Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe

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Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe is a musical that was written, composed, and directed by Jonathan Christenson and designed by Bretta Gerecke. It follows the life of Edgar Allan Poe and the internal and external struggles he faced which are depicted as inspiring his writings. In the play, Poe struggles with tragedies such as death, abandonment, addiction, poverty, and loss.^[1] The script contains many references to Poe's poems and short stories. The script fictionalizes true events that took place in his life while also incorporating his creative works and poems. It was originally produced at the Catalyst Theater in Edmonton, Alberta, for an 11-week production that then went on to be performed at theater festivals, theaters across Canada, to the Barbican Theater in London, and the New Victory Theater in New York City.

Synopsis[]

The story begins with Edgar Allan Poe's mother Eliza Poe, a talented traveling actress. She is married to David Poe, who gave up the study of law to follow his wife in the theater. Unlike his wife, David has severe stage fright, making him famous like his wife but in a different way. He becomes an alcoholic and spends most of his time in the bar. Eliza Poe's dressing maid helps deliver and raise their three children in the coming years. On the darkest and loneliest, of nights, Edgar Allan Poe is born. His father disappears at night, leaving Eliza to raise the children on her own. (From The Beginning)

The oldest child is William Henry Leonard Poe, an adventurous boy who collects interesting objects, the most prized being the skull of a cat. He dreams of finding a treasure with his brother and sister. The youngest is Rosalie. While Henry is hopeful, Edgar is far from such. (The Family Poe pt.1)

Although sometimes she is exuberant, Eliza spends most of her time sick, and depressed, in bed. One night, Edgar wakes to hear his mother coughing; Eliza Poe later dies of tuberculosis. The three Poe children are split up from each other and sent off to new homes. (The Death of Eliza) The Allans take in Edgar because of their love for Eliza Poe and theater. Fanny Allan wishes to adopt all of the children, but John Allan, called "Jock" in the play, only allows one to be fostered. Edgar fears Jock Allan, not just because the man is blind in one eye, but because Jock is bitter and disregarding towards the boy. Fanny Allan wins Edgar's love, as she brings tea and cinnamon toast to Edgar every morning, and presents him with a kitten. (The House of Allan pt.1)

Edgar becomes a prize student in language and especially poetry. Jock argues with Fanny that poetry will not get him anywhere. (Born Poet) Meanwhile, Edgar dreams to be a poet that is so good that the moon will blush and the stars salute. He says he hopes to be like the angel Israfel, the angel of music. (Israfel)

Jock confronts a 13-year old Edgar that he must focus on his future. Because of this, he began to impress Jock Allan by excelling in sports and school. (Jock's Advice) Fanny Allan slowly goes insane, claiming there is an imp in her head making her want to do strange things like making cuckoo noises. She is sent to an institute for the insane, and dies leaping off of the seventeenth floor, possibly in an attempt to "fly the coop". (The Death of Fanny Allan) After her death, Edgar is officially given the name Allan. But he starts to have dark thoughts, which Jock sees as him not accepting his gift. (Dream Within a Dream) Edgar visits Fanny's grave in a cemetery next to the Church of Saint John. There he meets Elmira. (The Entr'acte)

Sarah Elmira Royster is a strange girl who shares his love of morbid stories and the dark. They secretly become engaged, and plan to be married sometime in the future. Edgar promises to write Elmira every day upon leaving for university, which he does. He never receives a letter in return from Elmira because her father hides all of the letters he sent. (Edgar meet Elmira) Edgar goes to college but has no money for books or food and Jock refuses to send him anything. He returns to Jock Allan without finishing his degree. Elmira marries another man, though she soon finds out that her father hid Edgar's letters.(College Life) Upon coming home, Edgar finds that Jock Allan had remarried and had a child. Jock and his new wife are unwelcoming to Edgar, and he moves to the streets. (The House of Allan pt.2)

Soon, Edgar comes in contact with his brother Henry, who is living with their Aunt Muddy Clemm. Henry and Edgar find they share a love of poetry and the dark. Henry, Edgar, and Rosalie reunite, and make plans for the future. One night, Edgar hears his brother Henry coughing, and like his mother, he soon dies from tuberculosis. Rosalie Poe leaves for a school for "girls in need of moral disposition". His dark thoughts haunt him once again and Edgar starts drinking like his father. The books he sells do not keep him stable and he writes Jock for help, fearing he may die if he doesn't get money for bills. Jock turns him away, and doesn't include him in his will. (The Family Poe pt.2)

Aunt Muddy Clemm had a daughter, Virginia Clemm, also known as Sissy. Sissy had 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. (Taunting Ray of Hope) Edgar writes The Raven and in this scene, he sings it along with the poem Lenore he also wrote. (The Raven) 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 and he begins drinking once again. But Sissy keeps hope he still loves her, writing him a poem. Sissy becomes ill with tuberculosis, throwing Edgar into depression and alcoholism. Sissy died, and Edgar Allan Poe was left alone.(The Death of Sissy)

One night, Edgar planned to poison himself, but was visited by his old love, Elmira Royster. Her husband had died, and she and Edgar rekindled their relationship and arranged to be we'd once and for all. Edgar declares no more of the darkness and madness that had cursed him(No More of This Madness) Edgar is confronted by his dark thoughts, who are the actors in the play who have been playing his past. They saying they were always there and can't escape them. They claim without them he would be nothing. He tries to escape them but ends up jumping of the streamer he's on. He goes to a bar and then taken to hospital, but he ends up dying. (We are Your Nightmares). The play ended with the death of Edgar Allan Poe. Although the cause of his death was not stated, it is hinted that he died from tuberculosis.

Original cast[]

The following is the original cast of Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe.^[2]

• Shannon Blanchet as Nancy Valentine, Elmira Royster, Mrs. Samuel Osgood, Miss Duval and Chorus
• Sheldon Elter as Henry Poe, Bill Burton, and Raven
• Beth Graham as Rosalie Poe, Fanny Allan, Ann Carter Lee, Virginia Clemm, Dresser, 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

Productions[]

• Catalyst Theatre May 2009^[3]
• National Arts Centre June 2009^[4]
• Luminato Theatre Festival June 2009^[5]
• , Fort McMurray, February 2010^[6]
• Catalyst Theatre February 2010^[3]
• Barbican Centre, London, July 2010^{[citation needed]}
• New Victory Theater, October 2010^{[citation needed]}
• , Calgary, January 2011^{[citation needed]}
• Persephone Theatre, Saskatoon, October 2011^{[citation needed]}
• , Edmonton, February 2014^{[citation needed]}
• , Vernon, March 2014^{[citation needed]}
• , West Vancouver, March 2014^{[citation needed]}
• New World Stages, New York City, January 2015^[7]
• Doctuh Mistuh Productions, Austin Playhouse, Texas, October 2016^[8]
• Parkway South High School, Manchester, MO, October 2016
• Parkway South High School, St Louis Missouri, Missouri Thespian Conference, January 2017
• Strathcona High School, Edmonton, Alberta, April 2017
• Black Button Eyes Productions, The Edge Theatre, Chicago Premiere, January 2018 ^[9]
• , Merced, CA, January 2018 ^[10] Cast Recording (Album)
• Terryville High School, Connecticut, March 2018
• Heritage High School, Lynchburg, Virginia, October 2018
• VTA's, Heritage High School, Norfolk, Virginia, October 2018
• Heritage High School, Lynchburg, Virginia, March 2019
• Tullahoma High School, Tullahoma, TN, April/May 2019^[11]

Following an 11-week run of Nevermore Off-Broadway at New World Stages from January 14, 2015 to March 29, 2015, the cast recording of Nevermore was released by Broadway Records on June 16, 2015 entitled Nevermore - The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe (Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording) [2 CD set].^[12][13]

Awards[]

Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe was the winner of seven Sterling Awards in 2009,^[14] 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)

Additionally, Nevermore received two Betty Mitchell Awards in 2011:^[15]

• Outstanding Costume Design (Bretta Gerecke)
• Outstanding Production of a Musical

References[]