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