Arsenic and Old Lace (play)

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Arsenic and Old Lace is a farcical black comedy play by American playwright Joseph Kesselring, written in 1939. It has become best known through the subsequent film adaptation starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra. The play was originally directed by Bretaigne Windust, and opened on Broadway at the Fulton Theatre in 1941, running for 1,444 performances.

Plot

The plot centers around the Brewster family, descended from the Mayflower settlers, but now composed of insane homicidal maniacs. The protagonist, Mortimer Brewster, is a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, homicidal family and local police in Brooklyn, NY, as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves. His family includes two spinster aunts who have taken to murdering lonely old men by poisoning them with a glass of homemade elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychnine, and "just a pinch" of cyanide; a brother who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt; and a murderous brother who has received plastic surgery performed by an alcoholic accomplice, Dr. Einstein, to conceal his identity. The play is a farce revolving around Mortimer's attempts to protect his aunts while simultaneously ensuring his own sanity remains intact.

Characters

• Abby Brewster: A darling elderly woman who poisons elderly men to end their loneliness.
• Martha Brewster: Abby's sister, who assists in the murders.
• Mortimer Brewster: A drama critic who discovers his aunts' secret.
• Jonathan Brewster: Mortimer's brother, a criminal who has had his face altered to hide his identity.
• Dr. Einstein: A plastic surgeon who altered Jonathan's face and is an accomplice in his crimes.
• Teddy Brewster: Mortimer and Jonathan's brother, who believes he is President Theodore Roosevelt.
• Elaine Harper: Mortimer's fiancée, the daughter of a minister who lives next door to the Brewsters.
• Other characters include officers O'Hara, Brophy, and Klein, the Rev. Dr. Harper, and Mr. Gibbs, a potential victim of the aunts.

Production History

Arsenic and Old Lace opened on Broadway at the Fulton Theatre on January 10, 1941. The original production was a hit, running for 1,444 performances before closing on June 17, 1944. The play's success led to adaptations, including a popular 1944 film directed by Frank Capra, which has helped sustain the play's popularity. Over the years, Arsenic and Old Lace has been revived numerous times and has become a staple of community and school theater productions.

Themes

The play explores themes of family loyalty, the nature of insanity, and the question of morality in the context of murder. It satirizes the traditional murder mystery genre, using dark humor to examine the absurdity of the characters' actions and the societal norms that enable them.

Legacy

Arsenic and Old Lace is considered a classic of American theater and continues to be popular in professional and amateur productions worldwide. Its blend of dark comedy and farce has influenced many subsequent works in the genre.

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