Arsenic and Old Lace Themes
Charity
The theme of charity is satirized in the play. The Brewster sisters appear to be quite altruistic, providing help when needed for their neighbors as well as opening their door to strangers. They make soup for the sick, serve tea and cakes for the preacher and police officers, collect toys for needy children, and provide lodging for lonely old men. They must be the right kind of men though. The sisters have their own rules about how far their charity will extend.
They do not, for example, want to think about the devastation of the war in Europe, which to them has become inconvenient because it may cause them to use "that imitation flour again" as did the first world war. Also, the war involves foreigners, who are not acceptable to the sisters. They prefer "good" American Christians, more specifically Episcopalians. Methodists like Mr. Hoskins are welcomed into...
Poster for Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring; shows at NTID Theatre; Nov. 10-13, 1983; Cost of admission for everyone: $2.00
Left to right:
Karen Shely (Martha Brewster)
Leslie Greer (Abby Brewster)
Howie Seago (Mortimer Brewster)
John Kolbas (Jonathan Brewster)
Left to right:
John Kolbas (Jonathan Brewster)
Karen Shely (Martha Brewster)
Kristen Johnson (Elaine Harper)
Leslie Greer (Abby Brewster)
Howie Seago (Mortimer Brewster)
Left to right:
Mike O'Connor (Teddy Brewster)
Kristen Johnson (Elaine Harper)
John Kolbas (Jonathan Brewster)
Mark Morales (Dr. Einstein)
John Kolbas (Jonathan Brewster)
Howie Seago (Mortimer Brewster)
Mark Morales (Dr. Einstein)
Leslie Greer (Abby Brewster)
John Kolbas (Jonathan Brewster)
Mike O'Connor (Teddy Brewster)
Mark Morales (Dr. Einstein)
Karen Shely (Martha Brewster)
Ruben Rodriguez (Rev. Harper)
Leslie Greer (Abby Brewster)
Mike O'Connor (Teddy Brewster)
Left to right:
Mark Morales (Dr. Einstein)
Mike O'Connor (Teddy Brewster)
John Kolbas (Jonathan Brewster)
Leslie Greer (Abby Brewster)
Karen Shely (Martha Brewster)
Left to right:
John Kolbas (Jonathan Brewster)
Howie Seago (Mortimer Brewster)
Mark Morales (Dr. Einstein)
Left to right:
Karen Shely (Martha Brewster0
Leslie Greer (Abby Brewster)
Mark Morales (Dr. Einstein)
John Kolbas (Jonathan Brewster)
Howie Seago (Mortimer Brewster)
Left to right:
John Kolbas (Jonathan Brewster)
Kristen Johnson (Elaine Harper)
Mark Morales (Dr. Einstein)
Left to right:
Karen Shely (Martha Brewster)
Howie Seago (Mortimer Brewster)
Leslie Greer (Abby Brewster)
Raymond Bateh (Mr. Gibbs)
Howie Seago (Mortimer Brewster)
Howie Seago (Mortimer Brewster)
Kristen Johnson (Elaine Harper)
Left to right:
Mark Morales (Dr. Einstein)
Mike O'Connor (Teddy Brewster)
John Kolbas (Jonathan Brewster)
Leslie Greer (Abby Brewster)
Karen Shely (Martha Brewster)
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