Michigan Tech Presents "Arsenic and Old Lace"
Michigan Tech's Department
of Fine Arts will present the all-time favorite comedy, "Arsenic
and Old Lace" on April 11-13 and April 18-20 at 8:00 p.m. in McArdle
Theatre (Walker Arts and Humanities Center). Dr. Debra Bruch designed
and directs the production, which features a cast of Michigan Tech students
and community members plus the talents of Michigan Tech's technical theatre
crews. "Arsenic and Old Lace"
became famous as a hit Broadway play in the late 1930's and as a popular
movie directed by Frank Capra, starring Cary Grant, Raymond Massey, and
Peter Lorre. An outrageous farce, "Arsenic and Old Lace" combines
comic characters with a mystery plot. It's a fast-paced show that audiences
of all ages enjoy. Author Joseph Kesselring turns
all the conventions of comedy and mystery stories upside down as New York
journalist Mortimer Brewster returns to his hometown with his new bride
to visit an array of eccentric relatives, including two sweet elderly
aunts and childish Cousin Theodore. Mortimer's ne'er-do-well brother appears
with a sinister scientist in tow, obviously up to no good. Meanwhile,
the bodies of lonely old gentlemen who formerly rented rooms from the
aunts begin to appear in the basement where Cousin Theodore, who imagines
he's Teddy Roosevelt, has been "digging the Panama Canal." Brewster
investigates which of his dotty relatives might be guilty of crime, with
hilarious (and touching) consequences. The 15-member cast includes
Maija Stadius and Claudia Stadius as the aunts, Aaron Tice as Mortimer,
and Philip Ribeiro as Cousin Teddy. Bruch designed the multi-level set,
which was constructed by crews directed by Ted Soldan. Mary Carol Friedrich,
assistant professor of fine arts, supervised design and installation of
lights by MTU's advanced lighting class, and also designed the costumes. Tickets for "Arsenic and
Old Lace" are available from Rozsa Center Ticketing Services, 487-3200,
the Student Development Complex, Calumet Theatre, and on the web (www.tickets.mtu.edu)
for $8 general, $4 students. Tickets are $1 more at the door. More information
is available from the Department of Fine Arts, 487-2067.
