Cappies review for Herndon High Theatre "Arsenic and Old Lace"

Written by Sarah Bader of Loudoun Valley High School

Cara Ethington as Abby Brewster, Hamad Aljibreen as Teddy Brewster, and Ember Howard as Martha Brewster. Photo credit: Hanna Tomhave

Are you old and lonely, with no friends or family? Come on over to Herndon High School, the Brewster sisters will happily keep you company! Just be sure not to drink the elderberry wine they'll offer you...

Dating back over 80 years, “Arsenic and Old Lace” by Joseph Kesselring made its Broadway debut in January of 1941. While retold and exaggerated, the dark comedy is based on a real string of murders in a Connecticut boarding house. This clever retelling, performed by the spectacular cast and crew of Herndon High School, follows the story of Abby and Martha Brewster, two cheeky and eccentric sisters, and their nephew Mortimer. The seemingly sweet old ladies are hiding a deadly secret (or twelve): they've been poisoning lonely old men to "bring them peace" and hiding the bodies in their basement! Upon discovering this, Mortimer runs laps about the story to cover up and prevent further killings, alongside fending off his equally psychotic brother. After all, having such an unconventional family would ruin his image in the mind of the girl he's trying to marry!

Cara Ethington and Ember Howard might be real sisters, for the chemistry they had while playing Abby and Martha was impeccable. Their comedic timing together was perfection, consistently landing jokes--they really put the sense of humor into the term "dark comedy." Ethington and Howard played off of each other splendidly across the entire show, keeping the energy high with their amusing old lady mannerisms and accents.

Luca Aten, as Mortimer, seemed like the only normal person in a sea of neurotics. His back-and-forth antics with his aunts, brother (Ryan Hertel), and fiancée (Natalie Delpino) were witty and attention-grabbing. With an impactful voice like a classic radio announcer's, Aten stole the spotlight every time he was onstage.

As a whole, the entire cast was full of life, drawing the audience into the story. There was never a dull moment onstage, even for characters in the background; the energy was consistent across the show, and there were new bits to discover with every scene. Whether romantic or familial, the chemistry between every actor and their scene partner was spectacular.

Bringing together the 1940s sitcom feel were the impeccable technical elements of the performance. With a set designed and created entirely by students (Carson Brownlee, Mubeen Ahmad, Trevor Freeman, Serena Indrisano), the stage was full of minute details that pulled the entire show together–stepping through the theatre doors took you straight into the home with the characters. Keeping the atmosphere alive was the soundscaping, designed by Virginia Williams. The sound effects throughout were selected to reflect the 1940s setting, including a blaring doorbell and a cheery phone ring, which tied all aspects of the show together.

Throughout the comedic chaos of the play, the cast and crew of Herndon High School teach you two important lessons: respect your elders, and DON'T drink the elderberry wine!!