Mortimer Brewster is practically an old friend of ours.

You know him-a New York drama critic who hates watching plays? The guy whose brother thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt and is digging the Panama Canal in his basement? The one whose other brother, on the run from the police, had his face surgically altered to resemble Boris Karloff?

Yeah, you remember him. He's the nephew of those sweet, church-going spinster aunts who have taken to murdering lonely old men by poisoning them with a glass of home-made elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychnine and "just a pinch" of cyanide!

Oh-THAT Mortimer Brewster.

In case you haven't yet made the acquaintance, our man Mortimer is the long-suffering hero of the classic farce Arsenic and Old Lace, now playing at the Seattle Performing Arts Fellowship.

A popular black comedy written in 1939, Arsenic has become a staple of American community theatre since its debut almost 70 years ago. If you are among the many who have seen a production of this theatrical mainstay, you will recognize the scenic design the moment you enter the theater.

The aging living room with the Victorian-style wallpaper, long staircase, doors leading to the cellar and the kitchen, and the infamous window seat are all there, just as you remember.

Aunt Abby (Barbara Curren) and Aunt Martha (Amy Wyatt) are serving afternoon tea to their minister (David Friedt). Nephew Teddy (David Morris) is seated nearby, as the friendly neighborhood policemen (Ted Day and Scott Maddock) pay their usual visit.

Meanwhile, Mortimer (Dan Niven) tries to spend a romantic moment with his lovely bride-to-be Elaine (Kristen Nedopak) before total chaos erupts in the Brewster household.

Mortimer's long-absent (and murderous) brother Jonathan (James Wyatt) is back along with his drunken accomplice Dr. Einstein (Tony Onorati), intent on hiding the body of his latest murder victim somewhere in the Brewster home, perhaps in the basement.

Abby and Martha won't have it. The cellar is already crowded with their murder victims, thank you very much. And besides, why use their cellar when there's a perfectly good window seat in the living room?

Arsenic and Old Lace is one of those reliable evenings of enjoyable absurdity that is just what faithful theater audiences have come to expect. Frantic situations, numerous plot twists, outrageous characters and a touch of romance all come together in a story that never seems to get old.

SPAF's cast of 14 give it their all to entertain us and show us that comedy is serious business.

Making his SPAF debut, Jason Thayer offers fine support as Officer O'Hara, the policeman who dreams of becoming a famous playwright. James Wyatt is appropriately sinister as the felonious Jonathan.

Director Rachel Rene deftly articulates all the pieces to bring about a smoothly woven tale.

Serial murder may not sound like the stuff good comedies are made of. But give Arsenic a chance. If you don't die from laughter first, you might find that is it just your cup of tea-or wine.

Joseph Kesselring's farce runs through May 19. Shows are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. with Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10-15.

All performances are at 1807 S. 223rd St. at the Victory Center Building just east of downtown Des Moines.

Call SPAF at 206-722-4289 or go to www.spaftheatre.org for reservations and information.