Opening This Weekend ARSENIC AND OLD LACE t The Long Beach Playhouse

For 76 years, Kesselring's play, Arsenic and Old Lace, has enchanted audiences with its two sweet old sisters who occasionally feel the need to release a worthy roomer of his lonely suffering with a sip of their homemade Elderberry wine. Added to their misguided mayhem are a lovesick nephew and his disfigured and dangerously insane brother and the sisters' delusional charge who believes he's Teddy Roosevelt. Jeff Brown is the show's director. He's a 40 year veteran with experience in all aspects of theater. Brown has his own take on why this show continues to be an audience favorite.

"It's funny that we find it funny, in a way. "Think about it: We're laughing at matronly ladies who murder innocent men and bury them in their basement. That's not normal, right? And yet audiences have been laughing at the exploits of the Brewster sisters for more than 70 years. "Are they crazy? Are we, for liking them? I say not. We delight in the bizarre world of comic strips like The Far Side and TV shows like The Addams Family. Surely we can delight in the slightly off-kilter world where Abby and Martha and Teddy and Jonathan live." The joy of theater is stepping into a reality that's separate from our daily lives. That magical experience takes a lot of hard work by Playhouse staff, actors, technical directors and others who work on the show. Each element has to blend with all the others, from sound to lighting to costumes to the set, each piece matters.

"The set is the first thing people see when they enter the theater," said Sean Gray, Playhouse Artistic Director. "The play takes place in Brooklyn just before the Second World War. Greg Fritsche has designed the perfect set for the antics of the quirky family. His attention to detail and sense of design is a visual treat. His set doesn't scream at the audience, it beckons them into the Brewster's world." Madison Mooney, the organization's Executive Director, added "This show is just plain fun.

It fits perfectly with this time of year when we all take a breath and step gratefully into the holiday season." The sisters are played by Harriet Whitmyer and Yvonne Robertson. Both are veteran actresses who've spent years entertaining audiences in theaters throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Whitmyer was seen in last year's Studio production of Sweeny Todd as Mrs. Lovett. Robertson was the befuddled wife in last year's Mainstage production of Don't Dress for Dinner. Other actors are Bradley Roa II and Desi Molinari. Making their debuts are: AllieRose nava, David Hillinger, Rick Werbin, Alexander Ryhs, Aaron Warren, Scott, David Edward Reyes and Danny Rangel. The show opens November 4 and runs through December 2.

Friday: Adults are $20.00, Seniors $18.00, and Students $14.00Saturday and Sunday: Adults are $24.00, Seniors $21.00, and Students $14.00.

Tickets are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling 562-494-1014, option 1.
To request an interview with the director, cast members or reserve your media tickets to this performance, please send an email to: pr@lbplayhouse.org.

Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA, 90804, right across from the Long Beach Recreation golf course. The Playhouse is community-supported theatre with programs and events that cut across age, gender, ethnic, and cultural boundaries.

Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The box office is open Wednesday-Saturday from 3:00-8:00 pm and Sundays from 1:00-2:00 pm on scheduled matinees.