Murder, mystery and mayhem came to Wimbledon Theatre this week with the production of Arsenic and Old Lace, one of the best black comedies ever staged.
It was originally written in 1940 as a thriller called Bodies In Our Cellar by Joseph Kesselring and was brilliantly adapted into a screwball comedy by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.
Soap stars Louise Jameson and Sherrie Hewson play two 'dear old ladies', Martha and Abby Brewster, who set about providing a restful end for unwanted old gentlemen and burying them in the cellar.
Louise is probably best known as Rosa di Marco in EastEnders, and Sherrie played Maureen Holdsworth in Coronation Street for five years. Their professionism and comedy timing are perfect for this play.
Wayne Sleep adds some hilarious touches as the often inebriated, long suffering Dr Einstein, the sidekick of the wicked, crually evil Jonathan Brewster. Wayne has had a long and varied association with theatre, as actor, director and choreographer on many productions and, of course, we all remember him for his dancing, starting with the Royal Ballet Company which he joined in 1966.
Quinn Patrick, Ian Targett, Damian Myerscough and Elaine Harper make up the other lead roles in this fast moving production, which twists and turns but finally comes together with the perfect ending for everyone.
Arsenic and Old Lace is a great mad-cap experience which throws in for good measure a plastic surgeon and a Boris Karloff lookalike - well worth seeing!
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