Reviews: Arsenic and Old Lace at Herndon High School
Written by Iris Cooper of Westfield High School
"Insanity runs in my family. In fact, it practically gallops!" Follow the unusual Brewster family at Herndon High School's production of Arsenic and Old Lace, where strange taste, and even stranger-tasting wine, come with the territory.
The story, first written in 1939, follows one Mortimer Brewster (Luca Aten) as his malevolent brother returns home after multiple years with a string of murders on his record, and yet another he seeks to hide in their family home. That would be trouble enough, were there not already eleven bodies buried in the cellar, by virtue of his two kindly aunts' rampant misuse of household chemicals. The Brewster family has many things to hide, but only so much space in the basement... what's he to do?
This production's strengths and thoughtfulness were most evident in the performers' dedication and execution of meticulous character qualities and tendencies. Abby Brewster (Cara Ethington), the first of the Brewster sisters to grace the stage and presumably the elder, is shown through her more domineering disposition and impressively polished elderly accent.
Both performances only improved when Abby was paired with her ever-gentle younger sister, Martha Brewster (Ember Howard). These details were apparent constantly, not just in line delivery but also in physicality, allowing seemingly minor character choices to enhance the performance rather than stick out. One shining example of this was from Elaine Harper (Natalie Delpino). She sat with a ladylike form, moving her legs slightly to the side, which injected a touch of 1940s class and posture into her performance.
In contrast, the most tonally glaring appearance of the show was that of Jonathan Brewster (Ryan Hertel), who played the primary villain and the antagonist of the story. Everything about his performance, from his physical appearance, with clumps of flesh, stitches, and staples on his face, to his vocal performance, with an unnatural, threateningly low and scary tone, marked him as a character of complete malicious intent. He worked entirely without the usual undertone of humor, as was so often present with the sisters, even as they committed their own fair share of nefarious deeds.
Jonathan's terrifying appearance was created by Herndon's makeup team (comprised of Kieran McCartney, Julia Sturgell, Ashley Rivera, and Marie Scott). Through the use of real staples, face shading, scar wax, and proper planning and diligence, his resemblance to Boris Karloff was all but cemented as legitimate. Furthermore, their consistent and intricate use of age makeup effectively conveyed Martha and Abby's worn and aged look, with every fold and wrinkle visible from anywhere in the audience.
The actors' look, when paired with the delicate antiquity of the house, merged together to solidify the intended 1940s feel of the show. The beautiful set was incredibly convincing and maximized all the space possible to give the stage a subtle, warm, unsuspecting feel, like looking into a dollhouse. The sets team (Carson Brownlee, Mubeen Ahmad, Trevor Freeman, Serena Indrisano) worked in tandem with the props team (Avy Aubouin, Ian Wright, Rubina Dhungel, Joelle Dykstra) to dress the set, including special little hints to the audience of nefarious goings-on, both in plain sight and hidden.
Mortimer Brewster's unfortunate family home holds many skeletons in the closet... and the cellar. While he battles to hide these complications, both from Elaine and the police, the audience is presented with an incredibly humorous and thought-out production, chock-full of personality and care. Herndon was able to maximize the show's potential, not just as a comedy, but as a drama, enough to leave anyone ready and wanting more.
Written by Kiera McCrea of Westfield High School
A pinch of comedy, a dash of suspense, and a sprinkle of poison mix together to create a killer concoction, "Arsenic and Old Lace." Raise a glass to Herndon High School's production, take a swig, and fall victim to two endearing old ladies with a knack for murder.
Written by Joseph Kesselring in 1939, "Arsenic and Old Lace" has served as a dark comedy for the ages, contrary to the delicate, proper show that the title suggests. This show centers around the famously insane Brewster family, led by an unlikely pair of murderers, the elderly Abby and Martha Brewster. Also featured are three nephews: the accomplice who is convinced he is Theodore Roosevelt, the theatre critic who discovers his aunt's actions, and the escaped convict who appears with an eccentric German plastic surgeon in tow. Homicidal antics ensue and the dead bodies pile up.
As Abby and Martha Brewster, Cara Ethington and Ember Howard truly embodied their characters. Taking on slightly hunched backs, impressively consistent accents, and even shuffling gaits complete with the slight struggle to traverse stairs, the two transformed into a pair of spry elderly women. Their comedic timing combined with innocence regarding a malevolent act had the audience rolling with laughter.
Ethington established herself as a force early into the show, conveying the socially dominant side of her character as she took over confrontations with Jonathan and Doctor Einstein. As the other half, Howard embraced the warmth of Martha with sweet giggles, as well as the thoughtful, inquisitive side while explaining how they poisoned their victims. Ethington and Howard were nothing short of remarkable as their mere presence brought scenes to life.
Luca Aten as Mortimer Brewster and Ryan Hertel as Jonathan Brewster proved their expertise in characterization. Assuming the classic Transatlantic accent, their threatening circles around each other were calculated and decisive. Finnegan Cloney took on the role of Doctor Einstein with grace, slyly waving his fingers and showcasing a perfected German accent that was utilized not only through his clear and expressive line delivery, but also while filling moments that would be silent with quips and one-liners.
Perhaps one of the most striking elements of this production was its regal set, created by Carson Brownlee, Mubeen Ahmad, Trevor Freeman, and Serena Indrisano. The Brewster house visually stuns, creating an immersive playing ground for the actors, centered around the set team's attention to detail. The set incorporated vintage wallpaper, stained wooden banisters, and an open backed window seat utilized for hiding corpses. Also present were flats behind each bedroom door, customized to the character inside. This aided to the reality of the set, and it culminated in a gorgeously antique result.
Another impressive element was the hair and makeup utilized in this show. Kieran McCartney, Julia Sturgell, Ashley Rivera, Marie Scott created unique looks for each character based on the hair and makeup trends in the 1940s. Abby and Martha were given Victorian-esque low buns with gray spray to indicate their age. An impressive feat was the design for Jonathan's plastic surgery. The team used scar wax, face paint, and staples to create the illusion that his face had been pieced together.
From unconventional characters to an outstanding cast and stellar tech elements, Herndon High School's "Arsenic and Old Lace" deserves a toast of elderberry wine for an exhilarating performance.