In honor of the 200th anniversary year of Edgar Allan Poe's birth, Hedgerow Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Penelope Reed has decided to offer Tales From Poe, adapted by Margie Royal from five Edgar Allan Poe stories, for public performances on Wednesdays and Sundays in repertory with the theatre's mainstage mystery, Dial M For Murder.
Tales From Poe tells the story of Dr. Morane, who after he witnesses the death of Edgar Allan Poe, is haunted by Poe's ghost. Morane experiences the worlds of the chilling tales The Cask of Amontillado, The Tell-Tale Heart, Ligeia, William Wilson and The Masque of the Red as Morane wrestles with a moral dilemma of his own.
"I wanted to create a dramatic piece that would mix Poe's most familiar stories like 'The Masque of The Red Death' with some of his lesser know tales like 'William Wilson." said the playwright. With the exception of The Masque of the Red and The Cask of Amontillado, the short stories dramatized in Tales From Poe were written during the time Poe resided in Philadelphia.
The show has been well-received by middle schools which have booked daytime matinees. "Poe's elegant, stately prose can be challenging to read," says Royal. "I am pleased that students find the show engaging and that it makes them want to go back and read more of Poe's work."
This year's production will be directed by Sarah Gafgen, who performed in the play last year. Her cast features members of Hedgerow's resident company: Carl Smith, Steve Carpenter, Tara Haupt, Rachel Alulis, David Franz, Susan Wefel and guest artist Karina Croskrey.
Public performances are 1 p.m. Oct. 14 which features a complimentary "Poe" tea and tea treats and Wednesdays and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21-Nov. 15. Tickets are $20 with $3 discounts for seniors and students and $12 for children age 18 and under. This show is available for other daytime performances for schools and groups; call 610-565-4211 for details.
Hedgerow Theatre is at 64 Rose Valley Road, Media. For more information, visit www.hedgerowtheatre.org.
Photo: Steven Carpenter, left, as "The Other" in William Wilson and Rachel Alulis as Ligeia are two of the figures haunting Carl Smith, center, who plays Dr. Morane in Tales From Poe.
