Putting on a successful play is a complicated juggling act that so often ends in failure.

Critics are constantly sharpening their knives in preparation for a production that fails to find the right balance between script, cast and director.

That is why Louise Jameson's bold words of praise about her current tour, Arsenic and Old Lace, which is coming to New Wimbledon Theatre next week, are so encouraging.

"Every now and again everything in a production just clicks," she said.

"You get that one in every ten shows, if you are lucky."

Jameson, best known for her role as Rosa de Marco on EastEnders, is a classically trained actress with countless major performances for the Royal Shakespeare Company behind her.

She learnt her skills at RADA, alongside good friend Sherrie Hewson, her co-star in Arsenic and Old Lace. The pair graduated together in 1971, but never lost touch.

"The strange thing is that we have never worked together, until this show," said Jameson.

It is the chemistry between Hewson and Jameson that promises so much and has already garnered fabulous reviews.

The pair play Martha and Abby Brewster, sweet old ladies with a penchant for poisoning lonely old men and burying them in their basement - a bit like League of Gentleman set in 1940s New York.

It is one of the most outrageous and best-loved comedies ever written. Cary Grant starred as Mortimer Brewster in the Frank Capra film version - playing one of his best roles as the newly married newspaper man who is horrified to find out about his aunts' homicidal behaviour.

With such a timeless script, a good producer in Kenny Wax and a cast that includes Wayne Sleep as a creepy plastic surgeon, Jameson grabbed the chance for a bit of light relief.

"Shakespeare is all about angst, blood and tears, which is fine, but it can get mentally draining doing eight shows a week," she explained.

"The great thing about this play is that my character is always smiling. She's absolutely barking, but always cheerful."

Unlike Jameson, Hewson is a very experienced comedy actress. As Maureen, she brought her humour to Coronation Street for five years during the 1990s. Before that, Hewson was in a series of sit-coms, from In Loving Memory and Home to Roost to Singles and Barbara.

Yet playing in Arsenic and Old Lace marked a first for Hewson.

"This is my first ever touring play," she said. "It is probably a bit late in my career to get used to finding digs, but it was a great chance to finally work with Louise and we've had so much fun."

Hewson, who will return to the Street in a bumper Christmas story line, had to take a few days off recently when her daughter went into labour.

She said: "I felt bad leaving everyone in the lurch, but obviously I had to be with my daughter. She went through terrible, terrible pain.

"She is only a very small girl but she gave birth to a 10lb baby boy, Oliver. Her partner, Simon, who is 6ft 5 inches tall, just cried and cried after it was all over."

  • Arsenic and Old Lace, New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, Wimbledon, Monday to Saturday, October 23-28, 7.30pm, 2.30pm mat on Thurs and in Arsenic and OldSat, £9-£23.

Call 0870 060 6646 or visit new wimbledontheatre.co.uk.