The Bay St. Louis Little Theatre will open its third season in the new theater building located at 398 Blaize Avenue in the Depot District with the classic comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace” written by Joseph Kesserling. The show is the timeless iconic Broadway comedy that will forever give the audiences a memorable evening of laughter. The show opens on Friday, September 14th. The show is directed by Larry Clark.
The Little Theatre members have been renewing their memberships at record pace this year. “We are projecting close to a 100% renewal of existing members,” stated Richard O’Briant, a Theatre Board member since Katrina. The Little Theatre memberships are open to the community and can be purchased online. This is a great way to support a community treasure and get great local entertainment at the same time. This is the first season that the Little Theatre will offer six shows in the season. Traditionally, the community theaters on the Gulf Coast perform four season shows that are included in the membership. This year at BSLLT, the traditional format of two drama productions and two comedy productions will be performed plus two additional Pulitzer Prize winning plays have been included in the membership. “There is something for everyone. Actually, every show and every performance has something to offer each audience member. Live performance always touches and connects which is the joy of the live show,” stated Cheryl Grace, president of the Theatre.
“Arsenic and Old Lace” is a farcical comedy revolving around Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, homicidal family and his promise to marry the woman he loves. His two spinster aunts, Aunt Abby and Aunt Martha, have been engaged in their “charity” work of poisoning lonely old men with their home-made elderberry wine. His older brother believes he is Teddy Roosevelt and digs locks for the Panama Canal in the basement, and he has a murderous brother, Jonathan, who has received plastic surgery by an alcoholic accomplice, Dr. Einstein, and now he resembles Boris Karloff. Toss a few Brooklyn police in the plot and there is a laugh a minute throughout the play.
The opening weekend of “Arsenic” will celebrate the first show of the BSLLT season with refreshments of Aunt Abby’s and Aunt Martha’s home-made elderberry wine and scones which will be served in the lobby.
Another first will be presented this year in Little Theatre history. The Little Theatre and the Diamondhead Performing Arts Society are joining together to produce “Arsenic and Old Lace” as the season opener for both venues. The “Arsenic” cast and crew will travel to the Diamondhead Country Club on Sunday evening, September 23rd and do a performance at 7pm.
(goto → Arsenic and Old Lace)