Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe
Encyclopedia
Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe, is a musical that was written, composed, and directed by Jonathan Christenson. It follows the tragic life of Edgar Allan Poe
, and the internal struggles he faced which later on inspired his writings. The script contains many references to Edgar Allan Poe's poems and short stories. The majority of the script follows the true events which took place in his life, while other aspects are fictitious. It was originally produced at the Catalyst Theatre
in Edmonton, Alberta and went on to be performed at theatre festivals across Canada.
, a talented travelling actress. She was married to David Poe, who gave up the study of law to follow his wife in the career of theatre. Unlike his wife, however, David often forgot his lines due to stage fright, making him easy fodder for critics. He ended up becoming an alcoholic, spending most of his time in the bar. Eliza Poe’s dressing maid helped deliver and raise her children. The oldest was William Henry Leonard Poe
, an adventurous boy who collected interesting objects, the most prized being the skull of a cat. The youngest was Rosalie Poe, a somewhat deranged girl. On the darkest, and loneliest, of nights (so the legend goes), Edgar Allan Poe was born. The father disappeared, eventually leaving Eliza to raise three children on her own. Although sometimes she was exuberant, Eliza spent most of her time sick, and depressed, in bed. One night, Edgar woke to hear his mother coughing; Eliza Poe later died of tuberculosis. The three Poe children were split up from each other and sent off to new homes.
Edgar went to live at the Allan household, and was greeted by the housekeeper Nancy Valentine. She told Edgar about the Allans, presently away for a few days. Finally the Allans, Fanny and Jock, arrived home. They'd adopted Edgar because of their love for Eliza Poe and theatre in general. Fanny'd wished to adopt all of the children, but Jock Allan would only allow the one to be "fostered", not "adopted". Edgar feared Jock Allan, not just because the man was blind in one eye, but because Jock was bitter and disregarding towards the lad. Fanny Allan managed to win Edgar’s love, as she brought tea and cinnamon toast to Edgar every morning, and presented him with a kitten.
One day, after school, Edgar found a mouse, which he showed to his friends. His friends took hold of the mouse and forced Edgar to watch as they grotesquely tortured it. Horrified, Edgar ran home and sat on his bed, overflowing with anger and despair. His new kitten kept bothering him until he'd finally had enough, so he attempted to kill the cat. Fanny was able to interfere, but was shocked at Edgar’s actions. This incident changed Edgar, who began to impress Jock Allan by excelling in sports and school. Fanny Allan slowly went insane, claiming there was an Imp in her head making her want to do strange things like making "coo-koo" noises. She was sent to an institute for the insane, and died leaping off of the seventeenth floor, possibly in an attempt to "fly the coop".
Poe then met Sarah Elmira Royster
, a strange girl who shared his love of morbid stories. They secretly got engaged, and planned to be married sometime in the future. Edgar promised to write Elmira every day upon leaving for university, which he did. He never received a letter in return from Elmira, because her father hid all of the letters Edgar mailed to her. Possibly because of this, Elmira marries another man. Edgar Allan Poe finds university difficult and wild, and returns home before finishing his degree.
Upon coming home, he finds that Jock Allan has remarried and had a child. Jock and his new wife are unwelcoming to Edgar, and he moves to the streets. Soon, Edgar comes in contact with his brother Henry, who is living with their Aunt Muddy Clemm, another unfortunate Poe. Edgar, Henry and Rosalie reunite, and make plans for the future. One night, Edgar hears his brother Henry coughing, and like his mother, William Henry Leonard Poe dies from tuberculosis. Rosalie Poe leaves, to a school for "girls in need of moral disposition".
Aunt Muddy Clemm had a daughter, Virginia Clemm, also known as Sissy. Sissy'd been away at boarding school, but became close friends with Edgar Allan Poe. Soon Edgar scored a position through the publisher Rufus Griswold, and his poems began to appear in magazines. Edgar married Sissy, and slowly gained fame for his writing. Jealous of Edgar Allan Poe, Rufus Griswold spread a rumor about Edgar having an affair with a wealthy lady. Because of this rumor, Edgar’s reputation plummeted, and he lost his job. His wife Sissy becomes ill with tuberculosis, throwing Edgar into depression and alcoholism. Sissy dies, and Edgar Allan Poe is left alone. One night, Edgar plans to poison himself, but is visited by his old love, Elmira Royster. Her husband has died, and she and Edgar rekindle their relationship and arrange for a wedding. Before they marry, Edgar disappears for five days. He shows up miles from where he was last seen. He is soaking wet, confused and disheveled. Edgar is taken to a doctor, where they declare that it is only a matter of time until he succumbs to his illness. The play ends with the death of Edgar Allan Poe. Although the cause of his death is not stated, it is hinted that he dies from tuberculosis.
in 2009, including:
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
, and the internal struggles he faced which later on inspired his writings. The script contains many references to Edgar Allan Poe's poems and short stories. The majority of the script follows the true events which took place in his life, while other aspects are fictitious. It was originally produced at the Catalyst Theatre
Catalyst Theatre
Catalyst Theatre is a theatre company in Edmonton founded in 1977. Catalyst Theatre creates and tours new work developed under Artistic Director Jonathan Christenson in collaboration with Resident Designer Bretta Gerecke...
in Edmonton, Alberta and went on to be performed at theatre festivals across Canada.
Original Cast
The following is the original cast of Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe.- Shannon Blanchet as Nancy Valentine, Elmira Royster, Mrs. Samuel Osgood, and Chorus
- Sheldon Elter as Henry Poe, Bill Burton, and Raven
- Beth Graham as Rosalie Poe, Fanny Allan, Ann Carter Lee, Virginia Clemm, Dreser, Society Lady and Chorus
- Ryan Parker as Alexander Shelton, Rufus Griswold, Metzengerstein's Horse, Corpse, Pallbearer, Chorus, The Imp
- Garett Ross as David Poe, Jock Allan, Mr. Bliss, Raven, Corpse
- Vanessa Sabourin as Eliza Poe, Muddy Clemm, Miss Duval, Society Lady, Chorus
- Scott Shpeley as Edgar Allan Poe
Synopsis
The story begins with Edgar Allan Poe’s mother Eliza PoeEliza Poe
Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe was an English-born American actress and the mother of the American author Edgar Allan Poe.-Life and career:...
, a talented travelling actress. She was married to David Poe, who gave up the study of law to follow his wife in the career of theatre. Unlike his wife, however, David often forgot his lines due to stage fright, making him easy fodder for critics. He ended up becoming an alcoholic, spending most of his time in the bar. Eliza Poe’s dressing maid helped deliver and raise her children. The oldest was William Henry Leonard Poe
William Henry Leonard Poe
William Henry Leonard Poe, often referred to as Henry Poe , was a sailor, amateur poet and the older brother of Edgar Allan Poe and Rosalie Poe....
, an adventurous boy who collected interesting objects, the most prized being the skull of a cat. The youngest was Rosalie Poe, a somewhat deranged girl. On the darkest, and loneliest, of nights (so the legend goes), Edgar Allan Poe was born. The father disappeared, eventually leaving Eliza to raise three children on her own. Although sometimes she was exuberant, Eliza spent most of her time sick, and depressed, in bed. One night, Edgar woke to hear his mother coughing; Eliza Poe later died of tuberculosis. The three Poe children were split up from each other and sent off to new homes.
Edgar went to live at the Allan household, and was greeted by the housekeeper Nancy Valentine. She told Edgar about the Allans, presently away for a few days. Finally the Allans, Fanny and Jock, arrived home. They'd adopted Edgar because of their love for Eliza Poe and theatre in general. Fanny'd wished to adopt all of the children, but Jock Allan would only allow the one to be "fostered", not "adopted". Edgar feared Jock Allan, not just because the man was blind in one eye, but because Jock was bitter and disregarding towards the lad. Fanny Allan managed to win Edgar’s love, as she brought tea and cinnamon toast to Edgar every morning, and presented him with a kitten.
One day, after school, Edgar found a mouse, which he showed to his friends. His friends took hold of the mouse and forced Edgar to watch as they grotesquely tortured it. Horrified, Edgar ran home and sat on his bed, overflowing with anger and despair. His new kitten kept bothering him until he'd finally had enough, so he attempted to kill the cat. Fanny was able to interfere, but was shocked at Edgar’s actions. This incident changed Edgar, who began to impress Jock Allan by excelling in sports and school. Fanny Allan slowly went insane, claiming there was an Imp in her head making her want to do strange things like making "coo-koo" noises. She was sent to an institute for the insane, and died leaping off of the seventeenth floor, possibly in an attempt to "fly the coop".
Poe then met Sarah Elmira Royster
Sarah Elmira Royster
Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton was an adolescent sweetheart of Edgar Allan Poe who became engaged to him shortly before his death in 1849....
, a strange girl who shared his love of morbid stories. They secretly got engaged, and planned to be married sometime in the future. Edgar promised to write Elmira every day upon leaving for university, which he did. He never received a letter in return from Elmira, because her father hid all of the letters Edgar mailed to her. Possibly because of this, Elmira marries another man. Edgar Allan Poe finds university difficult and wild, and returns home before finishing his degree.
Upon coming home, he finds that Jock Allan has remarried and had a child. Jock and his new wife are unwelcoming to Edgar, and he moves to the streets. Soon, Edgar comes in contact with his brother Henry, who is living with their Aunt Muddy Clemm, another unfortunate Poe. Edgar, Henry and Rosalie reunite, and make plans for the future. One night, Edgar hears his brother Henry coughing, and like his mother, William Henry Leonard Poe dies from tuberculosis. Rosalie Poe leaves, to a school for "girls in need of moral disposition".
Aunt Muddy Clemm had a daughter, Virginia Clemm, also known as Sissy. Sissy'd been away at boarding school, but became close friends with Edgar Allan Poe. Soon Edgar scored a position through the publisher Rufus Griswold, and his poems began to appear in magazines. Edgar married Sissy, and slowly gained fame for his writing. Jealous of Edgar Allan Poe, Rufus Griswold spread a rumor about Edgar having an affair with a wealthy lady. Because of this rumor, Edgar’s reputation plummeted, and he lost his job. His wife Sissy becomes ill with tuberculosis, throwing Edgar into depression and alcoholism. Sissy dies, and Edgar Allan Poe is left alone. One night, Edgar plans to poison himself, but is visited by his old love, Elmira Royster. Her husband has died, and she and Edgar rekindle their relationship and arrange for a wedding. Before they marry, Edgar disappears for five days. He shows up miles from where he was last seen. He is soaking wet, confused and disheveled. Edgar is taken to a doctor, where they declare that it is only a matter of time until he succumbs to his illness. The play ends with the death of Edgar Allan Poe. Although the cause of his death is not stated, it is hinted that he dies from tuberculosis.
Productions
- Catalyst TheatreCatalyst TheatreCatalyst Theatre is a theatre company in Edmonton founded in 1977. Catalyst Theatre creates and tours new work developed under Artistic Director Jonathan Christenson in collaboration with Resident Designer Bretta Gerecke...
May 2009 - National Arts CentreNational Arts CentreThe National Arts Centre is a centre for the performing arts located in Ottawa, Ontario, between Elgin Street and the Rideau Canal...
June 2009 - LuminatoLuminatoLuminato - Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, is a publicly-attended, multi-disciplinary arts festival held annually for 10 days each June in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
Theatre Festival June 2009 - Keyano Theatre, Fort McMurray, February 2010
- Catalyst TheatreCatalyst TheatreCatalyst Theatre is a theatre company in Edmonton founded in 1977. Catalyst Theatre creates and tours new work developed under Artistic Director Jonathan Christenson in collaboration with Resident Designer Bretta Gerecke...
February 2010 - Barbican CentreBarbican CentreThe Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, July 2010 - New Victory TheatreNew Victory TheatreThe New Victory Theater is an Off-Broadway theater located at 209 West 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, in Midtown Manhattan. The New Victory is New York's first and only theater for children and family audiences...
, October 2010 - Vertigo Theatre Centre, CalgaryCalgaryCalgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, January 2011
Awards
Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe was the winner of seven Sterling AwardsElizabeth Sterling Haynes Award
The Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award is a local Edmonton, Alberta award presented annually which honours excellence in theatre...
in 2009, including:
- Outstanding Production of a Musical
- Outstanding Director (Jonathan Christenson)
- Outstanding Costume Design (Bretta Gerecke)
- Outstanding Lighting Design (Bretta Gerecke)
- Outstanding Score of a Play or Musical (Jonathan Christenson and Wade Staples)
- Outstanding Musical Director (Jonathan Christenson)
- Outstanding Choreography or Fight Direction (Laura Krewski)