Palestine Community Theaters Production of Arsenic and Old Lace opens Friday

Oct. 11—The curtain goes up for the first time on Palestine Community Theatre's fall production of Arsenic and Old Lace Friday, Oct. 13. There will be a complimentary reception for this show at 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 13 through Oct. 15 and Oct. 20 through Oct. 22, with curtain at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at the historic Texas Theatre, 213 W. Crawford, downtown Palestine.

Linda McDonald is making her directorial debut with this play with the help of Assistant Director Sandy Webb.

Just in case you offer PCT another blurb as we approach our two production weekends. I will be happy to offer you my brief perspective on "Arsenic and Old Lace."

Kathrine Newton, who portrays Aunt Abby in the play, said she chose to try out for Arsenic an dOld Lace as a tribute to her mother.

"I tried out for the play because the movie version directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant was a favorite of my mother," she said. "I have happy memories of watching it with her growing-up."

Newton said playing Aunt Abby has been 'so much fun.'

"No matter how bizarre the behavior, Abby is absolutely guileless," Newton said. "Hopefully, with the help of my on-stage sister Martha, adeptly played by Sandy Webb, our shared affection for family and belief in helping those less fortunate will have audience members supporting our sincerely sweet efforts to navigate a changing world."

For those that have never seen the show, Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic black comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison; family.

"I think audiences will simply enjoy disappearing for a few hours into this Halloween-themed 1940's classic written by Joseph Kesselring," Newton said. "Although the work stands alone as a delightful romp, the more serious-minded could leave the theater pondering age-old dilemmas such as 'nurture over nature' or 'history repeating itself.'"

According to the play's synopsis on dramatists.com, the play, written by Joseph Kesselring, opens to drama critic Mortimer Brewster's engagement announcement being upended when he discovers a corpse in his elderly aunts' window seat. Mortimer, portrayed by Caleb Estrada, rushes to tell his aunts Abby and Martha, played by Katherine Newton and Sandy Webb, before they stumble upon the body themselves, only to learn that the two old women aren't just aware of the dead man in their parlor, they killed him.

Between his aunts' penchant for poisoning wine, a brother who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt and another brother using plastic surgery to hide from the police, not to mention Mortimer's own hesitancy about marriage, it'll be a miracle if Mortimer makes it to his wedding.

This show is sponsored by Dr. Michael and Mrs. Charmaine Wilkinson.

Tickets, which are $12 for students ages 4 to 18 and $17 for adults, can be purchased in advance at www.PCTboxoffice.com and at the door before each performance.