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A taste of Halloween with Keystone’s ‘Arsenic’

The amiable spookiness of Joseph Kesselring’s “Arsenic and Old Lace” will be a perfect match for playgoers who want to have a good laugh Halloween weekend. The Keystone Players will present this classic comedy Oct. 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. in Brooks Theatre at Keystone College, La Plume.

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Mortimer Brewster, played by Robert Eskra, center, is threatened by his homicidal brother, Jonathan, played by Justin Kraky, left, and the equally nutty Dr. Einstein, played by Adam Barndt, right, in the Keystone Players’ production of ‘Arsenic and Old Lace,’ scheduled for Brooks Theatre at Keystone College, Oct, 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.

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“I love that this charming play makes me laugh out loud, despite the fact that it is almost 70 years old,” said Jane Honchell, director of theater at Keystone.

The play centers on two sweet and generous elderly sisters, Abby and Martha Brewster, played by Laura Hughes and Kelly Langan. However, unbeknownst to their many admirers, the sisters also have a penchant for “helping” lonely old men by putting them out of their misery with a little arsenic-laced wine.

Struggling to deal with his nutty aunts and even crazier brothers, one of whom thinks he’s Theodore Roosevelt and the other who is a homicidal maniac that looks like Boris Karloff, is the only sane Brewster: Mortimer, played by Robert Eskra. Mortimer’s peculiar brothers will be brought to life by Alphonse Baldino as Teddy and Justin Kraky as Jonathan. Jonathan’s accomplice, Dr. Einstein, will be played by Adam Barndt.

Rounding out the cast are Erin Kaercher as Elaine, Mortimer’s fianc�e; Gary Bisignani, Heather Bixby, Stephen Keating and Harry Powell as police officers; Bill Zeranski as Elaine’s father, the Rev. Dr. Harper; Bill Honchell as Mr. Gibbs; and Brandon Nadeau as Mr. Witherspoon, director of Happy Dale Sanitarium.

General admission is $6, and tickets for students and senior citizens are $3. Tickets may be purchased at the door prior to each performance, or may be ordered in advance by contacting Honchell at 570.945.8454 or e-mailing jane.honchell@keystone.edu.