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

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.

Original Cast

The following is the original cast of Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe.^{[Ref 1]}

• 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 Poe, 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.

Productions

• Catalyst Theatre May 2009^{[Ref 2]}
• National Arts Centre June 2009^{[Ref 3]}
• Luminato Theatre Festival June 2009^{[Ref 4]}
• Keyano Theatre, Fort McMurray, February 2010^{[Ref 5]}
• Catalyst Theatre February 2010^{[Ref 2]}
• Barbican Centre, London, July 2010^{[Ref 6]}
• New Victory Theatre, October 2010^{[Ref 7]}
• Vertigo Theatre Centre, Calgary, January 2011^{[Ref 8]}

Awards

Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe was the winner of seven Sterling Awards in 2009^{[Ref 9]}, 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)

References

1. ^ http://www.artsclub.com/20092010/plays/house-programme/nevermore.pdf
2. ^ ^{a b} http://www.catalysttheatre.ca/NEVERMORE/nevermore.html?949787544849
3. ^ http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/whatson/results.cfm?EventID=5985
4. ^ http://www.luminato.com/2009/events/33
5. ^ http://pushfestival.ca/index.php?mpage=shows&spage=main&id=99
6. ^ http://www.catalysttheatre.ca/NEVERMORE/nevermore.html?1279508150627
7. ^ http://www.catalysttheatre.ca/NEVERMORE/nevermore.html?1279508150627
8. ^ http://www.catalysttheatre.ca/NEVERMORE/nevermore.html?1279508150627
9. ^ http://www.sterlingawards.com/