NEVERMORE Review
Press +1 (Calgary)

The story of Nevermore is the life and death of Edgar Allan Poe. Rather than adapting one of his tales or poems, Christenson (Artistic Director of Catalyst Theatre and writer/director/composer of the production) chose instead to focus on the writer's life because just as Poe's works are dark, dreary, and tragic so was his own existence.

Edgar Poe was born on a night in 1809 that was cold and foreboding. His mother Eliza was a popular stage actress, and while his father David also had aspirations for the stage, he wasn't as popular as his wife. David, who became an alcoholic, disappeared one night leaving his wife and three children: Henry, Edgar, and Rosalie. Eliza Poe would also leave her young children, but by way of death caused by tuberculosis. The three Poe children were split up and sent to live in different homes waiting 15 years before seeing each other again. Edgar was sent to live with Jock and Fanny Allan, who fostered but never formally adopted him. Whilst Fanny was loving and kind, Jock resented the child. It was during this time with the Allan's that Edgar became the dark and macabre figure audiences know when an incident at school caused his tender loving heart to turn stone cold.

Other tragedies occurred of course during Poe's young life including Fanny's death, and Jock's further harsh treatment and eventual abandonment. Poe did fall in love, but was thwarted when she later married another. Even Poe's reunion with his brother and sister was short lived when death came knocking once more, this time for Henry. Accusations and rumours caused by Poe's jealous literary rival Rufus Griswold didn't help Poe's career either. Slandered, Poe was discredited by high society. Alcohol kept Poe company, as it did his father, during all the ups and downs of Poe's life. Whether it was the alcohol, the madness within his mind, or perhaps tuberculosis, the cause of death of Edgar Allan Poe isn't for certain. He was only 40 years old.

With such stories and events of woe that was the life of Poe, what is the particular appeal to see the dark and gothic tale? The answers are many. This particular story is told in song with accompanying spoken dialogue. The creative use of verse (with and without music) is a mixture of original and borrowed material. The borrowed material was taken from a selection of Poe's tales and poems such as The Black Cat, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit & the Pendulum, The Tell Tale Heart, To One In Paradise, and A Dream Within A Dream. The production gives the audience a glimpse as to where and from what these inspirations came from for each of his stories and poems. The last work mentioned, A Dream Within A Dream, is the most poignant and significant work used to describe Nevermore as a whole.

Christenson and his team set about creating a world on stage that followed the logic of dreams, where people, clothes, and things are distorted in their own way but still have the aura of being just as real. The costumes were intriguing; all black and white, with corsets for the women and ruffles for the men. There is no denying an element of Tim Burton (think The Nightmare Before Christmas) and Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!) inspiration with a hint of gothic steampunk thrown into the mix, and the hats they wear rival those of the British Monarchy.

The set was a rectangular enclosed box with three sliding doors and was covered in black lace alluding to further distortion found behind the material that which you see or seem to see, but not quite clearly enough to be certain. This box took up the majority of the stage space with ample room in front to still freely move around, creating two sets on the stage. The purpose, I assume, was to showcase within the box what lay within the confines and hollows of Poe's life and symbolically in his mind.

From start to finish the story and every element used to tell the story was incredible. It definitely felt, as Christenson described in his interview, "a collective dream shared by the audience." The acting was superb and the choreographed movements were purposefully robotic and dreamlike and the voices matched well to the music and verse of the material. Despite the dark macabre nature of the show there is humour in the story which isn't overly done, but precisely executed making these scenes stand out.

There was this feeling I couldn't shake off that I was watching a game show of "Edgar Allan Poe: This is Your Life!" I mention this because the actors who make up the chorus as well as every other character in Poe's life was narrating the tale, and when something tragic was to happen the expression and body language Scott Shipeley, who solely plays Edgar, shows is one of "you've got to be kidding me!" This in turn adds to the narrative that both Edgar and the audience are taking this journey of his life together, to see that Poe as Christenson shares "wasn't simply indulging himself with the macabre side, but seeing how he struggled with trying not to go to there." This misunderstood figure has been brilliantly paid tribute to by the actors and creative force at Catalyst in ways that are beyond words. With the overwhelming response and standing ovation from the audience, it is no dream that Nevermore: The Imaginary Life & Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe, undoubtedly represents creative theatre at its best.

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