By Amy Moore

The News staff writer

Insane relatives, dozens of murders and a wedding proposal make for an eerie dark comedy now showing at Port Arthur Little Theatre.

Arsenic and Old Lace, directed by Damon Gengo, opened last weekend one month after the original opening date — but just in time for the Halloween season.

“It’s a pretty big show,” the director said, “and it’s a lot of fun. There’s no violence on stage but you will see dead bodies.”

While the play does focus on death, Gengo said it does so in a humorous nature and the whole family can enjoy this Halloween treat.

“It’s dark without being adult,” he said.

The treat for him, though, is seeing his cast work together so well in bringing the characters to life.

“It’s a group effort and they all make each other better,” he said.

Starring Dixie Tucker and Lou Burgin as Abby and Martha Brewster, the murderous old aunts of Isaiah Good’s character, Mortimer Brewster, Gengo said directing the show is the most fun he’s had in awhile.

“If you miss the show, you’re missing a great production,” he said. “I don’t mean to brag, but it’s awesome. There’s a lot of funny stuff.”

Postponed because of Hurricane Gustav and then Ike, the play, written by Joseph Kesselring in 1939, is a very popular script and was a major motion picture starring Cary Grant in 1944, Gengo said.

“It’s a hilarious, mysterious comedy that’s perfect for Halloween,” assistant director Jean Heubach said.

The show opened last weekend to what Gengo called “a good crowd.” He’s excited to have another performance Halloween night to ring in the spirit of the holiday.

Dates of the shows are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. The show continues at the same times Friday through Sunday the next weekend, Nov. 7-9. The Port Arthur Little Theater is located at 4701 Jimmy Johnson Blvd. near the corner of Twin City Hwy.