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Abby Brewster (far right), portrayed by Chloe McNiel, speaks to the Rev. Dr. Harper (left), portrayed by Trace Tobin, as Martha Brewster, portrayed by Mariah Trible, listens.

Killing with kindness
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: April 26, 2016

VCHS to perform ‘Arsenic & Old Lace'

Mariah Trible and Chloe McNiel have one more mess to make before they graduate from Valley Center High School next month.

They're portraying delightfully oblivious homicidal sisters in "Arsenic & Old Lace."

"They're super, super innocent and sweet," Trible said of Abby and Martha Brewster, two of the play's main characters. "They're just charming old ladies, who think they're doing a good thing by putting old men out of their misery."

Meanwhile, fellow graduating senior and stage veteran Jacob Karst gets to clean up the mess.

"I have to cover up my aunts' killings," said Karst, who plays the Brewsters' nephew, Mortimer. "… And, of course, there's a love story."

The Valley Center High School drama department will stage "Arsenic & Old Lace" at 7 p.m. April 22 and 23 in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and may be purchased from the high school office during regular hours and one hour before each performance.

Director and drama teacher Megan Upton-Tyner said the play is a favorite in high schools because of the accessible humor and delightful characters.

"Bringing it to the Valley Center stage once again made a lot of sense," Upton-Tyner writes in the program.

Valley Center performed "Arsenic & Old Lace" in 2010. The play, which was written by Joseph Kesselring and made popular in the 1944 motion picture of the same name starring Cary Grant, centers on the Brewster family in Brooklyn, N.Y.

It's not just the Brewster sisters who are insane. Nephew Teddy thinks he's President Teddy Roosevelt and Jonathan is a murderer on the run.

Abby and Martha poison elderly visitors, and Mortimer think it's Teddy's handiwork.

Meanwhile, Mortimer is trying to marry the preacher's daughter.

"It's a crazy, wonky, weird show," Trible said. "… There are a lot of different aspects to it. It's funny in a weird kind of way."

Arsenic & Old Lace

Director: Megan Upton-Tyner

Cast

Abbey Brewster: Chloe McNiel; Rev. Dr. Harper: Trace Tobin; Teddy Brewster: Jace Blankenship; Officer Brophy: Hunter Hughes; Officer Klein: Janette Duerksen; Martha Brewster: Mariah Trible; Elaine Harper: Tiana Base; Mortimer Brewster: Jacob Karst; Mr. Gibbs: Mason Ashcraft; Jonathon Brewster: Anthony Valdez; Dr. Einstein: Aryawna Friesen; Officer O'Hara: Casey Williams; Lieutenant Rooney: Mason Carter; Mr. Witherspoon: Matthew Clark; Mr. Hoskins/Mr. Spenalzo: Gavin Fitch; Dead Bodies: Jessica Clark, Gabe Karst, Sarah Martinez, Ashlyn Mirwald, Carson Orr, Jaycie Phillips, Laura Schaar, Xavier Schecter, Jeremiah Strunk, Anna Valdez.

Crew

Stage manager: Edie Reese; Assistant stage/backstage manager: Lakyn Lynn; Set design: Megan Upton-Tyner; Costume design: Mariah Trible; Lighting design: Michael Charvet; Sound design/board operator: Jacqueline Towes; Lighting board operator: Christian Paul; Property design: Harrison Ducommun, Lakyn Lynn, Conner Peterson; Backstage crew: Michael Charvet, Thais Rodrigues; Makeup crew: Kaitie Showalter; Cover art design: Jonathon Hammond; Set construction: Tommy Brown, Michael Charvat, Delaney Curry, Janett Duerksen, Kacey Kutz, Chesney Lund, Lakyn Lynn, Kory Martinez, Ashlyn Mirwald, Chloe McNiel, Christian Paul, Edie Reese, Katie Showalter, Jaycie Phillips, Mariah Trible, Maggie Tyner, Megan Upton-Tyner, the cast.





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