Castle Hill Players is kicking off its 2026 season with a classic black comedy, Arsenic and Old Lace, playing at the Pavilion Theatre, Castle Hill, from 30 January to 21 February.
Written by Joseph Kesselring and directed by Steve Rowe, the fast-paced farce is perhaps best known for its 1944 film adaptation starring Cary Grant. On stage, it brings to life the wildly eccentric Brewster family, whose charm is matched only by their unusual habits.
The story follows drama critic Mortimer Brewster, played by Brett Watkins, who has just married the girl next door, Elaine Harper, portrayed by Emma Lebeuf.
Mortimer’s excitement is quickly tempered when he returns to his family home to discover that his two spinster aunts, Abby and Martha Brewster (played by Kate Mannix and Margaret Olive) have been serving lonely elderly men a very special elderberry wine, with fatal consequences.
Mortimer’s household is further complicated by his brothers. Teddy, played by Myles Burgin, believes he is former US president Theodore Roosevelt and spends much of his time digging in the cellar.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Brewster, portrayed by Thomas Southwell, is a criminal whose appearance has been altered by the dubious skills of Dr Einstein, played by Jem Rowe.
As Mortimer navigates the chaos, the audience is treated to a whirlwind of farce, dark humour and outrageous twists.
Reflecting on the production, director Steve Rowe said: “In Arsenic and Old Lace, Castle Hill Players have chosen an absolute banger to kick off our 2026 season.”
“It’s a classic dark comedy set in 1940s Brooklyn in the home of the murderous Brewster family. What’s in the elderberry wine? What’s down in the cellar? Come along to the Pavilion Theatre and find out,” he said.
The Pavilion Theatre describes the play as a “fast-moving, farcical black comedy featuring the maniacal, and mostly homicidal, Brewster family” and promises audiences “an evening in stitches—no surgery required.”
The production features a full supporting cast, including Chris Scarpelino, Ross Alexander, Pamela de Pomeroy, Matthew Robson and Chris Clark, and is supported by set design from Chris Lundie and Steve Rowe, lighting by James Winters, and costumes by Mia Rowe and Annette Snars.
Performances run Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, with Sunday matinees at 4 pm. Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for concession. The Pavilion Theatre is located within the Castle Hill Showgrounds, with bookings available via the theatre website or box office.
For local theatre lovers, Arsenic and Old Lace promise a lively and entertaining start to the year, blending classic farce with a distinctly theatrical flair. Castle Hill Players’ production invites the community to enjoy a night of laughs, surprises and a glimpse into the quirks of the infamous Brewster family.
