Newtown Resident Thinks He’s Roosevelt In New Canaan Co.’s Season Opener

NEW CANAAN — Arsenic and Old Lace, which ran on Broadway for 1,444 performances and remains one of the most critical and popular successes in the history of American theatre, will open the Town Players of New Canaan’s 60th anniversary subscription season.

The comedy murder was written in 1939, the same year that Life with Father debuted on Broadway. Buoyed by their phenomenal success with that show, director Bretaigne Windust and producers Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse did what theatre people do — take a risk — and ran with Joseph Kesselring’s new play, even though all his previous scripts had been duds.

Busy in rehearsal are the adept comedy director Wes Hobby and his charming stage manager wife Lorraine. Mr Hobby has staged previous Town Players productions of Lend Me A Tenor, The Odd Couple, Black Comedy, Later Life and The Good Doctor.

Heading his cast of 11 men and three women are Judi Heath and Barbara Herman who portray the sisters Martha and Abby Brewster.

Taking the roles of the Brewster sisters’ three nephews are Joe Efferen who will play Mortimer, the theater critic and perhaps only sane member of the family; Dexter Anderson of Newtown, who will play Teddy and thinks he’s President Roosevelt; and Gary Theroux, who plays Jonathan, an escaped murderer heading for his grandfather’s laboratory.

(Mr Anderson performs with the Troupers Light Opera Company, was in See How They Run at Wilton Playshop, and in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas this past summer with the Orange Players. A history buff, he enjoys playing Teddy because it gives him “a chance to bring Roosevelt, a rugged individualist and noted naturalist, beyond the heroism of the Rough Riders and the Battle of San Juan Hill.”)

Town Players regulars who saw Mr. Theroux portray the goofy baron in last year’s Cinderella will be startled to see him as the sinister Jonathan.

Appearing as Jonathan’s spooky sidekick Dr Einstein will be Steve DiRocco.

Portraying Elaine, the romantic ingénue, will be Laura Budzelek who has performed in many musicals, comedies and dramas, the last being Chick in Crimes of the Heart.

In the role of Reverend Harper, Elaine’s father and the Brewster sisters’ neighbor, is Nick Carpenter, who will be making his 15th appearance with the Town Players. Appearing as Mr Gibbs, a potential gentleman boarder, will be Perren Page.

The appearance of Dan Fitzgerald as Mr. Witherspoon in the last minutes of the play makes us all wonder, “If he drinks his elderberry wine, will the ladies be off to Happy Dale?”

To be seen as the bevy of Brooklyn cops that enliven the stage are Andrew Morris as Officer Brophy, Ed Donahue as Officer O’Hara, Marc Hartog as Lt Rooney, and Bill Lyons as Officer Klein.

At the helm as co-producers are old hands Sheri Dean and Phyllis Jordan.  Scene designer is Patrick DiBlasi; heading costumes are Sheri Dean and Carole Kaye with Marge Foster doing props and Cheryl Petrone heading up make-up. 

 Arsenic and Old Lace will be performed at the Powerhouse in Waveny Park, New Canaan, on  Friday and Saturday, October 20-21 and 27-28 and November 3-4 at 8 pm, with Sunday matinees on October 22 and 29 at 2:30 pm.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors (age 62 and up). For tickets, call 203-966-7371.