Coming to the Northfield High School this spring play is a perennial favorite time honored comedy that often veers into the lane of a screwball farce.
The play, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” written by Joseph Kesselring in 1941 and adapted into a beloved movie three years later, opens at NHS on Thursday, May 9 and runs through Saturday, May 11. All three evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for seniors over 65 and students.
The script moves at a breakneck speed that requires the actors and audience to stay alert to the chaotic, yet entertaining twists and turns inherent in the sophisticated humor.
Playing the girl-next-door love interest for Mortimer Brewster is stage veteran Piper Artley who plays Elaine Harper. “There are a lot of moving parts,” she said. “making the blocking work has been just as important as the lines.”
Artley said she hopes audiences will enjoy the dark humor. “They’ve got to pay attention,” she said.
In the role Cary Grant famous had in the 1944 movie is Brady Dietz as Mortimer Brewster. Dietz said he is enjoying the plays often demanding over-the-top physicality and comedy.
Making his stage debut is sophomore Casey Stanaitis as Jonathan Brewster. Stanaitis said Dietz recruited him to tryout for the role as Mortimer’s brother. “It’s been really fun to act and hang out with these people,” he said. After conquering the toughest assignment of memorizing the dialogue-heavy script, which he calls “quick and snappy,” Stanaitis said he’s still working on his timing and his ability to keep up in order to play off the other actors.
Jack Linder, who plays Dr. Einstein, said he thinks the play’s humor has held up well over the years. “It kind of reminds me of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” he said. “There’s lots of dialogue and visual gags. It’s hilarious and still feels relevant.”
Linder added that the comedy was a welcome relief after the serious drama of the fall play. “There’s a lot of over the top acting,” he said. “We can let loose a bit.”
Elizabeth Tracy who plays Abby Brewster, one of the two aunts, called the fast-moving play “organized chaos.” She said her scenes with Greta Christopherson, who plays the other aunt Martha Brewster, are among her favorite and most comfortable since they’ve shared the stage together since junior choir.
Mason Vatter, who plays Teddy Brewster, said that although “nothing really happens in this play,” he believes the audience will enjoy the nonsensical comedy.
Vatter’s character believes that he is actually Teddy Roosevelt, thus he acts and dresses like the 26th U.S. president. “I get to blow a bugle and dig locks for the Panama Canal,” said Vatter.
Shari Setchell said that directing “Arsenic and Old Lace” has been a pleasure.
“It’s such a fabulous chestnut of a show and so many people have played these beloved roles, so there’s this lovely connection to previous generations who have taken on this production,” said Setchell. “The challenges of doing the Spring Show are always the same, kiddos are tired, scheduled to the brim, and many are nearing the end of their high school adventures. It often feels like so much to ask of them in the middle of all of their other obligations.”
One the other hand, Setchell said it has been a joyful and fun experience that gives students one more opportunity to be in a supportive community of amazing humans.
“The reward for me is that every one of these performers manages to challenge themselves to do better than they think they can and feel successful in taking the risk of being onstage,” she said.
Seniors waving farewell to the NHS stage include Dietz, Linder, Vatter and Christopherson.
Other cast members include Parker Wilson as Rev. Dr. Harper; Alec Vatter as officer Brophy; Evie Bauer plays office O’Hara, Noa Marohl as office Klein; Leah Price as officer Murphy; Haley Zeledon as Mr. Gibbs, Jake Parker as Lieutenant Rooney; and Lily Dahlin as Mr. Witherspoon.
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