Payson High School’s drama department put together yet another fantastic performance, Arsenic and Old Lace, a classic and phenomenal old comedy.
Abby and Martha Brewster, played by Alena Johnson and Jessica Ward, are two sweet little old ladies, whose favorite pastime is to slip arsenic into the drinks of lonely old men. The two share a household with Mortimer and Teddy, their nephews. Teddy, played by Aaron Arnold, believes that he is truly Theodore Roosevelt which provides a lot of comedy in the performance. Mortimer (Nathan Palmer) is the only sane one in the family and is well aware of the bodies of the poor old men buried in their basement. He is very interested in a young lady named Elaine (McKensie Ewell) and tries to hide his dear aunties’ secret from her, while trying to blame the crimes on Teddy and get him safely tucked away in a hospital for the mentally ill.
“Mortimer is really the only one who acts insane during the play, even though he’s the only one who isn’t,” McKensie Ewell said.
“The entire thing is fun!” Jessica Ward said, “It sounds kind of creepy, but [the play] is written in such a way that it’s really just funny.”
“It’s so fun to be civilized when I know I’m completely insane in the play,” Alena Johnson said.