Friday, Jan. 25, 2013

'Arsenic' to deliver plenty of wicked fun

Los Banos High School's Drama Club serves up dark laughs with its presentation of Joseph Kesselring's "Arsenic and Old Lace."

The show opens tonight at 7 in Los Banos High's multipurpose building, 1966 11th St., and continues next weekend.

The dark comedy is set in the home of Martha and Abby Brewster, two spinster sisters.

"My aunts are crazy murderers," said Marcos Hedrick, 16, a junior in the lead role. "They think it's all right, because they poison old lonely men.

"It's like a charity for them."

Marcos' character, Mortimer, also has a murderous brother and a brother who believes he is President Theodore Roosevelt.

The play, written in 1939 by an American, is perhaps best know for its film version directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant.

Marcos, who has acted since 10, said the entire class decided on "Arsenic and Old Lace."

Marcos' character is the only straight man in a house full of chaos, he said.

"It's going to be nonstop hilariousness throughout the play," Hedrick said.

Club adviser Mirna Sandoval said the set is designed and built entirely by students.

Showings are also scheduled Saturday at 3 and 7 p.m., Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 2 at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door and are $5 for general admission and $3 with an Associated Student Body card.

Enterprise reporter Thaddeus Miller can be reached at (209) 388-6562 or by email at tmiller@losbanos

enterprise.com.

Enterprise reporter Thaddeus Miller can be reached at (209) 388-6562 or by email at tmiller@losbanos enterprise.com.