Arsenic and Old Lace Author: Adam CalvertInformationDate: 23rd October 2024 Society : Fylde Coast Players Venue: Lowther Pavilion Type of Production: Play Director : Rosie Withers Written By : Joseph Kesselring On Wednesday 23rd October, I was delighted to make my third visit to see the work of the Fylde Coast Players, who were presenting the classic ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’. ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ by Joseph Kesselring is a dark comedy centred on the eccentric Brewster family in 1940s Brooklyn. The story follows Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic, who discovers that his sweet, elderly aunts, Abby and Martha, have been quietly committing mercy killings by poisoning lonely old men with their homemade elderberry wine. As Mortimer scrambles to cover up his aunts' deeds, his brother Teddy, who believes he's President Roosevelt, and his sinister other brother, Jonathan—a wanted criminal with a new face—complicate matters. Chaos ensues as Mortimer attempts to manage his family's increasingly outlandish behaviour while trying to keep the police at bay. With witty banter, macabre humour, and mistaken identities, ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ masterfully combines farcical elements with suspense, making it a beloved classic of American theatre. This version of the play was directed by Rosie Withers, and her direction was, from the outset, sharp, balanced and incredibly well thought-out. Her experience as a director was clear to see and there’s a quiet confidence to proceedings, which is a delight. It’s immediately apparent that this play lives or dies on the strength of the ensemble. There’s no clear ‘lead’ performance, and every actor has a significant part to play in ensuring the audience have an enjoyable experience in the auditorium. First tick in this production’s column! As the play opens, we are introduced to each character in turn, in a very natural and unforced manner. Each has their moment to shine and the actors gleefully took their opportunities. As Teddy, the Brewster brother who believes himself to be renowned US president, Teddy Roosevelt, Joe McLafferty was relentlessly energetic and entertaining. He flew around the stage with child-like glee, entirely befitting the character. McLafferty’s vocal delivery and comic timing were impeccable throughout, and no matter what hijinks the character got up to, the actor’s feathers remained unruffled. Excellent work. As kindly aunts turned prolific poisoners, Abby and Martha Brewster, Jan Bishop and Heather Cartmell were simply outstanding. The matter-of-fact manner in which they discussed their sweet-natured serial killing was genuinely hilarious and I could have watched a two hour sequel to this play, in which they just sat in prison cells, knitting and chatting. Both actors swept across the stage as though they owned it (technically they did, I suppose!) and there was a calmness and confidence in their performance, which meant that as an audience, we’d forgive them of almost any crime. Top tier work from both. Elaine Harper, girlfriend then fiancé of Mortimer Brewster, was played with exuberance and nervous energy by Emily Taylor, who excelled in her role. For most of the play, she was just about the only person on stage who didn’t know what was really going on in the Brewster household, and she played the naivety of it all beautifully. Elaine’s beau, Mortimer Brewster, was played by Richie Withers and to watch his descent from quiet, calm theatre critic into a man who was hilariously and energetically reaching his very wit’s end was an utter joy. This started out as a performance of subtlety and quiet confidence and then descended into perfectly planned chaos, as he frantically tried to come to terms with his beloved aunts’ newly discovered love of murder, his younger brother Teddy’s tumble into severe mental illness, the return of his sinister older brother, Jonathan, and his somewhat unplanned engagement to Elaine. Withers had to keep numerous plates spinning - some of which were actively trying to kill him, and in the hands of a lesser actor, it could have been disastrous. In his hands, however, it was magical. Bravo. The aforementioned Jonathan, deeply creepy elder brother of the Brewster clan, complete with botched new face and murderous rage, was more than capably played by Kieran O’Doherty. He was a truly menacing presence on stage and the way in which he stalked around his former home, threatening and intimidating anyone in his path was huge fun to watch. When, in the closing moments of the play, he was delivered his comeuppance in spades, his portrayal of a man who’d played his last trump card to no avail was devilishly delightful. O’Doherty’s performance as Jonathan was supplemented by his associate, Dr Einstein (not that one), played brilliantly by Tim Greenwood, who maintained a consistent and amusing Germanic accent throughout. It was fantastic to see Dr Einstein’s vain attempts to quell Jonathan’s more destructive behaviours before giving up and joining in anyway. The scene in which he attempts to sneak out of the house and disappear into the sunset was a masterclass in comedy timing and physicality. There was a strong police presence in this production, with four different officers joining the action on stage at various points. Officers Brophy and Klein were capably performed by Adam Jones and Garry Green respectively, and they brought some welcome energy to the stage whenever they were on. Jeff Redfern was tasked with playing commanding officer Lieutenant Rooney, and he did so with suitable gravitas. On a couple of occasions, he seemed to struggle for lines but consistently recovered things well. As Officer O’Hara, Irish policeman and enthusiastic amateur playwright, Paul Lynch was a revelation. He waded into the action like a breath of fresh air, exactly at the point when many plays begin to flag a little, and he was top-tier. His command of the tricky Irish accent was particularly impressive, as was his razor sharp delivery of some of the show’s funnier moments. Rounding out the cast was Ian Edmundson, in the dual roles of Reverend Harper and Mr Witherspoon, respectively. The last time I saw Edmundson perform, I remember commenting on the quality of his voice and the same can be said here. His diction and enunciation are near-perfect and when he speaks, the audience can’t help but listen. In this play, he was able to deliver two very distinct characters, each with their own attributes and physicality - which can be a challenge for many actors. Not so here, though. Sterling work. The outstanding work of the actors and creatives was only lifted higher by set, props, costume and tech. The visual representation of the Brewster homestead was a treat and the combined efforts of Tim Greenwood, Rich Spilman and friends of FCP are to be celebrated. Their outstanding set immediately transported the audience to 1940s Brooklyn and must have been an inspiring space for the actors to ply their trade. Props by Sue Wood and Kath Greenwood only further enhanced the authenticity of the play. The costumes in ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ were uniformly exceptional, and the team of Anne Cruden and Kath Greenwood are to be resoundingly congratulated on their attention to detail. Not a stitch out of place, as far as my eyes could see. Lighting was designed by the director, Rosie Withers, and flawlessly executed by the resident technical team at the Lowther Pavillion. The best lighting is barely noticeable, other than in its ability to enhance what’s happening on stage and that’s precisely what we saw on stage that night. Colour was used expertly and sparingly, and technical cues were absolutely on the button throughout. ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ is not a play I know well, so I went into this production with an open mind and lots of hope. Once again, Fylde Coast Players did not disappoint and provided me and the rest of the audience with a wildly entertaining, darkly funny evening at the theatre. I was enraptured from the outset and smiled all the way home. Next up for FCP is another comedy - ‘Blackadder 2’ and I can’t wait to see how they interpret this classic bit of British hilarity. Thanks for the invitation, hospitality and laughter!