Seven Keys to Baldpate
by George M. Cohan
Town & Gown Players, 1994-95 Mainstage season
This was one of the most finished-looking sets I can recall seeing at Town & Gown.
You George M. Cohan fans will recall that the action takes place in the lobby of a resort hotel in the north woods, out-of-season. Mike Harris did most of the design. Construction was a big job but rewarding. This is a photo Judy took a week or so before the show opened.
That's Maurice in his suit crouched over drawing lines on the deck. That's me in mine standing toward the right of the photo.
The unit containing the front door (glass panes) was a wagon with the outside of the door on the invisible side; they turned it around and rolled it Downstage for the prologue. Above the portrait at Stage Left is Smitty's father's mounted fish; that got broken during the run. On the registration desk is Harriet's mother's pretty oil lamp; it did too.
The most remarkable thing that everybody remembers about this set is that it only took an hour and a half to strike!
To learn more about the play, visit the George M. Cohan web site, which offers photos, cast list from the 1914 premiere, commentaries and so forth.
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Seven Keys to Baldpate