Photo by Maria Young
A budding buff thanks to recent immersion into the imagination of Edgar Allan Poe, Connor Behm regards the writer as a resolute relayer of frightening accounts and enduring warnings. Having helped The Mechanical Theater Co. to laud the literary lion through a Sept. 1 production, the actor will further the fear monger’s canon tonight and Oct. 27 through a restaurant-situated treatment of his work.
“He’s never going to depart from our conversations about brilliant constructors of timeless stories,” the 23-year-old said of the scribe whose eerie output takes on added significance when Halloween approaches. “I’ve become more interested in his tales through these opportunities, so it’s going to be special to pull off this tribute given our setting.”
The Lower Moyamensing dweller and three peers will head to Society Hill’s Bistro Romano to give life to “The Raven,” “Hop-Frog,” “The Masque of the Red Death,” and “The Cask of Amontillado.” Fittingly, because of the plot of the final component, guests will engage in a wine tasting while the performers, according to a release, will present Poe “at his most decadent.”
“He was able to pack so much information into his sentences, which may have to do with his being paid by the word,” Behm said with a laugh of the scribe whose seven-year stint in Philadelphia yielded such gems as “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” “I love how effective he was in doing that and in foreboding us about the complexities of our minds and the strength of our fears.”
Through the offerings at the Italian restaurant, which is situated in an 18th-century granary, the thespian will find himself thrilled to play the grief-stricken narrator in “The Raven” and the bent-on-revenge mason and nobleman Montresor in “The Cask of Amontillado” while also lending his talent to the evenings’ other elements. Marking his second turn at promoting Poe as a paragon of excellence, the first having occurred through the three-person Entombed Alive celebration at Laurel Hill Cemetery, the upcoming endeavors will certainly guide Behm even more in appreciating the master of suspense and figures to inspire a few seasonal scares.
“There’s definitely no denying that Poe is an icon, and no matter what the calendar says, he’s bound to unnerve you to some degree,” Behm said of addressing the pieces’ infusion of paranoia and neuroticism. “You present him at this time of year, though, and he becomes all the more relevant, potent, and prominent. That’s part of why we feel so fortunate to give two performances of these unforgettable stories. I know I’m pretty excited.”
Though eyes will inspect his acting chops through the Bistro Romano gigs, Behm had initially felt that orbs would fall for his writing ability when he was growing up in Chester Springs. Loving that he could lose himself in “private inner worlds,” he devoted himself exclusively to putting pen to paper until he was 12.
“Initially, I think a longing for attention was a huge motivator,” he said. “The whole idea of being different people and channeling different emotions really resonated with me, and it became fun to ponder how much I could learn and what sorts of skills I could acquire.”
Eager to continue to contribute to productions, the Chester County product, whose inaugural lead as peddler Ali Hakim in an eighth-grade production of “Oklahoma!” stands as a lasting source of pride, yearned to understand exchanges between audiences and performers as well as the connection between authors and portrayers, with West Chester University proving a productive collegiate choice.
“It had a wonderful theater program,” he said. “It was there that I started to form perceptions of what my career could be while also furthering my knowledge of feedback and the always intriguing concept of inspiration.”
While he admitted he could have tried to pursue a different vocation, Behm believed other interests “lacked color” and contended that vibrant interactions with seasoned professionals and lessons derived from missteps served to beckon him to bolster his confidence and go gunning for roles. Having selected West Chester over Temple University, he decided that his familiarity with Philadelphia would make moving here a logical step, and he has logged a little more than 13 months in South Philly, with West Passyunk being his first haunt.
“There is a very strong acting community here in Philadelphia,” the fresh face said of his tenure here, which has endowed him with solid connections and reliable wells of emotional support. “You hear all these stories about never being able to make any money as an actor or actress and about wasting your time thinking your efforts are going to amount to much, but this art form is worth the inevitable sacrifices you’ll have to make.”
Behm beamed when speaking of his affiliation with The Mechanical Theater Co., which uses historic sites and museums to present masterpieces that highlight “Philadelphia’s unique and ubiquitous history, its impressive intellectual culture as wells as its physical beauty.”
“The mission and the identity intrigue me,” he said, noting that the entity’s lack of a traditional space encourages hires never to grow complacent and always to consider how they will adapt to a particular environment. “That whole sense of exploration and that belief that the city at large is our home are very rewarding.”
Behm knows all about adjusting to different locations, as he works for the Old City-headquartered Constitutional Walking Tour, a job that assists in his acting maturation in requiring him to memorize lines and convey action. He continues to write, with fan fiction as his obsession. Behm aspires to craft original material and is considering a play or a one-man show as the likely means to explore his creativity. No matter the content, even if it ends up being as pulse-raising as something from Poe’s catalogue, he wants the eventual piece and any others to possess the dedication to craft that his theatrical efforts have.
“I’m beginning to figure out what I really care about enough to write something on,” he said. “I’m glad I have that drive now because this is a great city to be in to explore your dreams.” SPR
Show: Edgar Allan Poe tribute
Performance dates: Oct. 20 and 27
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Bistro Romano, 120 Lombard St.
Tickets: $45, Call 215–925–8880, or visit brownpapertickets.com/event/2627859.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com.
