The Rogers State University Theatre Program will present the classic dark comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace” on April 18-21.
Performances will be held April 18-20 at 7:07 p.m. at the Will Rogers Auditorium. A Sunday matinee will be held at 2:07 p.m. on April 21.
Written by American playwright Joseph Kesselring in 1939, “Arsenic and Old Lace” has become an American standard that was popularized through the film adaptation starring Cary Grant.
Set in Brooklyn, NY, in 1941, the story revolves around Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, homicidal family and local police 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 home-made elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychnine and “just a pinch” of cyanide; a brother who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt and digs locks for the Panama Canal in the cellar of the family home and a murderous brother who has received plastic surgery performed by an alcoholic accomplice in order to conceal his identity and now looks like horror-film actor Boris Karloff.
The cast of characters includes Holly Morgan of Owasso as Abby; Amanda McFarland of Claremore as Martha; Hannah Westlund of Owasso as Elaine; Josh Gammon of Broken Arrow as Teddy; David Prock of Collinsville as Mortimer; Zach Amon of Cushing as Jonathon; Garrett Powders of Tulsa as Dr. Einstein; Arick Matts of Stillwater as Rev. Harper; Adam Eagleburger of Pryor as Mr. Gibbs; Andrew Grimes of Verdigris as Dr. Witherspoon; Brandon Collom of Claremore as Officer Brophy; Jaina Lee of Morris as Officer Klein; Grady Blevins of Oklahoma City as Officer O’Hara; and Matt McCann of Miami as Lt. Rooney.
Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and $2 for RSU faculty, staff and students who present university ID. All proceeds benefit the RSU Theatre department and its ongoing programming.
For more information, call the RSU Theatre box office at 918-343-6882 or visit www.rsu.edu/theatre-program/.
-Written by RSU PR Intern Lindsay Bolt