Berkshire Theatre Group, Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge, MA
through October 26, 2014
by Shera Cohen
The set is numerous shades of brown with a smattering of
black. The rustic interior of a tavern sits in the center of ceiling-to-floor
paper panels, each with faded handwriting. This is not a friendly place which
audience members step into, not only in the shroud of dark scenery but in the
company of its inhabitants. Add macabre music and thunder claps and “Poe” is
off to a powerful start.
Director/playwright Eric Hill’s imagination has chronicled
the final days in the life of Edgar Allan Poe. Indeed, Poe’s demise is as
mysterious as was his life and writings. Hill has seamlessly meshed history
with fiction and poetry with dialogue for his main character. Poe’s language is
full of near-operatic arias, most taken from his own writing, held together by
meaningful recitative.
While “Poe” is not a one-man play, it very well could be for
several reasons, most importantly beginning with actor David Adkins’ portrayal
of the tortured poet. Adkins, who has acted quite nicely, primarily in
contemporary plays over the years at Berkshire Theatre, entrenches his
mannerisms and psyche into the body and soul of the wreck of a man Poe has
become. It is hard to imagine another actor donning the mantle of agony, hopelessness,
and mystery balanced with beauty, love, and brilliance. Assuredly, bringing Poe
to life and ultimately to death is far from an easy task. At times, Adkins
superbly plays the friendly drunk. Yet, humor often shades hard truth, and in
Poe’s case, the truth is too harsh to live with. Adkins personifies his Poe
with feigned levity awash with harsh reality, so that “Poe’s” audience is
decidedly uncomfortable to laugh or even smile. Hill achieves that dichotomy.
Yes, other actors appear onstage, but their actions and
words do little to flesh out Poe’s character and/or link theirs with his in
important ways. The play’s start serves as repartee solely as a prelude to
Poe’s entrance. While Kate Maguire’s character’s recitation of “The Tale Heart”
is effectively chilling, it might have served better as a preamble to the play
or after-show reading.
“Poe” has a short run at Berkshire Theatre, so make a date
with this master poet soon.
