Lovers of old movies are familiar with the classic screwball comedy, “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
But less well-known is that the movie was based on a 1941 Broadway play.
Local teenage thespians will bring the stage play to life — with occasional references to the movie — the weekend of July 26-28 when the La Grange Area Teen Theater Ensemble (LATTE) stages the play at the Plymouth Court Auditorium, 325 N. La Grange Road.
There will be four shows, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday, and evening performances on Friday and Saturday.
“The play brings out all the unifying themes in our lives, especially family,” LATTE founder and artistic director Felicia Pfluger said. “The good memories and the crazy ones give us freedom to laugh.”
The narrative centers around two spinster sisters in Brooklyn, Abby and Martha Brewster, who have the charming habit of renting out rooms to lonely old men, only to poison them with arsenic-laced elderberry wine.
The sisters bury their victims in the basement, but after stashing 11 downstairs, they have to put the latest victim in the window seat. Their drama critic nephew Mortimer Brewster sets the entire narrative in motion when he stumbles on the unfortunate soul, Mr. Hoskins.
Add in Mortimer’s impatient fiancee, a murderous, alcoholic brother Jonathon, and his crazy Uncle Teddy, who thinks he’s Theodore Roosevelt and, as the saying goes, hilarity ensues.
Founded by Pfluger in 2009, LATTE has been staging several plays a year, even carrying on in abbreviated productions through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In the last 15 years, over 800 teens have been part of our program through our teen outreach, acting workshops and 45 productions that teach resiliency and life skills through stagecraft,” Pfluger said. “We have helped 75 volunteers and interns to full-time, paid employment. We have helped families heal and grow and form friendships.”
Pfluger talked about the play, which staged 1,444 productions on Broadway and helped people get their minds off the devastation of the Second World War. And she noted that the movie, directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant, was just as successful as the original play.
“It’s such a clever combination of a macabre spoof and farcical drama, and it pokes fun at adult children coming home and regressing into old family rivalries,” she said.
Elena Hernandez-Rahman, 17, of Willowbrook, is a veteran of 5 LATTE productions and has the daunting task of playing Mortimer Brewster, the play’s protagonist, played in the movie by Cary Grant.
“Playing the role of Mortimer is new for me,” she said. “I’ve never played a male role before so I’m excited to see what I can do … it’s challenging and rewarding as I am expanding myself as an actress. I’m familiar with playing the physicality of a woman’s role, but with Mortimer, I’m learning a different kind of physicality and attitude.”
Mortimer’s Aunt Abby is played by Olivia Mulcahy, 16, of Western Springs.
“Abby is a sweet and lovable lady, and I get to work with my close friend, who plays Martha, Abby’s sister,” she said. “I’m excited for people to see it. The movie is fantastic and this will be a fantastic show…the mix of comedy with seriousness is a common theme in shows, but I’ve never really seen it done like it is in “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
Mulcahy’s friend, 17-year-old Jamie Velez of Downers Grove plays off Abby’s lovable nature, bringing an almost innocent side to Martha Brewster.
“Martha is both naive and obtusely aware of what she is doing,” Velez said. “To play this role is to truly find a balance between portraying an innocent old lady with an air of gentleness and grace, but also a crazed woman who has a twisted view of death and the like … although “Arsenic and Old Lace” was written decades ago, it allows a more inner-focused view of people. People tend to put on airs and seem to overlook crucial things about someone.”
While Hernandez-Rahman is a female playing a male character, the LATTE production changed the role of the murderous Jonathon, played by Raymond Massey in the movie, to “Joan” Brewster, leaving 18-year-old Callie Devine of Westmont a more conventional approach.
“Joan is creepy, unpredictable, and chaotic, which makes her a fun and interesting character to portray,” she said. “It took me a bit of time to study her and how her mind works, but in the end I feel confident in our current design for her character.
For further information on the La Grange Area Teen Theater Ensemble’s production of “Arsenic and Old Lace,” including ticket prices, show times, and the entire cast, visit the group’s website lattetheater.com.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
