- Performances: 1,444.
- Open / Close: January 10, 1941 – June 17, 1944
- Theater: The Fulton Theatre.
- Tony Awards: Predates both the Tonys and the lesser known Donaldson Awards.
- Fun Fact: The title came from reworking the title of a popular collection of satirical pieces by humorist Frank Sullivan called “Broccoli and Old Lace” that came out in 1931.
Podcast
He is famous for playing the Frankenstein monster and voicing the Grinch but people often forget that Boris Karloff also made a big impact on the stage starting with “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Not only did he steal the show as the murderous Jonathan Brewster, he was also a major investor in the Broadway production, meaning he made money on the movie version even though he wasn’t able to appear in it.
The legacy of Karloff is only one fascinating item of “Arsenic and Old Lace” lore that I explore with my good friend – and a fan of all things related to classic movie monsters – Dr. Jesse Rabinowitz.
In the more than 80 years since “Arsenic” debuted on Broadway, it has remained a favorite play for regional, community and educational theater to produce. It’s a favorite because of its dark humor, humor that originally didn’t hit for me at all based on the movie adaptation starring Cary Grant. It wasn’t until I watched recordings of a staged version that I understood what was funny about the show.
The social / historical commentary of the play probably goes right over the head of most folks (it did for me!) which is another reason to have conversations with erudite people like Jesse.