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Dark comedy coming to PHS this weekend

STAFF WRITER

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A fun dark comedy is making its way to Portales High School this weekend, according to students.

“Arsenic and Old Lace,” written by Joseph Kesselring, will premier at 7 p.m. Thursday at the PHS Performing Arts Center with $5 admission.

PHS Drama Teacher Heather Hagler said she and her crew have worked on the play since September and are finishing up the set and costumes.

“It’s been a really good experience,” said Hagler. “It’s been fun, definitely tiring. I don’t think I could have asked for a better experience for my first show.”

Hagler described it as a “murder comedy” about two elderly women.

Staff photo: Kurt Munz-Raper

From left, Portales High School students Ethan Saltz, Joseph Erwin and PHS Drama Teacher Heather Hagler work outside for the set of “Arsenic and Old Lace.” The play premiers at 7 p.m. Thursday at the PHS Performing Arts Center and runs through Sunday.

“They put out an ad to rent out a room,” Hagler said. “They put it upon themselves to help lonely old men in the world by poisoning them with wine.”

Sophomore Ayla Stokes portrays one of the main characters, Martha Brewster, in her third play at the high school.

Stokes described her character as someone who feels she is doing the right thing by poisoning lonely men.

“She also has a very strange bond with her sister,” said Stokes. “In front of people, they act friendly; (but) they’re really pushy.”

Stokes said there were a lot of challenges putting the play together, but the cast and crew did a great job overcoming those challenges.

“There were mainly people who weren’t getting their lines in order, couldn’t speak loud enough and a lot of situations where actors couldn’t stand in the right places,” said Stokes. “Really, we’ve been getting over problems cleverly. It’s been a really great progress.”

Junior Shelby Goodman plays the character Elaine Harper, saying it was a challenging part to play.

“She kind of has to portray both your ‘40s household wife’ and somebody who doesn’t want to be pushed around, and she’s very flirtatious,” said Goodman.

Goodman said she enjoyed the experience working on the play.

“We have a really great cast. People are really good about getting things done fast,” said Goodman. “I think the characters were cast really well. There’s something in each character that they find they like and bring out, and it makes for great stage chemistry.”

Goodman particularly praised the work of Sophomore Joseph Erwin, who plays the character of Mortimer Brewster.

“He’s charismatic, brilliant and always creating great stage chemistry, which is very important when it comes down to a successful performance,” said Goodman. “As for myself? I’m honored, and this wouldn’t have been as much fun without him here.”

Erwin said playing the part of Mortimer had its own set of challenges as it was his first high school play.

“It was really scary, because I’ve never had to memorize lines. I spent about two hours highlighting my lines.” said Erwin. “It was a lot of responsibility, but I was really happy about that. It’s just more fun (to do theater) in high school. I think a lot of people in theater are pretty like-minded.”