Julie Doud attended rehearsal this week and interviewed some actors. Sitting down with Jessica Wall and Emily Metcalf who play the infamous Brewster sisters – Abby and Martha – for a brief interview at their most recent rehearsal for Arsenic and Old Lace, it wasn’t hard to notice that they’ve developed a partnership not unlike that of the duo they play… minus the arsenic of course.
Q – My question for you guys is – what do you feel are the differences between Abby and Martha Brewster?
Emily – I’ll go first. Abby would go first. Abby is a little bit bolder. And she does the talking most of the time. [to Jessica] I’ll let you say the ages.
Jessica – Martha is the oldest sister and so she’s much more reserved so I think when she says something it’s because it’s important to say. Otherwise she kind of stands back and lets Abby do the talking but Martha does make the poison. So…
Emily – She’s the smart one.
Jessica – She’s pretty smart.
Q – Another question – and it’s kind of related – how do the sisters complement each other. Are there any specific ways in which you fill in each other’s gaps?
Emily – I think we’re of the same mind, right? We always know what each other is thinking. And because we’re standing so close to each other too we’re two halves of the same experience, you know? She’s right. She does kind of come in with the important things… except for when you get distracted!
Jessica – That’s true – she gets really distracted.
Emily – Martha loves to serve food. If she hadn’t been so excited to serve pot roast… Jonathan and Dr. Einstein would have been booted out earlier. But she just loves to serve!
Jessica – That’s true. I think Martha really loves to be loved and to give love to other people who need it.
Emily – Even evils – evil nephews.
Jessica – Even evil people that she is terrified of.
Emily – They probably give each other courage too. Because I betcha Abby would be a more timid old lady if she didn’t feel like she was protecting Martha a lot of the time.
Q – Have they lived together their entire lives?
Jessica – Yes.
Emily – Oh, I betcha! There’s no mention of a romantic interest in their past. Those are nephews, they’re not sons.
Jessica – They’ve been there always together – forever.
Emily – I think we were born old.
Jessica – Yeah.
Emily – In lace dresses.
Jessica nods her agreement.
To see their compatibility in action, come watch an Arsenic and Old Lace performance, starting September 16!
2016-08-25 15:29:02
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