Decked out with skeletons, skulls and all décor dark and spooky, the moment theatregoers stepped into the Garrick Theatre, they were transported into a gothic world with a focus on ghosts, murder and mayhem, and a dose of eccentricity.
From the famed American writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe, a series of his tales were brought to life by talented young actors of the Teens at Garrick theatre group for Poe Dreams of Madness.
The play begins with Edgar himself, superbly played by Annie Dahn as the troubled and eccentric protagonist. Unsure whether he’s dreaming or awake, he looks back on some of his greatest tales, unaware that he is the mastermind behind their creation. Like a dream he’s desperately trying to recall, there are moments when lines that are spoken become familiar to him, but it’s an ongoing struggle for him to put pieces of the puzzle together.
The play is reminiscent of A Christmas Carol, where Scrooge is taken back at the stroke of midnight to watch his past play out before him. However, in this instance, it is the raven who takes Edgar on a journey to watch his tales play out before him.
Edgar was one of America’s greatest writers, but he was a tortured soul. In 1849, he was found in the gutters outside a Baltimore polling station, disoriented, incoherent, and wearing another man’s clothes. It is almost as though he is transported from that moment to the start of the play, unable to make sense of what is happening, what is real, and what is not real.
Nine of his tales are retold, including his most well-known, The Raven, and The House of the Fall of Usher, which, for those who may be interested, is currently streaming on Netflix. Each scene tells a different tale, and the transitions between each scene are seamless and skillful.
The stories build up to a climax, at which Edgar is confronted with characters from his stories and, in a way, confronted with himself. All characters are played with great passion and enthusiasm from the young cast.
The set was simple but very effective, with few props but it was all that was needed together with mood lighting to make the audience feel they were inside a dim-lit gloomy study room of an old 19th century brick building.
Poe Dreams of Madness left me wanting to know more about Edgar’s life and his works but for anyone into dark gothic tales, you will not be disappointed.
For tickets, book online at https://www.taztix.com.au/garricktheatre/
or Phone Bookings:
TAZ Tix 9255 3336
Venue: Garrick Theatre
16 Meadow St, Guildford
Performance Dates:
September 27, 28, 29*, October 4, 5*, 5eve, 6*, 11, 12
All evening shows at 7.30pm.
*Matinees at 2pm
Tickets: Adult $28, Concession $23, Members $22
Child Under 18 years $15
This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.
