Three Skeleton Key

Image from Dvorak Blog

(Suspense/Horror)
Written by George Toudouze, adapted for radio by James Poe

Three men who tend the light at a reclusive island off the coast of French Guiana see a rogue ship adrift in the Atlantic. The reason for the derelict ship soon becomes obvious - it has been overrun by hundreds of thousands of ferocious ship's rats.

The rats land on the isle and soon we are in for a claustrophobic tale of terror as the three men struggle to keep their minds from cracking under the pressure of thousands and thousands of squeaking, scratching, hungry rats.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

"Three Skeleton Key" is among the most famous of old time radio tales, and making something anew here was a challenge. FinalRune's approach was to take a group of talented actors from the Mad Horse Theater Company and recording them in and around a real lighthouse to enhance the acoustic reality and physicality of the performance.

Many people have chronicled how much this story scared the bejesus out of theme when they were young. Learn much more about its history on the Escape and Suspense! Blog.

Great pictures of this location recording are available in FinalRune's photo gallery and on Flickr.

Credits:

Producer and Director: Fred Greenhalgh

Cast:

• Burke Brimmer as Jean
• Craig Bowden as Louis
• Philip Hobby as Auguste

Field recordist Randall Farr, Musical Score by Barb Truex.

Recorded on location at Goat Island Lighthouse off the coast of Cape Porpoise, Maine. Special thanks to the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust and lighthouse keepers Scott and Karen for use of the facility.

To learn more about the Mad Horse Theater Company, visit their website, www.madhorse.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

(Suspense/Horror)
Written by Lucille Fletcher (Who Else?)

A retelling of the classic from Suspense!

A bedridden neurotic woman dials a number and is accidentally connected to a call between two men who are plotting a murder. She becomes increasingly frantic as no one takes her fright seriously and time begins to run out.

Prepare to be spooked all over again in this thrilling adaptation!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Producer and Director: Fred Greenhalgh

Cast:

• Christine Marshall as Mrs. Stevenson
• Tootie Van Reenen as Operator
• Craig Bowden as Man 1 and Man 3
• Philip Hobby as Man 2
• Burke Brimmer as Chief Operator and Cop
• Barb Truex as Information and Nurse

Field recordist Randall Farr, Musical Score by Barb Truex.

Recorded on location in the Greater Portland Maine area the summer of 2009.

To learn more about the Mad Horse Theater Company, visit their website, www.madhorse.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

(Adventure)
Written by Richard Connell, New Audio Adaptation by Fred Greenhalgh

Adapted anew from the short story - a retelling of the story heard in the 1940s on Escape and Suspense!

Wealthy big-game hunter Sanger Rainsford falls off his boat in the middle of the Caribbean and finds himself on a curious island. He finds the mansion of General Zaroff, a Cossack who has a taste for the hunt, and will go to any extreme to keep himself entertained.

A thrilling tale with a lot of history (thank you Wikipedia)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Producer and Director: Fred Greenhalgh

Cast:

• Burke Brimmer as Whitney
• Craig Bowden, as Rainsford
• Brent Askari, as General Zaroff

Field recordist Randall Farr, Musical Score by Barb Truex, Classical Music by Kevin MacLeod

Recorded on location in the Greater Portland Maine area the summer of 2009.

To learn more about the Mad Horse Theater Company, visit their website, www.madhorse.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download