Schools
Production of Arsenic and Old Lace Premiers Thursday
Gilroy High School's production of Arsenic and Old Lace premiers Thursday night.
If you're looking for a scare this Halloween, check out the play Arsenic and Old Lace premiering Thursday evening at the Gilroy High School theater.
The play is a farcical black comedy revolving around Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, homicidal family and the local police, while he debates marrying the woman he loves.
Arsenic and Old Lace was the most successful play written by Joseph Kesserling in 1939, and made its stage debut in January 1941. The production was later adapted into a movie directed by Frank Capra and was released in 1944, starring Cary Grant, Josephine Hull and Jean Adair.
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"The play is an American classic, a lot of people are familiar with it," said Ethan Stocks, theater director and English teacher at Gilroy High.
More than 20 Gilroy High students have spent seven weeks rehearsing for opening night, which begins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Find out what's happening in Gilroyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Thursday night will also mark the play's second appearance at Gilroy High, after it premiered at the school in 1966 when Stocks was a Gilroy High student. He said the school’s rendition of the morbid comedy is appropriate since Halloween is approaching.
Stocks said he chose the classic play for the school's fall production because he thought the students would be able to easily adapt to the play's eccentric characters.
“The experience has been really positive. There's been lot of new energy and excitement from the students," he said, adding that the experience working with his cast has been very rewarding.
Proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to funding the school’s spring play, the 1967 musical, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, with songs and lyrics written by Clark Gesnar.
Stocks also mentioned that ticket sales for opening night have been up and he is optimistic that the turnout for the fall series will be high.
“We’re hoping that the turnout will be really strong within the high school [and] we also hope that the Gilroy community will sneak in," he said. "We want people to know that Gilroy High School theater is alive and kickin’—that we’re here.”
What: Arsenic and Old Lace
When: Oct. 28-29 and Nov. 3-4 at 7:30 p.m. And one matinee showing on Oct. 30 at 2 p.m.
Where: Gilroy High School theater, 750 West 10th Street in
Gilroy.
Price: Tickets are $10
