American playwright Joseph Kesselring’s 1939 classic, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, is enjoying a notable resurgence across the tri-state area. With several productions recently closed, currently running, or set to open, the renewed attention on this staple of American theatre is well-deserved. Kesselring’s farcical black comedy is a masterclass in the genre, having inspired decades of tours, films, and Broadway revivals.
The Brewster family—once a distinguished clan tracing their lineage back to the Mayflower—has devolved into a group of eccentric, homicidal misfits. At the center are the elderly aunts, Martha and Abby, who operate out of their Brooklyn home. In a twisted act of “charity,” they poison lonely old men by lacing homemade elderberry wine with arsenic.
The Candlelight Theatre, a dinner theatre in Wilmington, Delaware, has mounted a highly stylish and effective production under the direction of Tom Teti. Teti’s direction is expertly restrained; with an extremely capable cast, he allows the play’s natural rhythms to shine, ensuring the performance style perfectly matches the absurdity of the plot.
The cast is indeed stellar. Susan Giddings (Martha) and Janean Clare (Abby) are frighteningly believable as charity-driven Victorian “old maids” intent on showing mercy to suffering souls. Their chemistry is a marvel—nearly finishing each other’s sentences in a seamless balance between the wholesome and the sinister. Johnny Drumgoole, as their theatre-critic nephew Mortimer, is hilarious as he grapples with the family’s dark secrets and his engagement to Elaine Harper (Laura Mancano). Drumgoole’s physical comedy is a highlight of the production.
The ensemble—including Steven Cannon (Jonathan), David T. Wills (Dr. Einstein), Shaun Yates (Teddy), Jack Dibeler (Mr. Gibbs/Mr. Witherspoon), William R. McHattie (Rev. Harper), and a group of boisterous and sometimes blundering officers played by Dan Healy, David Cuff, Michael Ignudo, and Mac Versak-Kennedy — rounds out the cast perfectly.
The technical elements are equally impressive: Matthew J. Kator’s detailed scenic design, Anthony Connell’s props, Clayton Stacey’s effective wigs and makeup, and Timothy Lamont Cannon’s lovely, period-accurate costumes all contribute to the atmosphere.
This production is a wickedly good evening of theatre.
Runs thru 6/20/2026 at…
THE CANDLELIGHT THEATRE
2208 Millers Rd
Wilmington, DE 19810
302.475.2313
boxoffice@candlelightde.org
https://candlelighttheatredelaware.org/
Review submitted by:
Franklin Joseph
Author’s Bio:
Franklin Joseph is an avid theatre goer who takes delight in the active theatre and arts community of the southeast Pennsylvania region.
