Byron stages “Arsenic and Old Lace”

Byron 6th to 12th grade students will stage “Arsenic and Old Lace,” from Nov. 18-20 at the Byron Middle School auditorium.

There are 14 students in the “Arsenic and Old Lace” cast, with 24 more students working behind the scenes, said Tim Chappell, theater director.

Leads in the show are Avery Hemminger playing Abby Brewster, Greer Tigen playing Martha Brewster, Amber Butler playing Teddy Brewster, Noah Amundson playing Mortimer Brewster, Nora Ward playing Jennifer Brewster, Olivia McLean playing Elaine Harper and Chloe Callahan as Dr. Einstein.

The play follows Mortimer Brewster, who is living a happy life with a steady job at a prominent New York newspaper. He’s just become engaged, and he gets to visit his sweet spinster aunts to announce his news.

Mortimer always knew his family had a bit of a mad gene, Chappell said, with his sister believing herself to be Teddy Roosevelt. But his world is turned upside down when he realizes his dear aunts have been poisoning lonely old men for years. When Mortimer’s maniacal sister, Jennifer — who now strangely resembles Boris Karloff — returns on the night the aunts were planning to bury their latest victim, Mortimer must rally to help his aunts and protect his fiancé. All while trying to keep his own sanity.

“It’s always nice to escape into another reality where you can be entertained,” Chappell said. “Feel free to laugh out loud, clap and make some noise in support of the students who have worked so hard.”

This is the first time Byron is holding an understudy show. “The understudies have worked hard to support the show, so we are providing them with an opportunity to be on stage too,” the director said.

The play is Nov. 18 at 7 p.m., an understudy performance will be on Nov. 19 at 2 p.m., and then it’s back to the regular cast on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and seniors, $7 for adults. Kids ages 7 and under are free to get in.

No advanced tickets are available for the play.