DARK HEART OF POE

The works of Edgar Allen Poe have been presented in many forms, but seldom find true success in the theatrical world due to their brevity and difficult performance elements. The Elite Theatre Company’s current production of Dark Heart of Poe proves, however, that when the right talents are in place, Poe on stage can be extraordinarily effective.

Edgar Allen Poe is considered perhaps the first and greatest American master of the suspense short story and gothic poetry genre. He is credited with spreading the new “American” English across the young country, and his themes of revenge, hopeless love, and death are engrained in our national literary makeup. His most revered works are read by school children in every state and although his tragic and short life ended in 1849, his body of work has continued to be among the most read of any author in modern history. His timelessness and universality are apparent both in the characters that he built and in the feelings and macabre situations with which he instills them.

Dark Heart of Poe, conceived by director Andrew James, presents four of Poe’s best-known works: Annabel Lee, The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Cask Of Amontillado) staged in the format of a one hour, one act play. A cast of two (Austin Miller and Travis Winterstein) performs the works, sometimes together and sometimes alone, in the dramatic style of an 1800s symposium with the audience seated in the round. Miller and Winterstein also perform the scene changes in an imaginative style that adds a unique performance dimension, giving the show a continued impetus and making the one hour running time leave you wanting more.

Starting with Poe’s ode to a lost love, Annabel Lee, director James crafts a fluid and swift style of storytelling using sound and movement to drive the action and convey an unusual but exhilarating momentum that builds through Poe’s best-known works The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart and culminates with the least known of the group, but most well suited for the stage, The Cask of Amontillado. With the audience seated on all sides, the uncredited set design draws you back into the 1840s and creates a fishbowl feeling as the events of these four classic works unfold. The sparse and, at times, insinuated set fits well the stylized feeling of the production accentuated by a number of impressive props that are featured within the stories. The costume design (Allison Williams) impressively conveys both the time and feel of the show and adds a rare seamless and enchanting look to the show. The sound and lights are used effectively to further build a haunting theatrical world in which Poe himself might have dwelled.

With the abundance of technical knowhow surrounding them, Miller and Winterstein deliver evocative and compelling high-energy performances across the board. Under James’ agile direction, the performers thrive, executing passionate portrayals consisting of both humor and drama in a connected and artistic manner. They exude confidence and ooze character, while displaying a deep understanding of the language and underlying meaning of each piece.

This production by the Elite successfully sidesteps the common pitfalls associated with other Poe performances by featuring both the exposition and the dialogue within the format of the presentation. The addition of quotes from the master himself bookends the show and effectively encapsulates this beguiling and unusual work. While not a large-scale production, this work shows both artistry and talent used to its best end and makes for an exciting night of theatre.

Dark Heart of Poe may consist of well-known works, but it has never been seen in this light before.
Dark Heart of Poe runs through Nov 18th. At the Elite Theatre in Oxnard. www.darkheartofpoe.com