58 | SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022
F
or a young woman, Andrea Krass
McDonald’s getting quite adept
at playing little old ladies. But, of
course, that’s why they call it acting. Her
first time back on stage since 1997 was
last year when she was a tap-dancing old
lady in the ensemble of The Producers
at Birmingham Village Players. Now,
Krass McDonald is about to star in
Birmingham Village Player’s 100th season
opener, Arsenic and Old Lace, running
Sept. 9-25, as spinster Abby Brewster.
Krass McDonald is half of a sweet sister
duo who take in lonely old men as board-
ers and then poisons them with elder-
berry wine. Their nephew, who thinks
he’s actually Teddy Roosevelt, buries the
bodies in the cellar, which he believes is
the Panama Canal.
And, yes, this is a farce of epic propor-
tions.
“My character has such a good heart
and very good intentions. She really feels
that she’s doing a mitzvah by killing off
these men. Even though Abby is a nice,
church-going feisty lady, I guess she
considers it her own form of tzedakah,
”
laughs Krass McDonald.
Ironically, Krass McDonald’s first
full-length production as a junior at
Southfield-Lathrup High School was
Arsenic and Old Lace. That was 33 years
ago. Back then, she played the ingenue,
Elaine, who is engaged to Abby and
Martha Brewster’s nephew, Mortimer.
“The last time I was in a show it was
1997. But the minute I got back on stage
at Birmingham Village Players, I had
Birmingham Village Players
ARTS&LIFE
THEATER
It’s 100th season opens with Arsenic and Old Lace.
JULIE SMITH YOLLES CONTRIBUTING WRITER
L’chaim: A Toast to
Martha (Joyce McGookey,
left) and Abby (Andrea Krass
McDonald, center) are afraid
their diabolical plans have been
discovered by Johnathan (Steve
Larson, center) and Dr Einstein
(Kevin Branshaw, right).
JOSEPH LEASE
Andrea
Krass
McDonald