances are Sunday and Nov. 23.

For information and ticket reservations call 893-1671.

Playmakers Theater is located on Playmakers Road off Lee Road.