By Andrew Chang ’26

Mercersburg Academy’s Stony Batter Players will present two performances of Arsenic and Old Lace in the Burgin Center for the Arts’ Simon Theatre Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25, at 7 p.m. The show is free and open to the public.

Directed by English and theatre faculty member Matt Maurer P ’18, ’20, ’22, ’23, ’28, Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic dark comedy that first appeared on Broadway in 1941. The play follows Mortimer Brewster, a dramatic critic who discovers that his two seemingly sweet elderly aunts have been quietly poisoning lonely old men and burying them in their cellar—all while dealing with his eccentric brother Teddy, who believes he’s Theodore Roosevelt, and another brother, Jonathan, a murderous criminal in disguise.

Technical design is led by arts faculty members Chaz Macklin and Jessica Doubell, with faculty emeritus Laurie Muffson overseeing makeup and hair. View the cast. 

Maurer, who directed last year’s production of Twelve Angry Jurors, said that choosing a comedy this fall was intentional after the previous spring’s jury room drama. “Arsenic and Old Lace has always been an old favorite of mine,” he said. “It may have been written in 1941, but it still holds up—it’s funny, clever, and a little dark. After doing something so serious last spring, I wanted to give students a completely different experience: something big, silly, and full of personality.”

He also noted that the play provides a valuable learning experience for the ensemble. “This is a full-length, three-act comedy, so it’s a great workout for the leads,” Maurer explained. “The characters are exaggerated and quirky, which gives students a chance to really explore physical comedy and timing. More than anything, I hope they have fun and take pride in pulling off a classic that audiences of all ages can enjoy.”

Graduating senior Janie Miller ’26, who plays Martha Brewster, said preparing for the role has been both fun and challenging. “My best friend Ary and I get to play sisters, which makes rehearsals a blast,” she said. “But it’s also hard because we have to act like old ladies, which is obviously pretty different from who we are.”

Miller added that audiences will be in for a treat when they see the play: “I’m so excited for everyone to notice all the details—we’ve put so much effort into creating this.”

The Burgin Center will open 90 minutes before the curtain, and theatre seating will begin 30 minutes before each show. For more information or to request accommodations, contact reservations@mercersburg.edu or visit the Facebook page Burgin Center for the Arts at Mercersburg Academy.