Mask & Mirror Community Theatre will open its 16th Main Stage season with Joseph Kesselring’s screwball comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Directed by Kathleen Bean Jones and assisted by Shianna Deck-Ugelstad, the madcap farce will take place on the Main Stage at Rise Church, 10445 Canterbury Lane, Tigard, November 20 – December 6, 2026. (Due to a venue conflict, these run dates differ from those outlined in an earlier article showcasing Mask & Mirror’s season offerings.)
Performance times for the three weekends are 7:30 pm Fridays and Saturdays and 2:00 pm Sundays. The opening-night celebration will include live music, an Elderberry Wine Mocktail, and Black & Red Chocolate Velvet Cake. The November 28 performance will be followed by a free post-show Talk Back Q&A session with the cast and crew.
First performed on Broadway in 1941, the classic black comedy features a quirky and homicidal cast of characters, suggesting the only thing more deadly than poison is family. It closed after 1,444 performances and ran a similar 1,337 performances in London’s West End. The plot revolves around the chaos that ensues when a cynical drama critic discovers that his sweet elderly aunts are actually serial killers. He tries to hide their crimes, deal with his homicidal brother, and still maintain his sanity.
The characters inhabiting this dark comedy are the darling poisoner of elderly men Abby Brewster (Robin Michaels) and sweet Victorian charmer Martha Brewster (Debbie Blake) who assists her sister in the charitable poisonings; their sensible nephew Mortimer Brewster (Bennett Buchholtz); Mortimer’s wise fiancée Elaine Harper (Hazel Milleson), a minister’s daughter who lives next-door; Mortimer’s eccentric brother Teddy (Noah Keener) who thinks he’s President Teddy Roosevelt and is digging the Panama Canal in the cellar; and Mortimer’s sinister, violent brother Jonathan (Chrispy Jones), a psychopath who’s had disguising plastic surgery three times and now looks like Boris Karloff. Rounding out the cast of diverse characters is Jonathan’s alcoholic plastic surgeon Dr. Einstein (Jeff Ekdahl); Elaine’s traditional minister father Reverend Dr. Harper (David Jones); Officer Brophy (Lydia Freesen) and Officer Klein (Kevin Gowrylow) who both often visit the aunts; aspiring playwright Officer O’Hara (Saige Perry) who wants Mortimer to critique his script; tough and dominating police supervisor Lieutenant Rooney (Cora Walker); would-be renter and potential victim Mr. Gibbs (Kevin Gowrylow); and the superintendent of the Happy Dale Sanitarium Dr. Witherspoon (Gwen Zellmer).
No play can be produced without behind-the-scenes support. Jones’ crew includes Shianna Deck-Ugelstad as Assistant Director, who will also coordinate Stunts; Sophie Duntley as Production Manager and Intimacy Coordinator; David Jones as Stage Manager; Rowan Endriss, Kathleen Bean Jones, and Shianna Deck-Ugelstad will share Costumer duties; Ania Brown as Hair, Makeup and Facial Prosthetics; Cindy Zimmerman and Kathleen Bean Jones as Set Dressers; Sophie Duntley as Box Office; Kathleen Bean Jones as Dramaturg; and John Knowles, John Bartholomew, Peter Bolger and others as Set Construction. Kathryn Stevens will be Prop Mistress, assisted by Shianna Deck-Ugelstad. At the time of printing, it was unknown who would serve as Light/Sound Designer/Operator. Kat Carrico designed the poster, and John and Ian Knowles will compile the program.
Jones enthusiastically states, “I am thrilled to be directing “Arsenic and Old Lace” for Mask & Mirror, having previously directed Pride and Prejudice for them in 2025. In total, I have directed approximately 25 musicals and plays in the past 30 years, and I’m also an actress and theater educator. I firmly believe each person has incredible things to contribute to a production and to the creative process, and this cast is no exception. I look forward to having you – the audience – as additional collaborators to be thoroughly immersed in this joint effort. Enjoy!”
Mask & Mirror Community Theatre is a 501(c) nonprofit performing company, so your support is greatly appreciated. Additional information and tickets can be obtained by visiting www.maskandmirror.com.
