(DRINK, DRINK: A stage scene from “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Photo by Erica Johnson @majerlycreative)
By Jerome Langston
“Most of my summer is spent doing these plays in Virginia, which is lovely,” said New York City based theater director, Nicolas Minas, when I reached him by phone earlier this week to discuss the play that he’s directing for Virginia Stage Company. Nick had recently directed The 39 Steps for Virginia Theatre Festival in Charlottesville. And now after just a couple weeks back home in NYC, he was headed to Norfolk to direct VSC’s Arsenic and Old Lace at the Wells Theatre. A farcical black comedy, Arsenic and Old Lace kicks off the storied company’s 46th season.
Nick previously directed Guys and Dolls here — which was a big, fabulous show for season 41, back in 2019. And his last time directing Arsenic was about ten years ago, when he helmed it for Cape Fear Regional Theatre, back when Tom Quaintance was still there as its artistic director. “We had a wonderful time working on it,” said Nick. Tom, VSC’s current producing artistic director, reached out to Nick about directing the play again, for this current season. “I’m very excited to revisit it,” Nick added. “And see what new things we can find.”
The play is set in 1940s Brooklyn, NYC, and the Brewster sisters are living in a Victorian or Gothic-style home, typical of the time. The Wells Theatre then should provide a pretty perfect space for the set. “I’m really excited about it being in the Wells Theatre. I find the Wells Theatre to be a really beautiful space,” said Nick. “The scenic designer, Kim Powers and I, have really considered the space itself, when looking at the design of the show.”
Arsenic and Old Lace is the best-known work of American playwright, Joseph Kesselring, which he wrote in 1939. It opened on Broadway in January of 1941, and ran until June of 1944 — playing over 1400 performances. The West End production opened in December of 1942, and also enjoyed a lengthy run. And the 1944 film adaptation starring Cary Grant, was similarly a hit. In the years since, there have been a number of revivals that have been mounted, to varying degrees of success. It’s a black comedy that centers on the Brewster family, and specifically Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic, who finds himself navigating the kooky behavior of his two murderous, senior citizen aged aunts, and two crazy brothers; including one who is a criminal, intent on killing Mortimer.
The VSC production will feature a cast of 14 actors; including Ryan Clemens as Teddy Brewster, British actress Linda Slade as Abby Brewster, long-time Virginia actress Kathryn Strouse as Martha Brewster, Arthur Lazalde as Jonathan Brewster, and Michael Raver as Mortimer. Rehearsals don’t start till next week, but the director shares that the cast is “a really great mix of people — different ages, different types…” Regarding Michael, who plays the lead role of Mortimer, “he brings that combination of being able to handle the comedic timing, having the energy that’s needed for the comedy, but also is a really strong dramatic actor, so it’s coming from a place that is real,” said Nick. “And then we’re so lucky to have Linda Slade and Kathryn Strouse.”
“Those characters are the heart of the play,” continued Nick. “Arsenic and Old Lace is about two older sisters, who live together in a big old house, who kill lonely older men, out of an act of charity…” We both laughed slightly after Nick stated that. Both actresses will be working with Nick for the first time.
Later in the day, I contacted Linda, who was already in the area, to talk about the role of Abby. The acclaimed actress has worked extensively in the UK, in both theater and for television. She recently completed a long tour of Private Lives, in theatres throughout the United Kingdom. “For her, she’s doing a charity. She calls it a charity. She kills little, old lonely men. She gives them lovely funerals, puts flowers on their graves… She really is a good person doing what she believes is good in the world,” said Linda, with a slight chuckle, about Abby Brewster. “It really turns things on its head. She’s proud of her murders.” As a noteworthy aside, it’s Linda who tells me about the serial killer, Amy Archer-Gilligan, whom the play was reportedly inspired by.
The following day, I called Kathryn, who has worked as a professional actress for over 5 decades. Despite living in Hampton Roads, and having done a lot of local theatre — this part represents her VSC debut. “I’m excited about that. It’s my very first time. I’ve always wanted to work there,” she said. Recently, she completed a movie for the 48 Hour Film Project, which screens the completed short films locally, at The Naro. Kathy had seen a number of productions of Arsenic and Old Lace over the years, but never felt that either role of the Brewster sisters, was a good fit for her before. However, when she read for the part in this upcoming production of it, something had changed. “Maybe I just got old, Jerome. That’s what it was,” said the veteran actress, with a laugh. We both laughed. “So now it fits.”
Before wrapping up with Nick, he talked about what distinguishes this production of the classic play, from the prior two that he’s directed. “I’m not doing a remount of any production that I’ve done before. We’re building this anew. It’s a new set, a new group of artists, a new group of actors,” said the director. And he’s excited for local audiences to experience this show. “I think gathering people together to laugh at something — is really very healing.”
WANT TO GO?
“Arsenic and Old Lace”
Presented by Virginia Stage Company
Through September 22
Wells Theatre
