Of course, as it turns out, the dear, old aunties may not be quite the “island of sanity” in the Brewster family that everyone assumes. It seems they have a couple skeletons in their closet. Or, to be more accurate, about a dozen skeletons, and they are in the basement. A result of the little “hobby” they’ve started, mercifully helping lonely, old men who the aunts think would be happier dead – decades before Dr. Kevorkian got into the business. Though there are a couple of minor differences in style that are quickly evident: The men the Brewster sisters “assist” to their grave have not asked to die, and instead of injections, they use the more palatable method of elderberry wine (spiked with an old family recipe – a dash of cyanide and just a pinch of papa’s arsenic!).

Such is the setting of this dark, classic Joseph Kesselring comedy that debuted in 1941 and will continue to be one of the most performed comedies until the Brewster sisters bury us all. Scripps Ranch Theatre is currently putting on a fine production of it directed by critically acclaimed and award-winning director George Flint. Long-time local favorites Sally Stockton and Pat DiMeo star as the two kooky but adorable Brewster sisters who are blissfully and unnervingly unaware that they might be doing anything wrong. That is in stark contrast to their unwanted nephew Jonathan (Charlie Riendeau) who kills for the thrill of it and is looking to set up shop in his aunt’s home, not realizing that his aunts have beat him to the punch. Charlie’s intimidating stage presence and coldly refined voice are perfect for the cocky and remorseless killer. Whereas Dave Rivas, as his reluctant assistant Dr. Einstein, uses his hilarious Igor-like voice and nervous posturing to counter Charlie’s menace with the funniest character in the show.

Frank Remiatte turns in an amusing performance as the “normal” nephew, the theatre critic Mortimer, who finds himself trying to protect his aunts from themselves, save lonely old men from his aunts, and save himself from his recently arrived psychotic brother Jonathan. The revelation of his aunts’ secret “little hobby” leads him to believe he too is doomed to insanity, causing him to try to break up with his fiancé Elaine (Cristyn Chandler) before they get married and start breeding more nutcases. Cristyn sparkles with natural charm as the playfully romantic preacher’s daughter who becomes a bit confused by Mortimer’s sudden rejection of her, and a bit unnerved when she runs into would-be-future-brother-in-law Jonathan (who, thanks to Dr. Einstein’s plastic surgery, looks a lot like Boris Karloff). Entertaining performances by Mark McCoy as Teddy Brewster/Teddy Roosevelt and Brian Fedfern as the struggling playwright Officer O’Hara round out a solid cast.