The “Arsenic and Old Lace” cast features actors from Ringgold, Chickamauga and Dalton in Georgia, and East Ridge and Chattanooga in Tennessee
The Ringgold Playhouse is slated to bring a lot of laughs to the historic Depot stage this week, as the company will open the classic comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace” Thursday night. The play will run for six performances July 16-17 and 23-25, with shows beginning at 7:30 p.m., and a special 2:30 p.m. matinee show on Saturday, July 25. Tickets are $10 general admission or $8 for seniors and students and are available in person Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., over the phone at 706-935-3061, or online at RPH2015.eventbrite.com.
The show will be TRP’s third production of its 2015 season, and is shaping up to be one of the company’s biggest shows to date.
Fresh off the heels of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Proof,” which ran in May, the playhouse is switching gears from drama to comedy this summer with the murder comedy about two sweet little old ladies, who turn out to be more dangerous than 1940s Brooklyn could have ever imagined. “It’s a big show, with a lot of wonderfully talented people in it,” says Ringgold Playhouse Executive Director Adam Cook. “It’s the biggest cast we’ve had since we got started a couple of years ago, and everybody involved has done a great job of bringing this timeless classic to life. It’s a really funny show, with a lot of crazy characters that audiences are going to fall in love with. A lot of people have crazy aunts in their families, but I don’t think anyone has a duo quite like this.”
The story revolves around Abby and Martha Brewster, played by Anita Ba-Radwan and Joy Martin, who use their old family home to rent rooms to lonely gentlemen with no families, or really anywhere to go. Once inside the Brewster home, the ladies take it upon themselves to poison the poor “lost souls” and give them a proper send-off from this lonely world.
Their full-proof plan hits a snag when their witty journalist nephew, Mortimer, discovers their process and tries to keep any and everyone from finding out the truth about his dear aunts.
The arrival of Mortimer’s criminal brother Jonathan, the ravings of his lunatic brother Teddy, who thinks he’s Theodore Roosevelt, and Brooklyn police dropping by the house constantly, create quite the hysterical atmosphere for Mort.
Can Mortimer keep his aunt’s secret, or will Brooklyn’s finest stumble across the 13 bodies buried in the Brewster’s cellar?
“It’s really a great show,” Mr. Cook said. “It’s funny, it’s face-paced, and the comedic timing of these actors has really been a blast to watch develop from our very first rehearsal.”
Although Mr. Cook says TRP usually tries to produce lesser-known works that haven’t been overdone, the chance to stage this comedy classic was too good to pass up. “We try to do things a little different and do shows that people haven’t seen half-a-dozen times at other places, but with this one, it’s okay to make an exception once in awhile,” Mr. Cook said. “The play has been around over 75 years, which means there’s a lot of special stuff in it that has stood the test of time. We’re excited about the production, and we’re looking forward to sharing a lot of laughs with the community this summer.”
In addition to Ms. Ba-Radwan and Ms. Martin, the cast is rounded out with Dan Lyons as “Mortimer,” Mark Morgan as “Jonathan,” Dana Rogers as “Teddy,” Ayana Winchester as “Elaine,” Joshua Chisholm as “Dr. Einstein,” Daniel Pound as “Officer O’Hara,” Renee Lierow as “Officer Klein,” Dexter Coley as “Officer Brophy,” David Dunn as “Mr. Gibbs/Lt. Rooney,” and Pat O’Brien as “Rev. Dr. Harper/Mr. Witherspoon.”
The cast began working on the show in early May. Pictured from left, Anita Ba-Radwan as “Abby Brewster,” Dan Lyons as “Mortimer Brewster,” Joy Martin as “Martha Brewster,” and Pat O’Brien as “Mr. Witherspoon.”