Arsenic and Old Lace
at Coral Glades High School

Reviewed on October 21, 2022

Sophie Simon
American Heritage School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

No one looks forward to a family reunion. However, when the stakes go from enduring awkward conversation starters to checking your drink for strychnine, the night becomes a death-dealing surprise! Coral Glades High School's production of "Arsenic & Old Lace" was a thrilling mixture of roaring laughter, infectious smiles, and "just a pinch" of cyanide.

Written by Joseph Kesselring, "Arsenic & Old Lace" became a smash-hit comedy, premiering on Broadway in 1941 and making its West End debut in 1942. Set in Brooklyn, the show follows the Brewsters, a family full of fascinating characters. At the top of the family tree are the spirited aunts, Abby and Martha Brewster, who find joy in poisoning lonesome, old men with their elderberry wine. Following in their footsteps are their nephews: one convinced he is Theodore Roosevelt, one infatuated with murdering his brother, and the other dealing with his family's homicidal tendencies.

Projecting their love of all things lethal, Sydney Dennis (Abby Brewster) and Anna Sophia Leon (Martha Brewster) bewitched audiences with their dynamic delivery and radiant chemistry. Both Dennis and Leon showcased maturity in their elderly physicality and natural comedy. In moments of violence, the two utilized a nonchalant approach to show their expertise at hilarity. Portraying the sly nephew Johnathan Brewster, Bryan Solsbery captured the essence of a maniacal antagonist. His consistent commitment to a deep vocal inflection and ferocious facial expressions displayed mastery in dark-comedy.

Zachary Krouch, depicting the conniving Dr. Einstein, did not allow the audience to forget his face. From the moment he appeared in the door frame to his frantic exit, Krouch never slipped out of character or lost his captivating energy. Standing next to Solsbery as his notable accomplice, the dynamic duo's demonstration of diabolical motives made the play far from a grave affair. Playing the 26th president, or so Teddy Brewster believes himself to be, Samuel Franco left the crowd yearning for his return with his comedic bits and "charge[d]" one-liners. Despite some diction issues and inconsistent accents amongst the actors, the cast gave a performance that was to die for.

The makeup team should be commended, as both the scarring on Jonathan's face and grey-toned color of the aunts' hair were well-visible from the stage, making each actor's portrayal of their character even more convincing. The set design crew was successful in their use of red to mirror the blood-thirsty Brewster family. Despite some unfinished painting and holes in construction, the team crafted an admirable illustration of what this 1940's house might have looked like. The lighting team truly encapsulated the theme of murder in their use of red hues to highlight moments of violent intent. Although there were some late and sporadic cues, the final tableau draped in a vermilion light was an impeccable image.

Whether you're going to the theatre for a night of deathly drama or lethal laughter, Coral Glades High School's production of "Arsenic & Old Lace" allows audiences to pick their poison, giving them just enough time to say "how delicious!"

Noa Ackerman
West Boca High School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

Coral Glades Drama's production Arsenic & Old Lace brought the dark comedy written by Joseph Kesselring to life! The play, written in 1939, was made popular by the 1944 film, featuring Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane. The show follows the Brewster family, composed of Mortimer, a drama critic, Teddy, who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt, and Johnathan, a psychopath who, through extensive plastic surgery, resembles Boris Karloff. The Brewsters would not be complete without Martha and Abby, their charming aunts who casually poison men. Elaine Harper, Mortimer's love interest who he proposes to in the beginning of the show, is pushed away when Mortimer discovers his aunts have been poisoning men and burying them in their cellar. This wild ride of a play leaves audiences laughing like no other!

Sydney Dennis must be commended for her outstanding performance as Abby Brewster, the endearing aunt with a nonchalant inclination for murder. Dennis captures her sweet and oblivious charm, delivering her lines with excellent comedic timing. Lighting up the stage alongside Dennis, Anna Sophia Leon portrayed Martha Brewster effortlessly. She incorporated Martha's loving, hospitable mannerisms exquisitely, always fully engaged in the scenes by fluffing pillows or setting the table. Despite having knowledge of their murderous hobbies, the audience simply couldn't help falling in love with these devoted aunts! Dennis and Leon worked seamlessly together, displaying real chemistry and partnership on stage. They both paid meticulous attention to character details, such as adopting the posture and walk of older women. They were an absolute joy to watch on stage!

Another exceptional duo was Johnathan Brewster (Bryan Solsbery) and Dr. Einstein (Zachary Krouch)! Solsbery wonderfully encapsulated Johnathan's greasy, slick character with the utmost commitment, maintaining a character walk and eerie voice throughout the entire production. Additionally, he exhibited a superb grasp on Johnathan's comedy, making his ludicrous lines hysterical. His wacky sidekick, Dr. Einstein, a plastic surgeon and alcoholic who changed Johnathan's face three times, was energetically embodied by Krouch. Krouch offered vibrant physical comedy that had perfect juxtaposition to Brewster's psychopathic, creepy mannerisms. This powerful pair brought energy to the stage every time they entered!

Arsenic & Old Lace features older characters, which can be a challenge for high school productions. However, the makeup crew, led by Gabriela Barrios, and the hair crew did a terrific job aging cast members through makeup, giving characters natural-looking wrinkles and grey hair. Johnathan also had scars to show his substantial plastic surgery procedures, which were striking on stage.

This haunting, yet hilarious play left every audience member with a smile on their face. The talented actors' commitment was apparent, as their character work was thorough and enabled them to display impeccable physicality with ease. The technical crew's unmatched dedication must be recognized, for this phenomenal show would not be complete without their hard work! This production of Arsenic & Old Lace deserves nothing less than a round of applause!

Barbara Bomfim
American Heritage School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

The ingredients for a delightful play are --a gallon of elderberry wine, one teaspoon of arsenic, half a teaspoon of strychnine, and a pinch of cyanide? While ultimately venomous, dark themes of crime and murder were taken on with no fear by Coral Glades High School in their comedic concoction of "Arsenic & Old Lace."

Playwright Joseph Kesselring brewed this farcical comedy in 1939, and it made its Broadway debut just two years later. The play has since entertained audiences with its smash hit film adaptation directed by Frank Capra. Set in Brooklyn, New York, the plot follows the Brewster family: a maniacal family composed of two sweet yet sinister aunts, a homicidal nephew, and Teddy Roosevelt (well, almost). Death never tasted so good in this recipe for slapstick comedy and dark horror.

Sydney Dennis (Abby Brewster) and Anna Sophia Leon (Martha Brewster) portrayed the paradoxical nature of these aunties masterfully; nobody would have ever guessed that these gentle and generous women were capable of murder. The two treated the essence of their cynical schemes nonchalantly, demonstrating great commitment to the naturality of their crimes. Such dedication was bewitching, providing enlightening comedy through their incredible chemistry. "CHARGE!!" In comes Samuel Franco with his killer interpretation of Teddy Brewster, or President Theodore Roosevelt as he believes. Franco made every entrance and exit unforgettable with his captivating performance, bringing the 26th president back from the grave.

Bryan Solsbery was exactly the murderer of everyone's nightmares in his chilling embodiment of Johnathan Brewster. From his intimidating and sharp physicality to his sinister and monotone vocal inflection, Solsbery drove the show with his commendable dedication to the role. Playing his partner in crime, Zachary Krouch served a mean performance as Dr. Einstein: a drunken plastic surgeon who uses his face morphing skills to protect Johnathan from confronting his crimes. Krouch nearly had the audience laughing to death with his exceptional deliverance of hit one-liners and commanding stage presence. The two shared infectiously wicked chemistry, bringing life to such morbid themes.

Having new crew members and a lack of performance space in their school don't make for a delicious brew, but Coral Glades' tech team ultimately rose above the ashes in their excellent execution of multiple elements. The box set crafted by the mighty set designers creatively illustrated the eerie and worn down Brewster home by painting the walls with hues of red, symbolizing the bloody desires of its residents. Similarly, the lighting designers captured the inner cravings of these killers with splashes of red lighting, heightening the stakes of the brink of murder. Completing the looks of these assassins, the makeup crew greatly executed old age and scar makeup to bring the characters to life. Coral Glades' crew proved that the challenges are what make success taste so good.

While arsenic and cyanide may not make for the tastiest refreshment, Coral Glades certainly knew the best recipe for a night full of entertainment. A toast to Coral Glades High School's maliciously marvelous performance!

Isabella Saralegui
Cypress Bay High School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

What's more comedic than botched plastic surgery, arsenic, and a murderous family? Why that would be Coral Glades' production of "Arsenic & Old Lace" of course!

The hit show "Arsenic & Old Lace", written by Joseph Kesselring, opened on Broadway in 1941 and had an outstanding 1,444 performances. This dark comedy follows Abby and Martha Brewster who poison lonely men who visit their home for lodging. The arrival of Mortimer Brewster, Abby and Martha's nephew, complicates matters as he discovers his aunties' deadly secret. When a second nephew shows up after escaping from a mental institution he only makes matters worse at the Brewster home.

Portraying the nonchalant Abby Brewster, Sydney Dennis delivered a strong performance with her delivery of comedic lines as well as her chemistry with Anna Sophia Leon, who played Martha Brewster. Dennis and Leon as this poisonous pair perfectly displayed a clear understanding of who their characters are both emotionally and physically.

Bryan Solsbery as the deranged nephew, Johnathan Brewster, cleverly played homage to the old timey villain through his monotone voice and menacing physicality. Solsbery's dry deliverance of his comedic lines wonderfully juxtaposed Zachary Krouch's hilariously over the top comedic moments. Krouch, as Dr. Einstein, must be commended for his bold character choices which helped emphasize the true bizarre nature of the show.

Though at times it seemed like the actors on stage were waiting for their next line and weren't entirely in the moment, the ensemble as a whole properly kept the show moving with strong character choices and deliverance of their lines.

Some technical aspects of the show seemed to have been lacking in detail and refinement, but overall they served their purpose in the show. The set clearly displayed the rundown condition of the Brewster's estate while also being functional for the cast to use. The hair and makeup of the show was executed well, with a clear distinction of who the older characters were as well as the detail of scars riddled across Johnathan's face.

Coral Glades' production of "Arsenic & Old Lace" told the story of the twisted Brewster family in a fun lighthearted way and taught us that nothing brings a family together more than a cup of elderberry wine with just a splash of arsenic.

Chantal Mann
North Broward Preparatory School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

Sit back, relax, and enjoy a cup of elderberry wine with Coral Glades High School's production of "Arsenic & Old Lace."

"Arsenic & Old Lace" is a 1939 play by Joseph Kesselring about the murderous Brewster family. Shortly following its creation, it was adapted into the 1944 film of the same name starring Cary Grant. The play opened on Broadway on January 10, 1944, in the Fulton Theatre and completed 1,444 performances before concluding its run at the Hudson Theatre. Since then, "Arsenic and Old Lace" has enjoyed a Broadway revival, West End production, and several regional revivals across the country.

Aaron Edwards appeared as Mortimer Brewster, who acted as a voice of reason amidst his family's many antics. Edwards used the space dynamically and had great chemistry with Emma Tessier's character, Elaine Harper. He shared the stage with Bryan Solsbery, who portrayed the mysterious older brother Johnathan Brewster. Solsbery displayed an admirable commitment to his character, and his vocal inflection enhanced his characterization. Zachary Krouch played Dr. Einstein, Johnathan's eccentric assistant. Krouch always remained invested in all scenes, and his comedic timing never failed to make the audience laugh.

Sydney Dennis and Anna Sophia Leon played Abby and Martha Brewster, the matriarchs of the Brewster family with a hidden dark side. Their deadpan comedy seemed effortless, and their chemistry as a unit and with the other characters on stage was always engaging. Samuel Franco rounds out the Brewster family with his role as Teddy, who believes himself to be Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. Franco had the difficult task of playing a character within a character, but he exceeded expectations and was hilarious while doing so.

The student-created set (Jordan Blaise, Ismail Elhassan, Nkuma Plummer, and Alexia Joseph) effectively established the Brewster home and captured the rundown essence of the house while still being of good quality. Lighting motifs were skilfully utilized to enhance the play's themes, although the stage was not always fully lit. The make-up and hair team (Lannah Victor, Savanna Green, Shanise Robinson, Gabriela Barrios, and crew) did a great job with the old-age make-up and gray hair for Abby and Martha, as well as Johnathan's prominent scar. Although some issues with projection and dropped lines were encountered, the actors did an admirable job of continuing back on track with little hesitation. All actors had good physicality that enhanced their roles and set them apart, and the stage combat was well executed.

Journey over to Happydale with Coral Glades High School as they present a story funny enough to kill!