Submitted photo / Harry N. Schwentker Linda Fundis, left, and Patty Baker star in 13th Street Theatre’s production of “Arsenic and Old Lace,” which opens Friday for a two-weekend run.

The 13th Street Theatre stages the classic comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace” starting Friday.

Joseph Kesselring’s play ran for more than 1,400 performances in its original Broadway run from 1941 to 1944, and it spawned a 1944 film version starring Cary Grant, multiple TV adaptations and a 1986 Broadway revival.

Mortimer Brewster (played by Max Seymour) is living a happy life with a steady job at a prominent New York newspaper and a fiancee (Elizabeth Ginn).

When he goes to see his sweet spinster aunts (Patty Baker, Linda Fundis) to announce the engagement, Mortimer discovers his dear aunts have been poisoning lonely old men for years. When Mortimer’s maniacal brother, Jonathan (Matthew Korver), returns on the night that the aunts were planning to bury the newest victim, Mortimer must rally to help his aunts and protect his fiancee — all while trying to keep his own sanity.

Stephen Rhodes directs the 13th Street Theatre production.

“Arsenic and Old Lace” will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 22 at Ashtabula Arts Center, 2928 W. 13th St. Tickets are $19 for adults. $17 for students, senior citizens and military and $15 for children ages 2 to 12 if purchased in advance online at ashtabulaartscenter.org or by calling 440-964-3396. Tickets are $2 more if purchased at the door.