Review by Joe Siegel

“Arsenic and Old Lace”, which opened at The Arctic Playhouse on May 21, is a delightfully zany comedy with some excellent performances.

Beth Jepson and Katherine Kimmel are perfect together as sisters Abby and Martha Brewster, charming old ladies who poison their unsuspecting ‘lodgers’ – lonely older men.

Daniel J. Holmes is their nephew Mortimer, a theater critic who’s dating Elaine (Sara Bishop), the daughter of the Reverend Doctor Harper (Seth Milman).

Teddy Brewster (Bill Cabrera), Mortimer’s lovable but nutty brother, believes he is Teddy Roosevelt.

Mortimer is mortified when he finds a dead body in the window seat. Abby and Martha are unusually calm when he tells them. Mortimer learns his aunts have been spiking the elderberry wine with cyanide and giving it to their guests. The women acted not out of malice, but mercy. The men had no one in their lives.

“Arsenic and Old Lace” was written by Joseph Kesselring in 1939. The movie, released in 1944, starred Cary Grant as Mortimer.

Under David Jepson’s capable direction, the large ensemble generates plenty of laughs.

Holmes, an Arctic veteran, displays impeccable comic timing. Mortimer is (possibly) the only sane member of the Brewster family and has to handle several difficult situations at once. The way Holmes reacts to his aunts’ insanity is a pure delight.

Paul Koczwanski (“Miracle on 34th Street”) is quietly terrifying as Mortimer’s other insane brother Jonathan.

Jonathan and his weird associate, Dr. Einstein (Kurt Bloom) arrive at the Brewster house and cause havoc. The way Koczwanski talks and moves is fascinating to watch. This is a man you would not want to encounter in a dark alley.

There’s a clever moment when Mortimer notes how stupidly characters act in plays, taking risks when danger is literally behind them. I won’t spoil what happens next.

I really enjoyed seeing how these crazy characters react to the escalating madness in the Brewster house. Abby and Martha show a real love for Mortimer and Teddy. Family matters more than anything to them. These are sweet good-natured people.

The show also provides a valuable tip for all potential home buyers: always check out the basement before moving in.

Arsenic and Old Lace runs through June 7. The Arctic Playhouse. 1249 Main St., West Warwick, RI. Runtime is 2 hours 35 minutes with intermission. For tickets, call 401-573-3443 or visit thearcticplayhouse.com.

Daniel J. Holmes, Sara Bishop, Bill Cabrera. Photos by Sandy Smith.

Kurt Bloom and Paul Koczwanski.