THE THEATER MIRROR, New England’s LIVE Theater Guide
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note: entire contents copyright 2007 by Carl A. Rossi
When David Keltz, as Edgar Allan Poe, stepped upon the Griffen Theatre’s stage, I relaxed at once: here was an actor who knew his subject inside out, glowed with self-possession and had an unmistakable layered look about him (that is, he could pick and choose his details as he pleased). In short, Mr. Keltz was here to entertain, simply but masterfully, with dramatic readings from Mr. Poe’s haunted stories and poems, linked by his own droll narrative. Mr. Keltz filled the bare stage with aural mise-en-scene: I saw the various victims meeting their fates, felt the chill of underground chambers, trotted beside him through my own inner hells. The pleasure Mr. Keltz gives is reinforced by a reacquaintance with Mr. Poe’s artistry which most of us thrilled to in grade school, never dreaming we were also sampling Literature, and how we still love to be (safely) terrified. Mr. Keltz delivers, with hair-raising results; no doubt, Victorian audiences must have likewise thrilled with Sir Henry Irving in “The Bells”, well over a century ago…
Halloween will soon be upon us but Mr. Keltz’s evening can be enjoyed, any time…preferably, at night. You can find out more about him at www.davidkeltz.com.