Arsenic Silliness of Baltimore, no wait, that’s not right. A Summer of Brewsters, no that doesn’t sound right either. Oh, I remember, it’s Arsenic & Old Lace at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore! Three years of no theatre has my brain a little foggy, but Sarah O’Hara’s directorial debut makes it clear that she and ASoB are back! Not only are they back, they are back with a bang, or in this case a sip.
I had the privilege of attending final dress, where some theatre gremlin usually pops up just before opening. AsoB must be living right because the performance was riveting, comical, and wonderfully acted out. It was as if O’Hara handed out the materials prior to the pandemic. I have not seen a show so crisp as this one all season. Ms. O’Hara also doubled as the set designer and oh what a set she designed. Her use of the limited stage space was mapped out as if Frank Llyod Wright designed it himself. The icing on the cake was the set dressing. Full of period pieces and so many tchotchkes you would think you are at grannie’s row home in Bed Stuy. You can tell that many hours went into the set just by the attention to detail it displays.
Sound Designer Grace Ritter should have her own line of headphones. Seriously, “Better Beats by Grace” has a nice ring to it. Any static or feedback was told to wait outside for Ritter was at work. Not to be outdone, Lighting Designer Lindsey Bauer, held the other half of the Wonder Twins ring (who?). Whether it was time for an afternoon cup of tea, or to bury a body the lighting was spot on! Bauer not only nailed the lighting but also creepy shadowing when needed. These wonderful ladies boosted the show with their tech and should be recognized.
When you attend a show, you never want to feel as though you could visit the snack bar during a scene change. Stage Manager Kathy Case and her crew, Anthony German and Sophia Kaskel, were as smooth as a fine-tuned watch. Every transition was quick and quiet. It can’t be easy moving glassware, serving sets, and a plethora of props quietly in the dark. This crew was top notch! If this doesn’t pan out, they could have a lucrative career as cat burglars or ninjas. Or cat-burglaring ninjas.
One thing you can tell right off is that this cast has fun and enjoy working together. The entire police force of Cory Bauer, Bryan Brown, Chloe Scully, and LeVar Betts will keep you laughing so much you’ll think you’re watching Barney Miller (again who?). Pay attention to their faces and what they are doing when not delivering lines. Our Lon Chaney (okay enough already!) Award goes to Jim Morgan as he plays Rev. Harper, Mr. Witherspoon, and Mr. Gibbs to near perfection. As every person is different so is Morgan’s character selection. There were a few times I forgot he was the same person.
So much could be said about Lou and Jennifer Otero, and Chris Pence & Michael Maistros. These actors stood strong on their own but played so well with each other. Lou Otero is a perfect mix of Leo Bloom (one for the young’uns) and Ralph Kramden sorry not done). Mr. Otero plays the hapless nephew with a splash of neuroses when it comes to his aunts, and a whole lot of fortitude when it comes to his brother. However, when it comes to his fiancé, there is a lot of mumbling and doing as he is told. Jennifer Otero commands the stage with ever entrance. She plays a love-stricken woman who knows what she wants, and she is not afraid to say what is on her mind. The chemistry between them is magic, like they were already married or something. Dr. Frankenstein and Igor, Mutt and Jeff (okay now I’m done), peanut butter and jelly, Pence and Maistros, some things just go together. Pence plays the heavy handed, black sheep of the family as though he were just released from Sing Sing. He makes it clear that you do not want to run into him in a dark alley. The more lighthearted, bumbling Dr. Einstein, played by Maistros is the cornerstone to Pence. Together they are two equal parts of a whole.
Standing alone tall and proud is Mike DeNicolis as the delusional Teddy Brewster. It doesn’t matter if he is charging up San Juan Hill, or burying yellow fever victims, DeNicolis does it with enthusiasm and with the comedic talent that he so easily displays. DeNicolis interacts with just about every other cast member and he does it without breaking character. From aunts to killers, there is no doubt that he believes he is Teddy Roosevelt.
Like I said this production is a combination of talent making it a truly collaborative project. The two main ingredients in this delightful feast Beverly Serio Edwards and Marianne Sohn, deliver what we have been missing. Coming out of this pandemic we are starving for entertainment, and Edward and Sohn give us a smorgasbord of what we have waited for. These ladies are a sheer delight to watch. They play two doting aunts so well that you find yourself mentally indexing your family tree remembering your own aunts. Be it a family chat, a meeting with the reverend, or being accused of murder these two remain deadpan. They give a performance that is not to be missed.
Running Time: Approximately 3 hours with one intermission
Arsenic & Old Lace plays through March 13, 2022 at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore— 8212 Philadelphia Road in Rosedale, MD. Tickets are available at the door or in advance online.
