Baltimore resident David Keltz first became spellbound by Edgar Allan Poe at age 13.
“I was supposed to read ‘Telltale Heart.’ I was so fascinated with it that even though the teacher was out of the room and kids were acting up, I read it twice,” the actor remembered. “The atmosphere of it affected me so much that that night when I was trying to go to sleep, I kept imagining that my bedroom door was slowly opening.”
Fast forward to 1991, when Keltz gave his first performance as the macabre writer, on Halloween night beside Poe’s grave in Baltimore. Since that day, Keltz has performed both nationally and internationally, informing audiences not only of Poe’s famous horror stories, but of his lesser-known satirical essays, critical literary theory and influence on modern genres.
Why are people so enchanted with Edgar Allan Poe?
People were first concerned with his particular stories more than any other horror writers of that era because Poe was the first to write stories that dealt with very real human phenomena — psychotic personalities, drinking disorders. Other writers were writing about zombies, ghosts, monsters, things outside the realm of possibility.
Poe was fascinated with atmosphere. When he wrote a story, every word was designed to have particular effect upon the reader. He creates such an atmosphere that you can feel actually frightened in reading his stories.
What would people be surprised to learn about Poe?
His literary theories and criticisms are fascinating even at this time. Scholars find them worthy of study even today. He is credited with being the originator of several genres of literature, obviously the horror genre, but also the detective story, science fiction, and it can be said that he write the first story about space travel [“The Unparalleled Adventures of One Hans Pfaall”]. Poe also began writing the very first objective literary criticism when he became employed at the Southern Literary Messenger in 1836 in Richmond.
What is your goal in portraying Poe?
I want to give a comprehensive view of him as a person and as a writer. I like for the audience to come to the theater and feel as if they’ve gone back in time and actually been able to meet him. One of the comments I enjoy hearing the most is when people say, “You completely transported me back in time.” That’s what I like to do.
IF YOU GO
David Keltz as Edgar Allan Poe
Where: Strand Theater, 1823 N. Charles St., Baltimore
When: 11 p.m. Friday
Tickets: Free
Info: www.davidkeltz.com; for tickets, call 443-874-4917
