ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
DIRECTED BY CHRIS BRYANT

Drama critic Mortimer Brewster’s engagement announcement is upended when he discovers a corpse in his elderly aunts’ window seat. Mortimer rushes to tell Abby and Martha before they stumble upon the body themselves, only to learn that the two old women aren’t just aware of the dead man in their parlor, they killed him! Between his aunts’ penchant for poisoning wine, a brother who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and another brother using plastic surgery to hide from the police—not to mention Mortimer’s own hesitancy about marriage—it’ll be a miracle if Mortimer makes it to his wedding. Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic black comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.

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AUDITIONS

Auditions for Arsenic and Old Lace will be held at Habersham Community Theater at 1370 Washington Street, Clarkesville, GA on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 4:00 pm. A full rehearsal schedule will be provided after casting. Performances will be November 14-17, 21-24, 2024.

BEFORE YOUR AUDITION: Fill out the form here. You must fill out this form prior to your audition.

AT THE AUDITION: You will be asked to do a cold read from selected portions of the script. This is not a musical, so you do not need to prepare a song or dance. Callbacks are not expected to be necessary. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the director, Chris Bryant, at ccbryant@comcast.net.

Auditions are for the following roles:

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WOMEN

Abby Brewster​

A darling lady, and the very model of Victorian charm and grace, who poisons elderly gentlemen, with her sister as an act of charity. She and her sister Martha seem to be the absolute embodiment of the values and polite society of a bygone age. More dominant, ​and a bit older than Martha​, both ladies are happy, healthy, lucid, and spry. The Aunt to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.

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Martha Brewster​

Very sweet, but more submissive than Abby, Martha still is a strong woman. She and her sister have lived together for many, many years. Their personalities and pecking order around each other have been firmly rooted for eons. Always wears a high collar. The Aunt to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.

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Elaine Harper​

An attractive girl, daughter of Rev. Dr. Harper, and Mortimer’s fiancée. She is surprisingly wise in the ways of the world for a minister’s daughter. She is a little bit wily, sassy, and absolutely sharp (Actor seeking this role will need to show genuine zest and spunk. She will also need to display a wonderful sense of versatility.) We witness Elaine progress from casual happiness, to utter bliss, to twisted confusion, to stark fear, to godsend relief, and back to casual happiness again.

MEN

Mortimer Brewster

Nephew of Abby and Martha, brother to both Teddy and Jonathan Brewster. A very likable, Mortimer is a drama critic who is in love with, & engaged to Elaine Harper. A good-hearted cynic who is about to have his world turned upside down. PHYSICAL ROLE.

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Teddy Brewster​

Very likable, kindhearted brother to Mortimer and Jonathan, Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, Teddy is a man who believes that he is the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. Extreme dedication and energy is necessary while charging up a flight of stairs and screaming “CHARGE!” PHYSICAL ROLE.

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Jonathan Brewster​

Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, brother to Teddy and Mortimer. Jonathan is a psychopath who has numerous murders to his credit and no scruples whatsoever. He is creepy. Jonathan is a killer, that loves his business and he’s got an unbelievably short temper. Dr. Einstein has changed Jonathan’s face three times, currently resulting in a Boris Karloff resemblance (to which he is a bit sensitive.) Some PHYSICAL work.

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Dr. Einstein​

A German plastic surgeon, with an accent to prove it. Right hand to Jonathan, Dr. Einstein is mousey and submissive to Jonathan. Einstein should be viewed as a good guy whose life has gone bad. The audience truly has to sympathize with this guy. With somewhat of a ratty appearance, his face wears the benevolent smirk of a man who lives in a pleasant haze of alcohol.

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The Reverend Dr. Harper​ (Cameo)

We only see Elaine Harper’s father in the opening scene; a doctor of divinity, and the minister to the church next door to the Brewster house. The Brewster sisters have seen many ministers come and go over the years, but they seem to be particularly fond of Dr. Harper and vice versa. The actor portraying Dr. Harper should display a sense of polish, refinement, and mild mannered sensitivity towards others. He is not in favor of Mortimer and Elaine’s relationship.

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Officer Brophy​ (Cameo)

The first police officer we meet in the show, Brophy is a thoroughly likable sort of fellow. Is making his rounds collecting Christmas toys for the needy. Some PHYSICAL work.

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Officer Klein (Cameo)

A flatfoot Brooklyn officer who makes his rounds with Officer Brophy collecting Christmas toys.

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Officer O’Hara ​(Cameo) 

He is the quintessential example of an Irish-American police officer: Full of life, good natured and played big. He is on very good terms with the Aunts. O’Hara is a would-be playwright, and needs to plainly display the nagging, persistent drive that’s kindled within him once he discovers that Mortimer is a famous dramatic critic. Well intentioned, O’Hara really doesn’t mean to come across as annoying as he does.

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Mr. Gibbs (Cameo)

An elderly gentleman who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters; and nearly falls victim to the sisters “charity”. He is a little gruff, but he warms up fairly quickly upon being offered a treat he hasn’t had since he was a child.

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Lieutenant Rooney​ (Cameo)

The man in charge at the local police precinct. Very early in the show we gain a pretty strong understanding of the caliber of men he has to manage under his watch. As such, he has very little patience for blunder and mistakes, and needs to run a pretty tight ship. He is loud, decisive, and clearly in-charge of every situation in which he finds himself.

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Mr. Witherspoon​ (Cameo)

The superintendent of Happy Dale Sanitarium. Very mild mannered and kind.

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SHOW TIMES

November 14, 2024 at 7:30 pm

November 15, 2024 at 7:30 pm

November 16, 2024 at 2:00 pm

November 16, 2024 at 7:30 pm

November 17, 2024 at 2:00 pm

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November 21, 2024 at 7:30 pm

November 22, 2024 at 7:30 pm

November 23, 2024 at 2:00 pm

November 23, 2024 at 7:30 pm

November 24, 2024 at 2:00 pm

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