By Ashley Browning
Past shows performed by the Jennings County Players have included “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “And then there was One” and “Miracle on 34th Street.”
This month, the Jennings County Players have been presenting Joseph Kesselring’s 1939 dark comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace,” which follows the murderous exploits of the Brewster family.
The final performance of the play, directed by Connie Rayburn and Ed Kellar, is 2 p.m. today at the Park Theatre Civic Centre, 25 N. Madison Ave. in North Vernon. The acting group previously performed the play Friday and Saturday.
In the play, two Brewster family aunts, played by Lois Kellar and Diana Earl, pride themselves on their “charitable” killing of lonely old men while their nephew Jonathan, played by Frank Donnelly, kills to use the cadavers as camouflage from the authorities. These less-than-legal practices cause their other nephew, Mortimer, to struggle to keep them from capture while not scaring away his new bride.
“Arsenic and Old Lace” is the first production of three for the Jennings County Players’ 2017-18 season. “The Christmas Schooner” is scheduled for December and “Our Town” is planned for February.
Many of the actors in “Arsenic and Old Lace” have participated in multiple productions with the Jennings County Players. One actress, Lois Kellar, has even been part of the group since 1985. Other actors, such as Diana Earl, have been in more than 40 Players shows.
Tickets for the final performance of “Arsenic and Old Lace” are $10 at the door and $8 in advance, and $3 for students.
More information, call the Park Theatre Civic Centre at 812-346-0330. More news about upcoming Jennings County Players performances and auditions can be found on the Jennings County Players Facebook page. Questions can be directed to their Facebook page through the messaging feature.
Ashley Browning is a senior at Jennings County High School.
