Caitlin Klutz
Reporter
Spoilers ahead for E.A.P stories, but then again, they’ve been out for 176 years.
Are you a fan of Edgar Allen Poe’s works? Enjoy listening to LASR or radio shows? Debuted May 6th-8th, PLU’s Twisted Tales of Poe was a perfect way to spend an evening with those who enjoy the creepy chilling stories and want to feel as if you’re watching a show.
The radio-staged drama, written by Phillip Grecian, retells 4 classic Edgar Allen Poe stories with their own twists and adaptations. Directed by Jeff Clapp and Peyton Noreen, Twisted Tales uses performative voices, it also includes live sound effects and music with sound director Hanne Ferguson.
Because of the state of the world, in-person performances are, for the most part, a no-go. But that doesn’t mean that performances aren’t an immersive and gratifying experience. In the director’s notes, Director Jeff Clapp reveals the pros of storytelling via radio, “..the medium of radio sparks the listener’s imagination in a different way. It allows the listener to create the images for themselves. The play happens in your head. Which, for me, makes it real.” With an emphasis on sound and voices, this performance is truly whatever you make of it inside of your own head.
Featured stories are “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “Cask of Amontillado,” “The Raven,” and “The Black Cat.” The show follows three death row prisoners of Leverett Street Jail, Death Warrant Division, each telling their story from their perspectives to one another, as well as a fourth character sharing the inside of their thoughts and mind.
These characters reflect the lonesome perspectives of their story, with characters like The Caretaker (Anamaria Guerzon) trying to convince the lot of them that despite the blatant murder charges and hearing noises from the floorboards in which their victim is scattered–they are not insane or mad. The Montresor (Caylin Morrison) reveals their woes and annoyance from justifying the rash mentality of luring the lavish and rich Fortunato (Kylie Steves) to their ultimate demise inside of the eerie wine cellar.
Between chilling stories, there are a few intermittent “advertisements” referencing PLU’s classic experiences. Including “sponsors” from the finicky Hinderly fire alarm, haunted Harstad basement, and neighborly Lewis-McChord bases’ famously inconvenient nightly bombing routines. It’s a way to make it seem like a classic radio show performance but adding a bit of lightheartedness into the dreary and eerie atmosphere of the performance.
“The Raven” is recited by The Poet (Nathan Lovitt). With this particular reading, we are invited into the mind of The Poet with accompanying sound effects and music, wondering if they truly were responsible for the death of their lover. After finishing the reading, Bedloe (Destiny Colville) shares their story with the other inmates. “The Black Cat,” has some of the most frequent sound effects and voices, ending on a high note.
Each story was carefully crafted and performed by cast members, it was easy to tell that they cared about the performing experience.
