REVIEW: Beware the elderberry wine

WALLACE — A certified classic has once again made its way to the stage at the Sixth Street Theater as it presents Joseph Kesselring’s “Arsenic and Old Lace.” 

Originally written in 1939, the black comedy grew significantly in popularity after it was adapted into a film starring Cary Grant in the 1940s.

Set in pre-World War II Brooklyn, N.Y., the plot centers around Mortimer Brewster and his family, which includes his two spinster aunts and his brothers.

With the exception of Mortimer, the Brewster family isn’t quite right — One of Mortimer’s brothers believes himself to be President Teddy Roosevelt, and fantasizes about different parts of the Brewster home being various locations of the president’s many exploits and adventures. But the real shocker is the hobby that Mortimer’s two aunts have taken up — we won’t spoil it, if you don’t already know. 

Hijinks ensue when Mortimer’s estranged older brother, Jonathan, who bears a striking resemblance to Boris Karloff, returns home with a dopey sidekick and a sinister plot. 

The show is being directed by Sixth Street Theater icon Paul Roberts and features a blended cast of theater veterans and newcomers to the stage. 

The cast includes Ryan Massrey, Mallorie Flynn, Naomi Medley, David Pierce, Casey Duncan, Kenzie Jensen, John Rowe, Carl Rowe, Frank Culhno, Johnny Turner, Tiffany Schmidt, Carol Roberts and Paul Roberts as the villain. 

The star-making performances of Flynn, Medley, and Pierce will have you crying with laughter throughout the entire two-hour show. 

This show holds a special place in Roberts’ heart, both as an actor and because of what this particular show means to the Sixth Street Theater. 

“When Sixth Street founder Sherrill Grounds, who last graced our stage as the director for "Arsenic" — and played the role of Teddy — approached me with the role of Mortimer 20 years ago, I was thrilled and intimidated,” Roberts said. “Thrilled with the role, intimidated by Sherill. It took me a while to figure out that I had it backward. Working under Sherrill is one of the highlights of my time here at Sixth Street, and as we approached our 40th year as a theater, I knew I wanted to honor his memory by staging Arsenic again, this time as the director.”

What a difference 20 years makes. Now well into the theater’s 40th season, Roberts has gone from playing the hero to taking on the role of the villain. 

Unlike most of the shows that are performed at Sixth Street, "Arsenic and Old Lace" has three separate acts, which makes it a bit of a beast compared to the others. 

Almost a year in the making, Roberts wanted to make sure that the show was as close to perfect as possible — this included holding auditions in May and then getting to work almost instantly. 

“Summer table readings in my backyard with the cast were laid back and fun, but soon September arrived and we had to get serious if we were going to meet the standard that our founders set for us over 40 years ago,” Roberts said. 

Opening Friday, Nov. 3, people will have nine opportunities to take in the spectacle that Roberts and his cast have created. 

“If, by the time our play is finished, while watching this strange band of players play acting on stage, you have briefly escaped the stress of the day, laughed a few times at what we did well, graciously giggled when it didn’t go well, and had even the slightest wish of ‘I want to do that,’ then we have accomplished our goal,” Roberts said. “Community theater is about our community, and Sherrill would want us to remember that.”

"Arsenic and Old Lace" will be performed Nov. 3-5, 10-12 and 17-19, with the Friday and Saturday shows starting at 7 p.m. and the Sunday shows beginning at 2 p.m.

For information or tickets visit www.onthestage.tickets/sixth-street-melodrama.