BRATTLEBORO- Bob DuCharme, director for the Southern Vermont Players in Wilmington, announces audition dates for the Joseph Kesselring play, “Arsenic and Old Lace.” They will be held at 7 pm on Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25, in the music room of St. Michael’s School, on Walnut Street, across from the Brattleboro Main Library and next to Subway on the corner. Another session of auditions will be held June 26, at 7 pm, in Wilmington at the Twin Valley High School.

Rehearsals are scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. There will be no weekend rehearsals.

The story tells of two charming older ladies, Abby and Martha Brewster, who populate their cellar with the bodies of lonely men. The two have rubbed out these tenants with their special home-made Elderberry wine. Their brother, Teddy Brewster, thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt and is always digging in the cellar which he believes is the Panama Canal. He thinks he is burying “yellow fever victims.”

There are 14 roles to be filled: The Rev. Dr. Harper; his young daughter, Elaine Harper; and Mortimer Brewster, a young New York drama critic. There is also Jonathan Brewster, who bears a resemblance to Boris Karloff, and his sinister assistant, Dr. Einstein. There are parts that are perfect for someone who has always wanted to act but has no experience. These include several policemen: Officer O’Hara, Officer Brophy, Officer Klein, and Lieutenant Rooney. Others include Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Witherspoon of Happy Dale Sanitorium.

Members of the community are encouraged to attend the auditions to read for a part or sign up for the various crews that are needed for this production.

Performances will be held at Memorial Hall Center for the Arts, 14 West Main Street, Wilmington, Thursday through Saturday, August 20 through 22, and Thursday through Saturday, August 27 through 29.