Seven Keys is Character Driven and Outrageously Funny at Yellow Tree Theatre

* Disclaimer: On March 28th I suffered a rupture in my right bicep muscle, which has left me without the use of my right arm. I will endeavor to continue seeing and reviewing shows however the reality is that the reviews will need to be significantly shorter. For now I will attempt to provide you, faithful readers, with a few sentences that will make clear whether a show is worth your time and money. My apologies to all of the artists in front of the curtain as well as behind whose work I may not be able to comment on. Hopefully this will be a short-term accommodation, I will do everything in my power to get back to writing full reviews as soon as is humanly possible.

Seven Keys a Co-Production between Yellow Tree Theatre and Frosted Glass Creative is a new take on an old play. Originating as a novel by Earl Derr Biggers, Seven Keys to Baldpate was adapted into a play in 1913 by George M. Cohan. The play was a hit and it’s been adapted to film seven times, the first three were silent films and the final adaptation in 1983 modernized and adapted it into a horror film under the title House of the Long Shadows. Last week in preparation I screened the 1935 version and revisited House of the Long Shadows which was a favorite from my adolescence. While neither film is great, they’re both quite a lot of fun, particularly the latter which features a who’s who’s of classic horror veterans John Carradine, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, and Christopher Lee. While the original was a humorous and satirical look at melodrama this new version by Charles Fraser ups the comic Factor by adding a quick change element with only three actors playing all of the roles in the vein of Patrick Barlow’s The 39 Steps adaptation. The basic story of this and every adaptation is a bet between a writer and his friend that he can’t write a story in 24 hours. He’s given what is supposed to be the only key to Baldpate Lodge so that he can write in seclusion for 24 hours. As you may have guessed from the title Seven Keys, seclusion is not what he’ll get. The story is filled with crooked politicians, murder, ghosts, rtomance, double crosses, and a never-ending stream of folks creeping around in the night. What ties it all together or the laughs which come loud and often.

Co-directed by Charles Fraser and Peggy O’Connell who completely understand the wink wink aspects of the script and how to stage the action to take full advantage of the tone so that the audience eating out of their hand. Charles Fraser aside from co-directing and writing the play also plays five roles and Sarah Dickson plays four while Christopher S. Collier plays the writer William Magee along with the role of the Mayor. Fraser and Dickson do what great character actors do, they create individual and distinct personas for each of the roles. Dickon’s characters Mary Norton and Myra Thornhill both attractive young ladies are not the same just with a different costume and wig, they are completely different. The humor of the characters comes from a different place, it’s distinct whatever character she’s playing at the time. It’s the same with Fraser, he distinguishes the characters and is a master at line delivery, anyone who sees it will always remember “Mary remember your promise”. Both of these actors give multiple amazing performances that have the audience laughing out loud over and over again and it’s because they commit and have each character solidly in hand. Collier with only two characters to play doesn’t get to show as much range; however, his Mayor is the smaller but stronger. While his Magee, easily the plays the largest single role, is one where Collier’s choices seem less successful and coherent. I’m not sure what he’s going for with this character but it’s a character that felt less real which is ironic given how the how the play ends. All in all the cast handles the quick changes with sometimes shocking effectiveness, part of the fun is being in on the joke and then part of the fun is being amazed at how well they pull it off.

Seven Keys is one of those simply fun evenings out at the theater uproariously funny and seemingly effortlessly delightful. The performances alone would be enough to enthusiastically recommend Seven Keys that Fraser as written such a delightful adaptation makes it an all-around success. Seven Keys runs through May 19th at Yellow Tree Theatre for more information and to purchase tickets go to https://yellowtreetheatre.com/sevenkeys

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