LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
The last play she directed for Echo Players was a sold-out success, and her current endeavour is shaping up to rival that production.
“It’s a very cleverly constructed masterpiece,” said Eileen Pope, describing Arsenic and Old Lace, which she’s directing at the Village Theatre, opening May 23.
With a fantastic cast and a very funny script, it may well show the same success as The Mousetrap, which she directed in 2010.
Pope hails from the South of England, where she joined a theatre group on impulse shortly after her first son was born.
When she and her husband came to the area in the mid ‘70s they watched an Echo Players production at the Errington Hall and the rest is history.
“We went and watched it and I thought it was wonderful so we rushed backstage afterwards and I said I wanted to join,” she said. “And then I got really involved in the theatre group here.”
The first play Pope directed was on the Village Theatre stage, shortly after it was constructed back in the ’70s, and she’s been directing for Echo Players ever since.
Arsenic and Old Lace is a story about two little old ladies living in Brooklyn, who develop a hobby of poisoning old men.
It’s very funny, Pope explained, with a variety of hilarious characters who are all mad.
Pope’s husband has a small role in the play as well as her son.
The play was written by Joseph Kesselring in 1939, and was his biggest success. It was made into a film, released in 1944, starring Cary Grant.
Those looking for a good laugh won’t want to miss the show, Pope said.
“The people that come and see this are folks who want to go out and have a relaxing evening and leave all their worries at home and have a good laugh,” she said.
The play runs May 23 to June 9 in Qualicum Beach. Tickets for the show are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students.
Stop by the box office during office hours at 110 West 2nd Ave, call 250-752-3522 or email info@echoplayers.ca.
Visit www.echoplayers.ca for more information.