ARSENIC AND OLD LACE Next Up As ACT 1's 2016-17 Season Officially Opens

ACT 1's 2016-17 season officially opens with the Daniel DeVault-directed production of Joseph Kesselring's classic comedy Arsenic and Old Lace, playing Nashville's Darkhorse Theatre October 7-22, and starring Debbie Kraski and Linda Speir as the daffy yet dastardly Brewster sisters.

In the play - which has been one of the most popular stage comedies since its premiere - Mortimer Brewster, played by Eric Butler, lives 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, Speir (reprising the role she played last season at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre) and Kraski, 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, played by Kristen Surratte - all while trying to keep his own sanity as well.

DeVault's cast also includes: Drew Dunlop playing Jonathon Brewster, Dr. Einstein is played by Robert Fish, Ethan Treutle as Teddy Brewster, Rob Wilds as Dr. Rev. Harper and Lt. Rooney, Angela Calcaterra plays Officer Brophy, Scott Corey as Officer Klein, Jeff Lay as Officer O'Hara, and Pete Hiett as Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Witherspoon.

Arsenic and Old Lace opens October 7 and runs through October 22, at the Darkhorse Theater at 4610 Charlotte Avenue. Shows are Thursday through Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday Matinees at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for all shows and are available at www.tickets.act1online.com.

Photos by Eric Ventress