Carneycomedyhastwocrazy auntsandacorpseinthehouse

Port Coquitlam students delve into 'macabre' spin

JANIS CLEUGH jcleugh@tricitynews.com

James Van Der Mark is ending his Grade 12 year with another starring role

Next month, the graduating student at Port Coquitlam’s Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary School is leading the cast of Arsenic and Old Lace, of which he portrays the newspaper drama critic Mortimer Brewster

In 2020, Van Der Mark played the titular character in James and the Giant Peach and, last year, was the dentist in Carney’s Little Shop of Horrors

But, for Arsenic and Old Lace, Van Der Mark won’t be highlighting his musical talents

Rather, his character will be unravelling the mess left by his two aunts in the dark comedy

Mortimer “is a really fun part to play,” Van Der Mark said, “because he doesn’t have control of anything”

Penned 84 years ago, the play tells the tale of the Brewster family and Mortimer’s two spinster aunts, who have a penchant for killing lonely old men

Elderberry wine, laced with arsenic, strychnine and cyanide, is their weapon of choice

Still, Mortimer has two eccentric brothers who also land him in hot water: Teddy, who thinks he’s the U S president Teddy

Roosevelt, and Jonathan, who also has a thirst for blood

Their bizarre actions put Mortimer’s upcoming nuptials to the girl next door, Elaine Harper, in peril

Director and producer Charles Harris, Carney’s fine arts department head who portrayed Mortimer in a Theatre in the Country production, said he wanted to bring Arsenic and Old Lace to the Catholic high school because “I love that sort of exaggerated humour

“It’s a good, fun, silly macabre comedy, and I always appreciate the frenetic energy of Mortimer against the calm and relaxed energy of the two aunts”

“It’s a ridiculous plot,” quipped Sheridan Nix, a Grade 11 student who takes on Elaine

“But it keeps you on the edge of your seat”

Added Abigail Carino, who plays the aunt Martha Brewster, “There’s a lot of dry humour, but everyone in the show brings something to the table with their part”

An extra-curricular program that started last October, the winter play involves 15 actors, two student stage managers and 25 crew

The set was made by Harris, Justin Vandebeek and Adam Spinder

Tickets for Arsenic and Old Lace are $17 via the school's website acrss.org or Brown Paper Tickets (bpt.me/5714213). It runs March 2 to 4 at the Terry Fox Theatre (1260 Riverwood Gate, Port Coquitlam, next to Terry Fox Secondary School). The curtain rises at 7 p.m. in the theatre.