NBHS Drama Club Presents ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’

The New Bedford High School Drama Club presents “Arsenic and Old Lace,” by Joseph Kesselring, with special permission from the Dramatists Play Service, Inc., with performances on Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 6 at 2:00 p.m.

A farcical, dark comedy that centers around the Brewster family, the play focuses on Mortimer Brewster’s discovery that his two dear aunts have been on a murdering spree – and he must determine how to balance a host of subsequent problems including a delusional brother, another brother’s botched plastic surgery and a fiancée without a clue about any of the trouble.

Sarah Cadieux, who along with Aaron Valente is directing the play, said this production will challenge actors and feature a unique stylistic performance.

“This play is different than the other farcical comedies the Drama Club has done in the recent past, and it is really helping the actors grow as performers,” said Ms. Cadieux. “My favorite part of this production is our staging concept. At the end of the last school year, I showed the 1944 film version of ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ during class. One of my students, Kaylei Perry-Vacca, wondered if there would be a way to stage the production in black and white, so that the stage show would resemble the movie. I fell in love with the idea and spent the whole summer researching ways to make it happen. Thanks to advancements in stage makeup and my own training, we’re going ahead and presenting our performance entirely in grayscale – when the curtain opens, it’s going to look like a black and white movie, even down to using black food coloring to stain the students’ teeth and tongues!”

Student actors are excited about performing in this year’s production and previewed what some of their favorite parts of preparing for the play have been.

“My character, Mortimer, struggles with a lot of internal things: trying to relate to his family, trying to overcome his family’s challenges, and trying to cover up their mistakes,” said Tyler Rebello. “He’s also trying to stay out of trouble to impress his fiancée, but he’s not very successful.”

“It’s so rewarding to be surrounded by such phenomenal student actors that radiate positive energy,” said Olivia Marques. “The directors have done a fantastic job putting the show together thus far and I can’t wait to see the final product.”

“Personally, the most exciting part about this show for me is playing a kind of character I’ve never had the chance to play before,” said Kenzi Farland.

“Arsenic and Old Lace” will be performed by the NBHS Drama Club Friday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, December 6 at 2:00 p.m., in the Bronspiegel Auditorium at New Bedford High, 230 Hathaway Boulevard.

Directed by Sarah G. Cadieux and Aaron Valente, with NBHS cast and crew Lillianne Condez, Zara Lemieux, Tyler Rebello, Tayber Lima, Jonathan Furtado, Justyn Silva-Bernardo, Christian Borges, Carina Borges, Olivia Marques, Kenzi Farland, Diana Lima, Joshua Botelho, Seth Sweeney, Brian Rego, Thea Racine, Danielle Guimont, Rebecca Tavares, Mason Duarte and Hannah Novo.