'Take thy beak from out my heart,
And take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
The famed, horror writer Edgar Allan Poe decides to visit his childhood friend who is selling the family home. There are a lot of memories in the massive mansion where the two and Monty's sister Lenore (Chloe White) have shared. Edgar is welcomed by the crusty groundskeeper Dudley (William Knight). He tells Edgar that he believes Lenore is dead. Even though she sends Monty postcards from her trips overseas, they always arrive two to three months late. So, no one really knows where Lenore can truly be found. Edgar always had an overt crush on Monty's little sister. He is taken aback on what Dudley tells him.
Edgar decides to do some investigating beginning with Monty. Monty shoos Edgar away with his nonsensical theories. He offers him a glass of whiskey to calm his nerves. And another and another until the entire bottle is empty. A drink is the last thing the horror writer needs. He's been drinking since he arrived at the mansion and his terrorized by his own paranoia and fear of spiders. Edgar tries, unsuccessfully, to hold on to what little sanity he has but slowly descends into madness. He begins to hallucinate in seeing Lenore and cries out for her.
Director/playwright Matt Ritchey, a graduate of the prestigious NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, seems to have written "Nevermore" as a composite of Poe's work. He mentions one of his Poe's well-known story "The Pit and the Pendulum," and the casually mentioned "The Tale Tell Heart" and weaves in other Poeisms. Actor Joseph Gilbert does an exciting job as Edgar. He mimics the writer's fumbling nature, his deep insecurity and playful spirit when the need arises.
Briton Green plays his BFF Monty. He adores, or seemingly adores, his best friend, but there's something about him that says conniver. I'm just saying! Once you put all of the elements together; you have a recipe for a Poetic story. There is the creepy gardener, the secretive best friend, the attorney Catherwood (the hysterical Steve Peterson) who comes in all hours of the night and the missing sister who may or may not be dead. Whiskey, anyone? Preferably, in a tall hi-ball glass. Now we see that Poe's attempt of liquid courage is understandable.
What makes this wonderful play work so smoothly and is always on point are the characters and the marvelous writing. Ritchey's writing flows without missing any beats. How refreshing! Even though he's only on stage for a few moments, Steve Peterson is memorable as Catherwood the attorney. A lanky, intelligent man spewing out savory jokes and righteous legalese. The best part is how the focus is on Lenore whose only appearance is a self portrait above the fireplace. At first glance, Poe becomes instantly smitten and almost loses the power of speech. Her beautiful yet haunting appearance sets the tone of the play.
Richey has the touch of putting our fears out in the open and see what the hell happens. If you want to the take the experience home, you can buy the soundtrack at the theater written by Ritchy and Patrick Emswiler. It's the last song "TellTaleFinale" that is both haunting and infectious. Anyone listening will definitely be transported back to that menacing mansion and absorb Poe's feelings --both imagined and real.
"Nevermore" runs Friday and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. until Saturday, February 5 at The El Centro Theatre located at 804 N. El Centro in Los Angeles. Reserve online at www.plays411.com/nevermore or call (323) 960-1055.
