You may prepare a monologue but there will also be cold readings of scenes from the script, improv exercises, and possible callbacks. Arsenic and old lace is a 1944 american black comedy film directed by frank capra and starring cary grant. The wide range of comedy utilized within arsenic and old laceranging from slapstick to sarcasm to situational ironykeeps audiences engaged and on their toes. Koch of the film casablanca 1942, for which the writers won an. Not sure how i feel about the overall dress, but the lace is a great touch. Arsenic and old lace characters breakdowns including full descriptions with standard casting requirements and expert analysis. Arsenic and old lace is a 1944 film about a drama critic who must cope with his bizarre extended family on his wedding day, including his two spinster aunts. Many fictional crime stories are based, in part, on real events, and so have a background of interesting characters. Arsenic and old lace is a wonderful play its the first play i was ever in, by the way its what is commonly known as americana. For a gallon of elderberry wine, i take one teaspoon full of arsenic, then add half a teaspoon full of strychnine. Arsenic and old lace 810 movie clip the difference between plays and reality 1944 hd by movieclips. It was based on joseph kesselrings play arsenic and old lace. Arsen i stare cipke je teatarska komedija americkog pisca josepha kesselringa, napisana 1939.
Also a darling elderly lady who poisons elderly men. Arsenic and old lace 110 movie clip the gentleman in the. Arsenic and old lace was kept in the vault and not released until late 1944 because of a clause in the film rights contract stipulating it could not open while the hit play was still running. It has become best known through the subsequent film adaptation starring cary grant and directed by frank capra the play was directed by bretaigne windust, and opened on broadway at the fulton theatre on january 10, 1941. Epstein august 22, 1909 december 30, 2000 was an american screenwriter, who had a long career, best remembered for his screenplay written with his twin brother, philip, and howard e. Good or bad, an experience is always valuable because great art inspires diverse opinions. Female age range young adult, adult role size supporting. When he visits his sweet little aunties abby and martha to tell them the good news that he is going to. The play arsenic and old lace written by joseph kesselring highlights how much society can overlook things due to stereotypes which results in a ridiculous situation with high levels of ignorance.
Join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. There will be three performances of arsenic and old lace in pratt auditorium at conant high school. Arsenic and old lace live event las cruces, nm auditions. I would love to find some short 510 minute plays with a connected theme that they could do on zoom to record and send to their classmates with the. The contract with the plays producers stipulated that the film would not be released until the broadway run ended. Mortimer brewster is a newspaperman and author known for his diatribes against marriage. An uproarious farce on plays involving murder, arsenic and old lace has become a favorite amongst regional theatres throughout america.
When it finally went into release it was a commercial success. Arsenic and old lace 910 movie clip he looks like boris karloff. Arsenic and old lace is a 1944 film about a drama critic who must cope with his bizarre extended family on his wedding day, including his two spinster aunts who have an unusual habit of poisoning lonely old men directed by frank capra. Arsenic and old lace is a play by american playwright joseph kesselring, written in 1939.
The real serial killer behind the play arsenic and old lace. The beverly theatre guild is pleased to announce open auditions for the second production of its 20092010 season, arsenic and old lace, the classic comedy about two sweet mercykilling elderly spinsters written by joseph kesselring. Hannah performed a small portion of the play, arsenic and old lace for her classical conversation class project. Any suggestions for monologues to audition for arsenic and. Cary grant, raymond massey, josephine hull, john alexander, priscilla lane, jean adair arsenic and old lace is director frank capras spin on the classic joseph kesselring stage comedy, which concerns the sweet old brewster sisters josephine hull, jean adair, beloved in their genteel brooklyn neighborhood for their many charitable. Of course, i still think we cant claim full credit for him because he just died. Arsenic and old lace frank capra made this film in 1941 before he went off to make films for americas war effort, but it wasnt released until 1944.
We watch him being married at city hall in the opening scene. June 12, 2019 arsenic and old lace and the incomparable comedic talents of cary grant cary grant was a one of a kind actor. I have watched it time and time again and it never fails to make me laugh. Mortimer brewsters monologue from arsenic and old lace including context, text and video example. Play details monologues add a monologue trivia directors notes rate this play publishers website. Best plays 05 arsenic and old lace best plays drama. As the curtain rises, abby brewster, a plump little darling in her late sixties. If i were looking for a monologue, id comb through other plays of that type. I had a production planned of arsenic and old lace for may 8 and 9. Though very much of its time in its milieu and references, arsenic and old lace is a diverting piece of escapist entertainment thats mostly still funny today, largely due to those. About our mission partnerships a proud partner of the dramatists guild since our founding in 1936.
The famous comedy success produced a smash hit in new york and on the road. Mortimer brewsters monologue from arsenic and old lace. Selected monologues from arsenic and old lace including video examples, context and character information. As for female monologues id say look through neil simons barefoot in the park, or tennessee williams a street car named desire. The slapstick film, with murderous aunts compassionately serving up elderberry wine to elderly gentlemen with their crazy nephew assisting by burying the unfortunate victims, is unlike most of the other reformminded capracorn films with a social conscience that became his. A drama critic learns on his wedding day that his beloved maiden aunts are homicidal maniacs, and that insanity runs in his family. Frank capras 1944 film version of arsenic and old lace, released 70 years ago and showing saturday oct. We will be performing arsenic and old lace by joseph kesselring. I have a cast of 14 5 men and 9 women, and 2 female assistant directors. Full length play, comedy 3f, 11m the famous comedy success produced a smash hit in new york and on the road. For a gallon of elderberry wine, i take one teaspoon full of arsenic, then add half a teaspoon full of strychnine, and then just a pinch of cyanide.
It was based on a serial killer named amy archergilliganwho, law enforcement says, murdered between 20 and 100 people, including some of her husbands. Arsenic and old lace trailer turner classic movies. Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for elaine harper from arsenic and old lace join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. On september 25, 1943, the play moved to the hudson theatre. Arsenic and old lace is director frank capras spin on the classic joseph kesselring stage comedy, which concerns the sweet old brewster sisters josephine hull, jean adair, beloved in their. Adapted from the hit play by joseph kesselring, this frantic black comedy shows capra at his best as a master of mood and timing. Too light, but this entire productions design concept odd. Adults will appreciate the comedic historical references and gallows humor while younger audiences will adore the shows chaos and hyperbolic reactions. Arsenic and old lace 1944 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. You are asked to present a light dramatic monologue and be prepared for a cold read from the script. Arsenic and old lace 1010 movie clip the son of a sea cook. Arsenic and old lace is one of my absolute favourites. Includes mature adult, elderly, adult, young adult characters. If male, id suggest either a monologue from the man who came to dinner, or the end monologue from blythe spirit by noel coward these are both comedic shows around that same time arsenic and old lace came out.
The actor wishing to secure this role must have a truly impressive knowledge of garnet rings, especially those of the english variety. Arsenic and old lace is a must for all nonprofessionals, a readymade comedy hit. Arsenic and old lace auditions the beverly theatre guild. My daughter, who is now 24, has also watched this with me and my husband on countless occasions, as she too finds it hilarious and encourages her friends to watch it too. Both sisters are the very model of victorian charm and grace. The production will be directed by john grantphillips. Arsenic and old lace 1944 is a frenzied, hilarious, madcap black comedy from celebrated director frank capra. Arsenic and old lace kesselring barefoot in the park neil simon blur melanie marnich bus stop william inge butterflies are free gershe the butterfly connection theresa rebeck cat on a hot tin roof tennessee williams charleys aunt brandon thomas the childrens hour lillian hellman come back, little sheba william inge. Abby is the sister of martha and an aunt to teddy, jonathan, and mortimer. A sweet elderly woman with victorian charm who poisons elderly men. Arsenic and old lace character descriptions in order of appearance abby brewster female, late 60s. Epstein adapted from the play by joseph kesselring credits credits roll, in white letters, on several funny cartoons, all of them about witches and witchcraft a caldron over a fire, with two witches on either side of it a closeup of one of the witches a witches falling down from the sky on her broomstick, and loosing her hat in the. At her left, in the comfortable armchair, is the rev.