As Hunterdon Central Regional High School’s 11/12 play’s rehearsals kick into gear, life just keeps getting funnier! Joseph Kesselring’s 1939 play Arsenic and Old Lace (directed by Mrs. Gail Enterline and student directors Gary Carter and Jocelyn Willis) will make you believe old ladies can do anything!
At the start of the show, audience members are introduced to the theater critic’s old, Mortimer’s (as played by Joshua Fisher), Aunts: Abby (Megan Wash) and Martha (Calleigh Cullaton). The pair find room in their house and hearts to give weary travelers a nice, quiet place to stay. These sweet old ladies aim to make the lonely and elderly as comfortable as possible. Mortimer visits back home to tell his Aunts of his engagement to Elaine Harper (Kaitlyn Osborne), where wacky arguments and an unexpected family reunion ensue. There’s a whole host of sinister secrets and poisonous plots revealed and unraveled!
Only half a month into rehearsal and this cast is knocking it out of the park! When asked how she thinks they’re going, Piper Berkowitz, understudy for Aunt Abby and well-known weather maven, said, “They’re going really smoothly. I think we’re all working really diligently and everyone gets along really well together and we’ve all built connections that not only show within the play, but also show in our daily lives.” Theater always brings people together, whether they be performers or audience members – it’s a special magic that can only be recreated by watching a live production and, according to Berkowitz, that magic is certainly being worked!
So many people loved watching last year’s 11/12 play Auntie Mame, but the people in the show loved it even more. Having such a big show made for a huge cast and community of hard-workers ready to take on any task. Arsenic and Old Lace, alternatively, only requires a cast about half the size of Auntie Mame. So the question is, does a smaller cast mean less gets done? Understudy for Aunt Martha Leah-Faith Rosa doesn’t think so. “I think I can speak on behalf of all of us to say that we have all grown very close to each other,” she says. “Having a smaller cast has made the community so personal”. Despite the production being smaller, the connection the cast and crew has to the art of theater has not shrunk one bit. Leah-Faith went on to express how proud she is of this cast and how they have truly made the show their own. Joshua Fisher agrees with the sentiment, adding excitedly, “The cast is really bonding and we have each had individual growth in our characters”.
However, a cast who gets along is nothing if they can’t get the job done. Celia Graziano (playing the role of Dr. Witherspoon) solidifies this sentiment. “There’s always a lot of laughter in the room,” she says. “It’s clear that everyone is having fun and enjoying being part of the show while still staying focused and productive.” While having a group of people who can have a good time with each other is very important for interactions both on and off the stage, if a cast can’t focus or “lock in”, they have a lot more work to do than just putting on a show. Fortunately, the cast of Arsenic and Old Lace has both party and can-do attitudes.
Of course, no show would be complete without a good directorial team (led by Mrs. Enterline). The talented pair of the aforementioned Gary Carter and Jocelyn Willison confidently carry on the three-year tradition of sophomores directing the 11/12 play. Carter urges everyone to “take their time and take the chance to see this cast in action”. He explains that, while this show does pose its obstacles, the skills of his team and cast make what could be leaps and bounds for some a stroll in the park for them.
Arsenic and Old Lace—a timeless, spooky classic—is given new life through this cast. If rehearsals are any sign as to how the end product will be, you’ll never forget this production. Get your tickets as soon as they are available to see the show this November 21st and 22nd. People are just dying to see Arsenic and Old Lace!
