It's the Hellmers' family tradition -- to watch the film "Arsenic and Old Lace" together. That's how it became such a favorite of Eric Hellmers, who co-stars in Carlsbad Community Theatre's production of "Arsenic," the first non-musical the group has produced since 1986.
"My family is an oddball family," admits Hellmers, a Vista resident. "That's what the film is about: A wacky, out-there family. Only this family is wackier even than mine."
Let's hope so, because the aunts in the classic Joseph Kesselring comedy are killing old men. The story revolves around Mortimer, a theater critic who hates theater, who wants to introduce his new bride to his family on Halloween. The only problem is that when they visit his spinster aunts, they discover that the pair are taking pity on old gentlemen who have been left alone in the world by hastening their ends.
Plus, there's the aunts' brother, who believes that he's Teddy Roosevelt, and Mortimer's mobster brother, Jonathan, whose botched plastic surgery makes him look like Boris Karloff (a joke reference to the original stage play, when Karloff actually played the role). In farcical fashion, there are mistaken identities, misunderstandings and lots of doors slamming.
The play is best known for its 1944 film version, directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant, which stays very close to the original play. Mortimer tries to do the right things and report the aunts to the police and have Teddy committed to an asylum, while hiding the truth from his new bride. But by the end, he's seriously questioning his own sanity.
"I realized once I started working on this play that much of my humor about death and life is from the film," said Hellmers, who is also on the theater's board. "It's about trying to find humor in life, even through bad things happen, such as death."
Originally, Hellmers signed up just to play the part of Mortimer. But several directors had to back out, so he agreed to co-direct. Then his co-director's mother died, so he's directing it alone -- and constructing the set and helping with costumes. His friend Ric Henry took over the producing chores.
"We thought it would be fun to have a new slot in our season," Henry said of choosing to do a non-musical. "So every year now we'll do a musical and a straight play. What's great about this show its that it's something classic that everyone knows."
Because one of the themes of the play is family, and the show's second weekend is Mother's Day, the theater company decided to offer something special. On May 10, all mothers are admitted free when accompanied by a paid ticket-holder.
"We want people to come away from this show feeling good and maybe a little closer to their family," said Hellmers. "That's why we have a Mother's Day special -- we hope this play will be a bonding experience."
"Arsenic and Old Lace"
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and May 9; 2 p.m. Sunday and May 10
Where: Sunshine Brooks Theatre, 217 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside
Tickets: $15 (all moms get in free on May 10 with ticket-holder)
Info: (760) 931-8709
