Arsenic and Old Lace (play)

"Arsenic and Old Lace" is a dark comedy play by Joseph Kesselring about a kind-hearted family with a sinister secret. The Brewster sisters run a bed-and-breakfast and secretly aid lonely elderly men by poisoning them with homemade wine, believing they’re helping them find peace. The plot unfolds as their interested nephew, Mortimer, discovers the gruesome truth amid humorous confusion and chaos. The play balances macabre themes with wit and satire, exploring how ordinary people can hide shocking secrets behind a façade of friendliness. It’s a clever mix of comedy, crime, and family dynamics.