Why Will You Say That I Am Mad? (Or, The Poe Show)

I had the most wonderful and challenging experience this summer when I was given the opportunity to play Edgar Allan Poe by Peter Malin and Robert F. Ball for FRED Theatre Company.

I have always been a fan of Mr Poe, having been given an illustrated volume of his stories when a child. I would pore over the pictures and read the stories over and over again, developing a fascination with the writer which has never left me.

Being a small, redheaded New York Irish woman, I might seem an odd choice for the dark, Southern Master of the Macabre, but this did not seem to concern either Peter or Robert at my audition. When I was sent the audition sides and saw that they would consider a woman for the role, there was no stopping me. While there were plenty of opportunities for pathos and comedy in the production (including the Murderer in The Tell Tale Heart), Mr Poe was exactly the role I wanted to play.

Peter’s marvellous devised piece combines biography with Mr Poe’s writings - his poetry, short stories, essays, and criticism all in a neat bundle, giving an audience a unique view into the world of this amazing (and sometimes under appreciated) writer. He created detective fiction (Holmes does not hold a candle to C. Auguste Dupin), was a pioneer in science fiction, and a literary critic of epic proportions.

In preparation for the role, I re-read his short stories, major poems, and some of his essays. I also read a couple of biographies and watched the Roger Corman/Vincent Price films which I had enjoyed as a child. You might ask why would this be important as I would not need to make any of this evident to an audience. It helps ground me in the world of the person I was going to be portraying. There is a challenge and responsibility in playing someone who actually existed. Even though there is no one living anymore who knew Mr Poe personally, I still felt it important to have in my mind what he was like. I not only listened to what he said about himself (which he carefully constructed and reconstructed over time), but what others said about him - both his friends and enemies.

Another challenge that of a female playing a male. Particularly a male with such an iconic appearance. The fact that the image that most of us have of Edgar Allan Poe is of the last few years of his life: the famous daguerrotype of his haunted face, wild hair, and lopsided moustache. Our poster/hair and make up designer (the extremely talented Jenna Owen) and I had frequent conversations about how Mr Poe should look. We were both determined on the moustache. Peter was not so convinced. The often unsuccessful “chicks in beards” occurrence in some theatrical practices was not something he was keen to repeat. Another concern was the potentially comic possibility of the moustache falling off mid performance, thus detracting from the emotional depth of the acting. I assured him that it would work and I am pleased to say that with the help of some very fine mastix spirit gum, my father’s moustache (which I inherited) made another theatrical performance and, I am sure, would have made him very proud.

The ensemble for what became known affectionately as “The Poe Show” consisted of a wonderful group of actors: Abigail Rokison-Woodall, Louis Osborne, Peter Malin, and a very talented musician, Dewi Dankmeyer, who created some of the most hauntingly beautiful music I have ever heard in a stage production. She also brought some of Mr Poe’s poetry to life by singing the words to tunes of her own devising with such crystal clarity, that I had chills every time I heard them. Each actor brought something special to each of their readings and, in the case of The Man That Was Used Up, some lovely comic turns in manner, dialect, and bits of slapstick (I will never forget Abigail’s quick character and dialect changes nor Peter’s sound effects while reassembling the General).

Louis’ portrayal as the Murderer in The Tell Tale Heart is also something I will not forget. He was by turns chilling and comic, sinister and moving in his attempt to end his miserable domination by his landlord’s “vulture eye”.

I am very proud of this production and only wish that more people had been able to see it, but that is the reality of short runs and matinees on beautifully sunny days.