'Key' opens door to Your Theatre's season

By Doug Atkins, Standard-Times correspondent

Your Theatre of New Bedford opens its 52nd season Wednesday with "Seven Keys to Baldpate," a mystery/farce written in 1915.

Judy Lemay made her Your Theater directorial debut in 1981 with "Seven Keys," and theater director Ed Maguire agreed with Ms. Lemay that it was time for another run of the play, which has an interesting history.

One thing the old Charlie Chan series and "Seven Keys to Baldpate" have in common is that they were both written by Earl Dare Biggers. "Seven Keys" was then novelized and adapted as a play by George M. Cohan.

"I think the funniest thing about the play is that no one trusts any of the others," Ms. Lemay said of the characters.

The plot begins with a bet between a writer and his friend. The friend wagers that the writer can't produce a novel in 24 hours if left undisturbed, and offers the writer his cabin in Vermont for the effort. The friend says he owns the only key, so the writer goes packing off to the north in search of solitude, fixed on meeting the challenge.

As you might guess, the quiet doesn't last. One person after another comes along, each with their own key to the cabin. The small place becomes more and more crowded until the writer's ability to finish a line disappears all together.

"I think the most hilarious part of the play," says Michelle L. Ouellette of New Bedford, the play's lead actress, "is at the end of Act One. Everyone is there. They've all got keys to the cabin. There's confusion ... shouting ... tension. No one knows what's going on. It's just a riot."

Almost from the beginning events happen so fast that the writer struggles to keep up with all the circumstances thrown at him. At least through the first act, he is unable to fully grasp it all.

Michael J. FitzGerald Jr. of Dartmouth, who plays the male lead in "Seven Keys," says he's been acting from the day he was born. "We all act every day," he opines.

But no doubt acting in "Seven Keys" is not for just anyone. They have to act as if they're in a very cold, northern cabin with arctic winds swirling in whenever someone opens the door. Everyone wears a heavy coat, and they have to look half-frozen, in spite of banks of stage lights.

"It will be hot," said Ms. Ouellette, "but I know I can do it. I just have to psych myself out and do it."

Mr. FitzGerald says he's up to the challenge, too. "The funniest part for me," he said, "is when it all comes together at the end. That's when it's all revealed to the crowd."

Of course, he won't let out what 's revealed.

Also in the cast are Eddie Camara, P.J. Carroll, Ed Costa, Kristina Dahlene, Lee J. Fortier, Robert Gillette, Robin Richard, Dennis J. Smith, Mary K. Sylvia and Margo L. Wilson.

Other plays slated for this season are "Crossing Delancey," by Susan Sandler, Nov. 11-21; "The Old Boy," by A.R. Gurney, Feb. 3-13; and another to be announced May 12-22.

Your Theatre's annual cocktail party fundraiser will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 3. Cocktails, a light international buffet and entertainment are part of the evening.

"Seven Keys to Baldpate" will be performed at the 71 Maxfield St., New Bedford, theater at 8 p.m. Sept. 16-19 and Sept. 23-26, and at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 20. Tickets are $10 for Friday and Saturday performances, $8 for others, with a $1 discount at any time for senior citizens and students. Call the box office at (508) 993-0772 for reservations or information about subscriptions.

Photo by David W. Oliveira
Michael FitzGerald Jr. and Robin Richard rehearse a scene from "Seven Keys to Baldpate," the upcoming Your Theatre production, under the supervision of director Judy Lemay.