Drama explores poet Poe

'The Tell-Tale Poe' tells of Edgar Allen Poe's life through his writings.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
The Mahoning Valley has an abundance of theater groups, and they all seem to have a niche that attracts a certain audience. The tricky part for them is to match their offerings with those who will appreciate. This is especially difficult when a theater takes a risk and creates something very different.
"The Tell-Tale Poe," by local playwright J.E. Ballantyne Jr., premiered Friday night by The Victorian Players. This intriguing and soulful play cries out to be heard by an audience that seeks to delve into the depths of the mysterious and misunderstood Edgar Allen Poe. It would appeal to theatergoers who want to flex their intellectual muscles or even to people who may not regularly attend plays but who are fascinated by the writings of this enigmatic character.
How story unfolds
The tiny church that The Victorian Players call home is the perfect intimate setting for this production. What makes it theatrical is the myriad of special effects.
Set in the graveyard where Poe is buried, most of the play is done in near darkness. It opens as fog arises around the grave, and the hooded phantom places a half-full bottle of cognac and three red roses beside it, which has been happening at Poe's actual grave site every year since 1948, between 2 and 4 a.m. on his birthday.
Out of the fog, Poe appears, as he cries out in anguish the events of his tortured life, how he was misunderstood, ridiculed, believed insane. His parents died when he was 3, and he was raised by the tyrant John Allen. He pours his heart out in misery as he bewails the loss of his fianc & eacute;, their engagement broken by Allen.
From there, the stage is darkened as a reader appears in the aisle, mourning the death of "Annabel Lee." And so the play continues, as Poe bemoans his tormented life, followed by several poems or stories that reflect particular memories.
Intense experience
There is never a moment's rest in this play, which adds to the intense drama. Readers appear out of nowhere, onstage, in the aisle, in corners of the room. The only actual staged speaker is Poe. The conversations he carries on are with voices offstage. This adds to the eeriness of the atmosphere, as if Poe has come back to life, reliving memories of his past.
While most people think of Poe and his writings as macabre, he had a tender and romantic side. He adored his wife, who died of tuberculosis, and thought of her mother as his own. If you like Poe, this play is highly recommended.
Poe is played by Geno Blair. The other readers/voices are: Samuel and Molly Galano, Thomas P. Gilmartin Jr., Victor Garcia, Barbara Root, Chuck Wilcox, Ben Gavitt and Gerri Sullivan.
XThe play continues through Oct. 31, with shows Fridays, Saturdays and Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees, 2 p.m.; and two midnight performances Oct. 28 and 29 at 702 Mahoning Ave. Call (330) 746-5455 for tickets.