Arsenic and Old Lace

Coolmine Dramatic Society put on a performance of Arsenic and Old Lace last week at the Draíocht Theatre in Blanchardstown. A movie originally made in 1944 and starring Cary Grant, Arsenic and Old Lace is set in Brooklyn, New York in 1941. It centres on the home of two sweet old ladies who live with two nephews. But it seems the sweet little ladies have gone a step too far in trying to be helpful-they have taken to killing off any lonely elderly gentlemen who call to their house looking to rent a room-for their own good!

“One of the best madcap screwball black comedies ever, this classic Broadway hit introduces the sweet, elderly Brewster sisters, their nephew Teddy, who believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt, and their drama critic nephew Mortimer (played by Cary Grant in the famous movie version), who is as surprised as anyone to learn that his maiden aunts’ well-known charity work now extends to the compassionate poisoning of sad, lonely old boarders with glasses of arsenic-spiked elderberry wine. A delightful comic concoction which combines the cosy charm and ingenious plotting of an Agatha Christie whodunnit!”

The Coolmine Dramatic Society did a great job of this, the play was witty and entertaining, the set was wonderful and the acting fabulous. Thanks to Draíocht, I had two tickets and brought my mother who is not a regular theatre-goer. She had a great night and thought it was wonderful too! Teddy was my favourite character by far, hilariously and accurately played with an excellent southern US accent.

Coolmine Dramatic Society put on several productions per year and I will be watching out for their next one after seeing this-I think my mam will be too!

Thanks again to Draíocht for the tickets