October 31st marks the opening night of the fall play: “Arsenic and Old Lace”. From Halloween night to November 2nd, audiences can come watch the production. The drama is about a theater critic, Mortimer, who is trying to navigate his feelings about a shocking revelation: his aunts have been poisoning people and burying them. Along with this news, Mortimer must deal with his crazy older brother suddenly returning home. The play is filled with suspense, drama, and humor, ensuring that audiences will be able to enjoy the show. 

Penny Christie ‘28 describes the cast of the production, “The cast is Mortimer, the main character, Abby and her sister Matha, [who are the aunts], [Mortimer’s] crazy older brother is Jonathon, who has an assistant who is Einstein. [Finally,] there’s Mortimer’s younger brother Teddy, who thinks he’s Theodore Roosevelt.”

“I enjoy that we have a lot of people returning [to the BHS theater program] and a lot of new people, I think it balances out really well,” Christie ‘28 said when asked to share her feelings about the cast of the play, “I love [working with the crew], they’re all great and really fun.”

The play is set in 1941, New York, and takes place in the main character, Mortemier Brewster’s, family living room. The production follows the Brewster family, mainly Abby and Martha, their nephews Mortemier, Teddy, and Jonathan. 

The playwright, Joseph Kesselring, took real-life inspiration when writing the drama. The show was influenced by a true-crime story about Amy Archer-Gilligan. Archer-Gilligan was a woman who ran a boarding house in Connecticut during the years 1908 and 1916. She was suspected of poisoning several people who lived in the boarding house. These murders were what Kesselring based his story on, but he also added his own twist to the story. Rather than have an average man or woman commit the murders, he had two sweet old old-looking ladies commit the murders, making the play more dark, highlighting that innocent people can commit the craziest of crimes. 

Nate DeNicola ‘27 says, “I think [the play] is coming along really well…I’m pumped [for opening night].”

When asked why he likes participating in BHS theater productions, DeNicola ‘27 states, “I like doing the plays because it’s good practice for me, I really like performing… It’s good to keep practicing and [play] more diverse roles.”

Christie ‘28 also expressed her feelings about playing roles in BHS productions, “I enjoy getting into character, and I think that this school, in general, has a really good theater program. I like the community.”

The fall production is filled with talented cast and crew members, as they work together to create a memorable night for the audience. Christie ‘28 states, “[the crew] is very passionate about [the play].” The play “is a funny show,” DeNicola ‘27 states. Arsenic and Old Lace is an entertaining, drama-filled play, which will be opened to audiences for viewing on October 31st, 2025. Those who enjoy comedic plays with significant twists should mark their calendars and get ready for a night to remember.