Young actors produce a classic play

MELBOURNE - Poor Mortimer Brewster. There's murder and mayhem all around him, and that's just his family.

Mortimer, hero of the charmingly dark "Arsenic and Old Lace," has been trying to sort out his relatives' misdeeds since the 1940s, but his old play just keeps on ticking for new audiences.

Florida Tech's College Players have revived Brewster and his nutty aunts for one more go-round, beginning Friday at the university's Gleason Performing Arts Center.

The student-run College Players attracts a lot of community interest for its productions.

"About half of our patrons are from the community," said spokesman Steven Tucker.

It's not the first time the College Players have ingested "Arsenic."

"We've done "Arsenic" in the past and it's always been very popular," said Tucker. "It's been around for a good while, but it's still a good show."

Newlywed Mortimer visits his two adorable elderly aunts, only to find they've been busy and very naughty. The ladies believe they're performing a community service by poisoning old pensioners in order to put them out of their lonely misery.

A shot of elderberry wine, spiked with arsenic, strychnine and a pinch of cyanide does the trick and the old fellows face eternity in the aunts' basement. As Mortimer tries to cope with the news, his nasty brother Jonathan, who happens to be a professional murderer, arrives and smells opportunity in the situation.

Kevin Lundy plays Mortimer, joining the ranks of Cary Grant, who played the understandably nervous nephew in Frank Capra's 1944 film. Angelica Rodriguez and Siobhan Ireland are the two misguided dears in the Brevard production.

"They take it really lightheartedly and both can act very dotty," said producer Honey Whitney. "Watching them is hilarious."

All members of the cast are young, which can be tricky when playing doddering old murderers.

"The play is a joy, but it can be challenging to college students," said Whitney.

"It's a big hurdle, but our actors are also very good, which makes it easier," said Tucker.

"Arsenic" represents a change of pace for the Players.

"We usually do very traditional comedy, and this is a very dark comedy," said director Christina Moody. "It's a more complex piece, but our ladies have great chemistry that feeds off each other."

March 8, 2007: Macbeth Did It to Play at Florida Tech

MELBOURNE, FLA. - When people hear "Macbeth," Shakespeare usually comes to mind. The next Florida Tech College Players production, however, is nowhere near 17th-century.

Performances will be on March 30 and 31, and April 5, 6 and 7 at 8 p.m. in the Gleason Performing Arts Center, on campus.

The comedy, by John Patrick, exposes the antics of a misguided community theatre trying desperately to put on the Shakespearean classic, Macbeth. The play will take the audience through nepotistic casting, chaotic rehearsals and the fateful opening night. The production is fraught with its hilarious complications and misunderstandings.

On the production staff are: director, Jerome Salgado; assistant director, Jessica Moore; producer, T.J. Kupchick; and technical director, John Ferreira.

Tickets, available at the door, cost $8 for general admission; $5 for ages 55 and older, and those with a military or student IDs; and $3 for Florida Tech students, faculty, and staff with IDs. For more information, contact Stephanie Crow or College Players at (321) 674-8767, or visit http://cp.fit.edu.

October 3, 2006: Florida Tech College Players Presents "Death Takes a Holiday"

MELBOURNE, FLA. - Florida Tech College Players presents its fall play, Death takes a Holiday. Show dates for this drama are Nov. 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 at 8 p.m.; and Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. in the university's Gleason Performing Arts Center. Admission is: $8 adults; $5 over age 55; $3 children and students with I.D.

The film, Meet Joe Black, is loosely based on this story of Death taking a holiday from his usual business to see what it is like to be a mortal. Posing as a prince, he spends three days with a duke and his guests at his estate. The story evolves from the relationships he forms.

Behind the scenes are producer David Herndon; director Kris Orofino; assistant director Steven Tucker; and technical director Brock Tucker. The main leads are: Sebastian Lombardo, Shadow; Antonina Kulchitskaya, Grazia; Errol Hinkamp, Duke Lombardo; and Brendan Hagan as Corrado.

The play will be performed by special arrangement with the Samuel French Inc. production company and the Student Activities Funding Committee. For more information, contact College Players at (321) 674-8767 or visit the College Players website at http://cp.fit.edu/.

March 3, 2006: Florida Tech College Players Presents Neil Simon's "Rumors"

MELBOURNE, FLA. - Florida Tech College Players presents its spring play, Neil Simon's Rumors. Show dates for this farce about gossip running rampant are March 31, April 1, 6, 7, and 8 at 8 p.m. in the university's Gleason Performing Arts Center. Admission is: $8 adults; $5 over age 55; $2 children and students with I.D.

Key cast members are Christopher Knox (Ken), Erin Quigley (Chris), Patrick Martin (Lenny); and Olivia Piercy (Claire). Other cast members are Kyle Rappe, Malinda Myers, Jerome Salgado, Michelle Denito, Ian Hodges and Maggie Hansotte.

Behind the scenes are: director-Christina Moody, assistant director- Christopher Loveless, and producer-Steven Tucker, the College Players president. Technical director is Brock Tucker.

The play will be performed by special arrangement with Samuel French. The production is sponsored by Meredith's Tuxedos on U.S. 192 in Melbourne/W. Melbourne. For more information, contact College Players at (321) 674-8767 or visit the College Players website http://cp.fit.edu/.