Nevermore

"Nevermore" is the beautifully stylized imagining of Edgar Allan Poe's life, brought to the Magnetic North Theatre Festival by Edmonton's Catalyst Theatre. Told entirely in verse and song, this unique piece shows us the tragic events that ultimately informed Poe's macabre writing style.

Visually, the play looks like it has been lifted right out of a Tim Burton film with wildly gorgeous costumes, sinister lighting and choreographed movement to compliment the verse. Production designer Bretta Gerecke and sound designer Wade Staples create a truly dark and haunting world, while choreographer Laura Krewski fits characters into this world by giving them large, exaggerated movements. Exaggeration is probably the best way to describe this show. All of the elements: the design, the writing, the performances, are exaggerated in order to create this dangerous and disturbing world Poe must navigate.

Also exaggerated is the particular point of view that writer/director/composer Jonathan Christensen brings to this biography: Edgar Allan Poe in this telling is almost completely without agency. The events of his life are not driven by the choices he makes, but rather he is bounced from one terrible situation to another by external forces. At certain points in the story, the narrators even physically prevent him from heading in a particular direction, in order that he head towards what is his predestined fate. This perception of Poe as a victim of circumstance is very interesting: even his writing is presented as something he must do, rather than something he chooses to do, as the narrators literally put the pen in his hand and open a book in front of him.

The easy criticism of this piece is that because it is an expository presentation of the events of Edgar Allan Poe's life, and because it is presented in verse, there is a lack of traditional story arc. This means the piece does start to feel long. The audience figures out the formula: death, followed by Poe meeting someone who brings him hope and love, then that person dies, and so on.

It is rare, especially in Ottawa, to see a piece so carefully crafted and excellently executed, that I for one am willing to overlook the predictable plot elements. This show is wonderfully dark and even has some elements of the grotesque. And it is performed by an incredible ensemble of actors from Edmonton.

Definitely a show not to be missed.

Rating: M
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Nevermore plays in the NAC Studio as part of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival June 3-6.