Left laughing: 'Arsenic and Old Lace' closes Red Barn season
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FRANKLIN TWP. ― On Friday, "Arsenic and Old Lace" opens at the Red Barn Theatre.
The classic story that has been making people laugh since 1941 is closing the Red Barn's season. The Red Barn has done it again – left them laughing.
Written By Joseph Kesselring, it is the well-known story of the charming and not-so-innocent sisters who populate their cellar with the remains of socially and religiously acceptable roomers and the antics of their brother who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt and the activities of the murder-mined brother Jonathan. The story revolves around their nephew Mortimer who tries to deal with the most dysfunctional family to ever make an audience laugh. It is so well remembered that no one who sees it ever drinks elderberry wine again.
The sweet but deadly duo is played by Mary Jane Tillia as Abby and Betsy Berenson as Martha.
Tillia said she likes her character because Abby has a lot of energy and she will do whatever it takes to keep her family safe.
"This play is so well written that it just brings the characters to life. A number of theaters have done it recently but every director and cast puts their own spin on it," Tillia said.
Fifty years ago, Tillia and Berenson performed together at the Regency Theater in Beaver, where Tillia's husband, Tom, was involved in the theater and Berenson was a member of the Gentry Players, a group of teenage performers.
Recently, Berenson returned after many years in California and did the costumes for the recent musical.
She is making her Red Barn stage debut, and there is Tillia and Berenson together on stage together after 50 years.
Director Lori Corbin is also making her Red Barn debut, but has a long resume as a director.
After graduating from Lincoln High School in 1972, Corbin returned to teach theater and English for three years and then spent the majority of her career teaching English and theater for 42 years in Lancaster, Ohio.
When Corbin moved to Ellwood City and connected with the Red Barn they knew about her experience and asked her to direct their fourth show.
"I'm enjoying my first year with the barn and I am so pleased with this great cast. Of course, it's a dark comedy so the audience will laugh and enjoy," she said.
What: "Arsenic and Old Lace"
Where: Red Barn Theatre, 1279 Route 288, Franklin Township
When: 8 p.m. Sept. 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30.
Admission: $13
Reservations: http://www.RedBarnPlayers.com
Customer Service: 724-452-8082
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Red Barn Theatre closes season with 'Arsenic and Old Lace'
