By Joshua Robison / The Jambar
University Theatre at Youngstown State University officially kicked off its theatrical season with a showing of “Arsenic and Old Lace,” directed by YSU professor Todd Dicken. The play took place in Ford Theater of Bliss Hall on Oct. 3-5, and again Oct. 10-12.
“Arsenic and Old Lace” is a comedy written by Joseph Kesselring in 1939 that focuses on a juxtaposition of the Brewster family. They seem kind and welcoming on the outside, but hold a very deep and sinister secret.
Not that their secrets matter, when Mortimer Brewster, played by sophomore Noah Dudai, finds out this secret Abby Brewster, played by junior Natalie Ciccone and Martha Brewster, played by senior Adrianna Rosario are quite vocal about their actions. This then descends into a whole series of events centered around insanity, undesirable relatives and hiding from the law.
First and foremost, the theatre’s production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” was beyond impressive. The set design was an excellent example as to what a stage play is supposed to look like as it truly immerses the audience into the world of the play.
Not only was the set of “Arsenic and Old Lace” impressive, but the performance of every cast member was just as good as the last. In this well-seasoned cast, chemistry was certainly present in the show.
Ciccone and Rosario’s chemistry was unmatched and performed with a sense of homeliness and comfort. Sure, their characters may not have been noble in the plot, but they could make audiences think of their own loved ones. Not only that, their wits were unmatched and carried the play with nostalgic grace.
Most notably, characters of the Brewster brothers Mortimer, Teddy and Jonathan took the show by storm when they entered the stage.
Mortimer was the voice of reason out of all of the characters. While everyone around him is either mentally loose or nonchalant to the situation, his head stays on a swivel. Dudai owned his role in this production.
Teddy, played by junior Anthony Mudryk, was just simply a fun character. Although his mental illness has caused him to believe he is the 26th president of the U.S., Theodore Roosevelt, he was more than a pleasure to watch as he ran up the stairs shouting, “Charge!”
Considerably, sophomore Lincoln Hall truly captured what it means in his portrayal of Jonathan. In his performance, Hall unmistakenly became Jonathan on stage for audiences to see. His voice and his mannerisms were truly villainous at its core, and it was an exemplary display of acting.
“Arsenic and Old Lace” was an entertaining play and showcased the University Theatre’s capabilities. All involved with the production of this play deserve the highest level of praise attainable for college-level theatre.
Now all that’s left is to prepare for the theatre department’s next show, “Be More Chill,” opening Nov. 14, which is surely something to look forward to.