Castle Hill Players: Arsenic and Old Lace - Review by Daniel Conway

Horror and comedy require the same skill, which is why great horror directors are usually pretty funny people. Both essentially ask you to build tension for the audience and release it at just the right moment. No play is a greater example of this than the classic Arsenic and Old Lace. Without context, the story of two old women luring men into their home in order to murder them is a tragedy; in this show, it is simply a delightful premise. The dark comedy works when all of the players commit to the camp so that the tension is applied in exactly the right places. This is certainly the case in Castle Hill Players’ production. This performance was a masterclass in how to stage a dark comedy.

At the centre of the piece is Brett Watkins as the “fish out of water” Mortimer Brewster, unravelling the threads of his family’s exploits. Watkins is wonderfully charming with his broad transatlantic accent, and every relationship feels lived in because of how naturally he interacts with his co-stars. When the cast is filled with such big characters, you need a strong anchor to guide the story, or it risks feeling like putting a hat on a hat. Watkins leans into the silliness without ever undercutting his role within the scene.

As the aunts, Abby and Martha, Kate Mannix and Margaret Olive are simply fabulous. Perfectly cast as the grandmotherly, well-loved, well-intentioned killers, Mannix and Olive make the audience fall in love with them and effortlessly understand how they could get away with murder. They share a fantastic rapport and are an absolute delight to watch on stage.

Myles Burgin plays the unfortunate Teddy Brewster, whose psychosis is often used as a punchline in a way a modern comedy might avoid. However, what allows the show to still work is how warmly the family treat Teddy; they love him unconditionally, so Burgin’s performance never feels like a joke at the expense of people with mental health challenges, but rather an added layer of absurdity within the household. It is a testament to both the direction and the acting, as well as the strength of the writing itself.

The Brewster family is rounded out by Thomas Southwell as the black sheep, the murderous and cartoonishly evil Jonathan Brewster. Southwell cuts an imposing figure on stage, menacing and conniving in equal measure. He is the perfect villain for this farce. His dynamic with the long-suffering Dr Einstein, played by Jem Rowe, further heightens the chaos. Together, they command the stage and inject a burst of anarchic energy upon their arrival.

Supporting them is a host of performers who should be incredibly proud of their work. The ensemble is tight, and each actor brings the precise energy needed to bring this eccentric world to life.

Steve Rowe’s direction is outstanding and, as always, the set is a showstopper. I always enjoy seeing a Castle Hill Players production because I know the set will be immaculate. So detailed and dynamic, it creates the perfect illusion for the story to unfold, allowing for distinct offstage spaces, enhanced by clever lighting design and forced perspective. If you have never seen a show at the Pavilion Theatre, you should go if only to witness the worlds they create. Very often, you will see Steve Rowe’s or Chris Lundie’s names credited as the architects of that magic.

Arsenic and Old Lace is a wonderful production and the perfect way to begin my theatre viewing for 2026.