Courtesy Photo by Bronwyn Woolman Above, Matt Southwell as Jonathan Brewster, and Bill Powell as Dr. Einstein, plot their next move in “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

ALPENA ­– Traveling bachelors beware! If you need a room for the night, and it happens to be the 1940s in Brooklyn, these nice ladies want to “help” you. Pro tip: Don’t drink the elderberry wine.

“Arsenic and Old Lace” is a spooky, spunky Halloween treat, with some tricks mixed in.

Alpena Civic Theatre delivers laughs and surprises in this dark comedy, with a seasoned cast of 14.

Written by Joseph Kesselring, the play starts with an exciting announcement — Mortimer Brewster is getting married! The cynical reporter never thought he would get married, until he met the right girl, the pastor’s daughter. In looking for his notebook, Mortimer stumbles upon a dead body in the window seat of his aunts’ home. They not only know about it, but they have been poisoning lonely men for some time now. The police are in their pocket, believing that they are just sweet, hospitable ladies who could do no harm. To make matters worse for Mortimer, his criminal brother shows up with his “doctor” friend who has a knack for changing faces. His other brother, Teddy, is of no help, as he believes he is President Theodore Roosevelt, and that the bodies he’s been burying in the cellar are all just victims of yellow fever.

The cast includes Carol Rundell as Abby, Julie Meyers as Martha, Zachariah Clement as Mortimer, Matt Southwell as Jonathan, Nick Hartman as Teddy, Christine Elowski as Elaine, Lucas Moquin as Lt. Ronney, Robby Robertson as Dr. Witherspoon, Bill Powell as Dr. Einstein, David Usher as the Rev. Dr. Harper, Bruce Michaud as Mr. Gibbs, Amanda Wentz as Officer O’Hara, Randy Bouchard as Officer Brophy, Doug Niergarth as Officer Klein, and a mannequin as Mr. Spenalzo.

As the gentle but maniacal aunts, Rundell and Meyers draw you in with their comforting charm. Their chemistry makes it entirely believable that they are sisters, cut from the same demented cloth. And Hartman as Teddy adds comic relief in all the right places, to cut through the tension in the room, as he randomly yells “Charge!” while running up the stairs or just starts honking on his trumpet to announce his next meeting with “The Cabinet.”

Clement carries the story, providing an unlikely antagonist in an atmosphere that seems somewhat hopeless. At least he has his lovely Elaine, whom Elowski embodies perfectly ­– a sweet minister’s daughter with a slightly rebellious side.

When Jonathan, played by Southwell, and his trusty partner in crime, Dr. Einstein, played by Powell, hit the stage, all hell seems to break loose. Anything goes in a house full of criminals. Southwell and Powell steal the show with their hilarious antics, and you’ve got to love Powell’s German accent.

This show is fast-paced comedy from start to finish, but to find out all the twists, you’ll have to get tickets.

The crew includes Director Scott Edgar, Assistant Director Doreen Kriniak, Stage Manager and Props Mistress Debby Edgar, Jay Kettler on lighting design, Mitchell Stevenson as lighting and sound technician, Costumer MaryAnn Crawford, Ted Rockwell and Scott Edgar on set design and construction, Taylor Ayotte as the exterior sign artist, Bill Powell on publicity, Shirley Cliburn as hair stylist, and Jackie Grulke as intermission hostess. Box office staff includes Fran Hamp, Julie Meyers, Jackie Herbert, Geri Cawthra, Elaine Smith, and Elaine Thompson.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with the last show at 2 p.m. on Sunday. For tickets, call the box office at 989-354-3624. Tickets are $15 per adult and $8 per student. Alpena Civic Theatre is located at 401 River St., Alpena.