HCPAC PRESENTS

Arsenic and Old Lace is a delightfully dark comedy that blends murder, madness, and nonstop laughter. The story centers on Mortimer Brewster, a sharp witted theater critic whose world is turned upside down when he discovers that his sweet, seemingly harmless aunts, Abby and Martha, have been quietly poisoning lonely old men with elderberry wine laced with arsenic. Convinced they are performing acts of kindness, the aunts calmly bury their victims in the cellar as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Adding to the chaos is Mortimer’s brother Teddy, who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt and spends his days charging up the stairs and digging “locks for the Panama Canal” in the basement, unknowingly assisting with the burials. Just when Mortimer thinks the situation cannot get worse, his dangerous and disfigured brother Jonathan arrives, accompanied by an equally unsettling accomplice, threatening to expose the family’s secrets and pushing the mayhem to new heights.

As Mortimer desperately tries to hide the murders, protect his own sanity, and have Teddy committed, misunderstandings pile up and the farce escalates into a whirlwind of frantic action and razor sharp humor. Balancing the macabre with brilliant wit, Arsenic and Old Lace remains one of the most beloved comedies in American theater.

Directed by Ethan Herrin, this production runs September 10–19, promising audiences an evening of classic comedy and darkly irresistible fun.

ARSENIC & OLD LACE