Arsenic and Old Lace

One of the most famous dark comedies in the world repertoire, which has elicited laughter from audiences around the globe for decades, receives a contemporary interpretation and a shifted perspective in this new production. Through the story of seemingly gentle and well-meaning old ladies and their unusual humanitarian activities, a satirical picture of society is constructed, raising questions of morality, normality, and family values.

In this interpretation, the motive differs from the original text: instead of lonely old men, the heroines Abby and Martha rescue young people. This shift stems from the historical context of the play, set during the Second World War, but also from the contemporary social moment marked by increasingly pronounced global conflicts and the sense that the world is harsher and more unjust for younger generations than before. From that angle, the heroines’ perverse logic is built on the belief that they will free young people from the suffering of the world that awaits them.

The production is shaped as a dynamic black vaudeville, filled with rapid twists, pronounced physical play, and expressive stage means. Special emphasis is placed on the overall stage atmosphere, which is created through the coordinated interplay of set design, lighting, costumes, and music, producing a unique and cohesive theatrical expression.

Arsenik i stare cipke