Jane Malin and Thelma Taylor don’t look like murderers. But put on a little theatrical makeup, prepare a pitcher of elderberry wine and give them copies of Joseph Kesselring’s play “Arsenic and Old Lace,” and they will convince you.

In the classic comedy, which opens Friday night at Lawrence Community Theatre, Malin and Taylor portray Martha and Abby Brewster, who have a habit of mixing up a deadly brew of arsenic, strychnine, cyanide and elderberry wine and serving it to people they want to kill.

Jane Malin, left, and Thelma Taylor play the Brewster sisters in Arsenic

“They’re two darling old ladies, and they’re loving sisters,” Taylor said.

Malin, who grew up in Lawrence, moved back to town in 1986 after she retired from teaching French at the University of Houston. She became involved with Lawrence Community Theatre doing stage work and by January 1987 also was acting in its productions. Her credits include “Grace and Glorie” and “Moon Over Buffalo.”

Taylor, a viola player who performs with the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, became involved with the theater first as an audience member. She tried out for and was cast in “The Murder Room” in 1988 or 1989. “Arsenic and Old Lace” is her second role at the theater.

Malin and Taylor said their biggest worry is remembering their parts. They wake up in the morning and go to bed at night with dialogue on their minds. Taylor has even found herself reciting her part while she’s swimming.

To help with the memorization, Malin, Taylor, theater volunteer Mary Ann Saunders and Taylor’s husband, Jim, made a tape of the script, and Saunders has been running lines with the actresses outside of the nightly rehearsals.

“What I love about working here is the people, and how we’re all working on the same task,” Malin said. “It’s sort of like one large family and you get close to each other. Thelma and I have gotten closer (because of the play) and our friendship has been changed forever.”

Other cast members are Don McIntyre, Jeff Blair, Steven Steacy, Lloyd Bolick, Anna Gronbeck-Tedesco, Alfred Lata, John Aldridge, Marion Cramer, Christopher Price, Charles Neuringer, Jim Taylor and Grant Robertson.

Director is Victoria Hartman. Scenic design is by Jack Riegle, lighting design is by Nathan Hughes, and costume design is by Linda Ballinger.