Spearfish High School back by popular demand – on our stage.
The Matthews is very pleased and excited to be presenting the encore performance of Spearfish High School’s (SHS) “Arsenic and Old Lace.” The students originally performed the play on November 10-11, 2014. The kids and the play are moving over to The Matthews for 3 nights. All proceeds will benefit the SHS Drama Department.
7:30 pm
$ 5 for Youth
Buy tickets online now (above) or come in or call the gallery during business hours.
Winter Gallery hours:
Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone: 605.642.7973 ext. 0 for tickets.
A meeting of the minds
The Matthews’ Executive Director, Sian Young, SHS director, Cynthia Scherer, and Asst. Director & Technical Director, Brenna Meyer, got together and decided that the kids needed to showcase their talents again. The encore performance was born.
“I was able to attend the play at the high school. The kids put on a fantastic show. Many of them have been part of The Matthews’ children’s theatre group, Peanut Butter & Jelly Players, for years. We’re thrilled to help these young actors show their stuff on our stage,” comments Sian Young.
The feeling is mutual. “What a wonderful experience to have a crossover between community and high school theatre. The kids are excited and flattered to be invited to act on The Matthews’ stage,” remarks Brenna Meyer.
Synopsis / Plot
The play is a farcical black comedy revolving around the Brewster family, descended from the “Mayflower,” but now composed of insane homicidal maniacs. The hero Mortimer Brewster is a drama critic who must deal with both his crazy, homicidal family and local police in Brooklyn, NY. He debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves. His family includes two spinster aunts who have taken to murdering lonely old men by poisoning them with a glass of home-made elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychnine, and “just a pinch” of cyanide. There is a brother who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt and digs locks for the Panama Canal in the cellar of the Brewster home (which then serve as graves for the aunts’ victims); and a murderous brother who has received plastic surgery performed by an alcoholic accomplice, Dr. Einstein (a character based on real-life gangland surgeon Joseph Moran). The surgery is to conceal his identity and he now looks like horror-film actor, Boris Karloff, (a self-referential joke, as the part was originally played on Broadway by Karloff).
Cast / Crew
Assistant Director & Technical Director
Brenna Meyer
Director
Cynthia Scherer
Cast
Abby Brewster ………………………………Olivia Smith*
Rev. Dr. Harper…………………….……Chandler Crane
Teddy Brewster…..……………….……Rachel Anderson
Officer Brophy…..……………….….……Hailey Hanzlik*
Officer Klein…..……………….…..…..Christina Walton*
Martha Brewster…..………………….…Victoria Walton*
Elaine Harper…..……………….………Nicole Glenney*
Mortimer Brewster…..……………….Zachary Zwaschka
Mrs. Gibbs…..……………….……………..Sadie Benning
Joan Brewster…..……………….…….….Hannah Lessly*
Dr. Einstein …..……………………………Jacob Lechner*
Officer O’Hara…..……………….…………..Griffin Smith
Lieutenant Rooney…..……………….………Logan Smith
Mrs. Witherspoon …..……………….…………Jade Jolley
* indicates member of International Thespian Society
Crew
Sam Gray
Libby Crowley
Shayla Harsh
Calvin Tohm
Bella Peterson
Brett Hersch
Cody Fender
Cayce Clark
Allison Jilek
Daphne LaRose
Jaci Mollman
Amy Ruby
Will Everidge
Tanner Hanson
Alyssa Jensen
