'Arsenic And Old Lace' Comes To Beverly Arts Center Main Stage

CHICAGO — Beverly Arts Center brings the timeless chestnut “Arsenic And Old Lace” to its Professional Main Stage for two weekends only, Oct. 5 through Oct. 8, and Oct. 12 through Oct. 15.

Playwright Joseph Kesserling’s screwball comedy first appeared on the Broadway stage in 1941. The play was turned into a film in 1944, directed by Frank Capra and starred Cary Grant. According to the playbill:

“Drama critic Mortimer Brewster’s engagement announcement is upended when he discovers a corpse in his elderly aunts’ window seat. Mortimer rushes to tell Abby and Martha before they stumble upon the body themselves, only to learn that the two old women aren’t just aware of the dead man in their parlor, they killed him! Between his aunts’ penchant for poisoning wine, a brother who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and another brother using plastic surgery to hide from the police—not to mention Mortimer’s own hesitancy about marriage—it’ll be a miracle if Mortimer makes it to his wedding. Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic black comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.”

This play features a cast of professional actors from the Chicago area and will be performed at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 through Oct. 8, and Oct. 12 though Oct. 14. Matinee performances are at 2 p.m. Oct. 7, Oct. 8, Oct. 14 and Oct. 15.

Purchase tickets online or at the box office: adults $40, seniors 60+ $32 and children 18 and younger, $24.