The fall play, Arsenic and Old Lace debuts Friday, November 20 with shows on the following Saturday and Sunday, offering a change in scenery in comparison to past plays put on by North.

Based in the 1930s and written by American playwright Joseph Kesselring, Arsenic and Old Lace is a dark comedy. The main character, Mortimer Brewster, played by Senior Jake Batara, has to put up with a crazy family life including his two homicidal aunts. Seniors Jessie Whitfield and Sarah Hass were cast as Mortimer’s aunts who poison lonely old men with a special concoction, innocently neglecting the error of their ways.

“The play is very well known,” said Hass. “Many people love to come out and see this dark comedy and I can only hope to do Abby justice while shedding some new light on her.”

The dark comedy is a new look for the fall play given past lighthearted comedies such as last year’s Laughing Stock. Crawford is interested to see how the cast will perform with the change.

“We haven’t really done at North a classic Broadway show,” said Crawford. “Trying to pull off a dark comedy like that [is intriguing]. It gives the kids a challenge.”

The cast of the play is relatively small in comparison to past productions North has done. This year’s cast consists of 14 actors, whereas some shows have had nearly 60 such as Barnum, the 2015 spring musical. Between 30 and 40 students auditioned for the 14 available roles, said Crawford.
Arsenic and Old Lace marks Crawford’s tenth show including both musicals and plays. He began during his daughter, Sarah’s freshman year, and has been assisting and/or directing for six years. Sarah is now a sophomore at Augustana College.