Lake Park High School Theatre to present ‘Seven Keys to Baldpate’

Lake Park High School's Theatre Department invites you to attend the fall play, “Seven Keys to Baldpate,” on Oct. 28-30.

This entertaining murder mystery/farce will be presented in a unique format: completely in gray-scale, as if watching an old film noir — except live actors are on stage!

Show times are 7 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, Oct. 28-30, at the East Campus Dice Auditorium, 600 S. Medinah Road in Roselle. General admission is $5 at the door for ages 13 or older (cash preferred). Senior citizens and Lake Park students with ID are free.

Seniors Brayden Cervantes (William Hallowell Magee), Ricky Gomez (Jiggs Kennedy), Charlotte Goodin (Myra Thornhill), Thalia Rhodes (Mrs. Quimby), Julia Troutman (Mrs. Rhodes), Trevor Watson (John Bland), and Reese Wyatt (Baldpate Inn owner) fill key roles and are supported by nine other students in this hilarious tale that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Theatre director Erik Uppling answered some questions about the production.

Q. Why did you choose “Seven Keys to Baldpate” for Lake Park High School's fall play?

I received a phone call from a colleague of mine, Mary Fulmer. She and her husband had just recently returned from a trip out west where they visited the Baldpate Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. From there, they found a film about the “Seven Keys to Baldpate” movie from the early 1930s and ’40s (there were two of them). They thought to themselves that this would make a great play, and researched to find that a play did in fact exist. This is where I come into the story. They shared with me the story and their interest that they thought it would be a fun play to produce, and they thought I would be the perfect person to direct it. I got my hands on a copy of the script and instantly fell in love with it. It is right up my alley. A murder mystery farce. I love a good farce. So, thank you to Don Fulmer and Mary Fulmer for putting this in front of me.

Q. For those who aren't familiar, please describe the plot.

A writer makes a bet that he can write an entire novel in 24 hours. He wants to escape society and go to work in the loneliest place on the planet — a summer hotel in the winter. Only, when he arrives, he is ANYTHING but alone.

Q. How many students are involved with the production?

There are 16 students involved in the cast.

Q. How will your play differ from the original?

We are performing the play as written. The only difference is I have added a few cops to the play and turned them into a bit of the “Three Stooges” comic relief.

Q. What were the most challenging aspects of getting this production together?

Well, the dialogue is a bit antiquated, so the kids have been struggling with finding the proper cadence and flourish with the dialogue. Farce is always a challenge, one of which I love, in that there is a certain level of energy and realism that needs to happen in order for farce to work. Kids have to truly believe in the absurd, but not necessarily think that what they are doing is absurd.

Q. What did you find most rewarding?

I always love working with the students at LP. They are so fearless and fun. Truly. These students have really embraced the farce and now with the added element of producing this in monochrome (black and white) adds such an interesting element to the play as a whole.

Q. What were some of the best moments in putting together this production?

Laughing. We laugh at every rehearsal. Kids are so funny and they are really having fun bringing this play that was written in 1913 to life.

Q. What do you think audiences will enjoy most about this play?

I think the audiences will love the twist in the mystery, the comedy of the farce, and the design elements of costume, makeup, lighting and set design. I have never produced a play like this before with so many elements at work. This has truly been an exciting experience for me.

Q. Anything else you’d like readers to know about this show?

We hope you enjoy the show as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. So many students and designers have contributed to the success of this play so far — your turn is next … the audience!