POE

Synopsis

World premiere in 2004 at the Saarländisches Staatstheater, followed by a new production in 2005 at the Tollwood Festival in Munich. The central character and creative source for this musical is the forefather of Gothic literature, Edgar Allan Poe. In seven scenes, thematically inspired by Poe’s most famous stories, the musical tells the story of a fateful pact with the devil.

Poe, whose dark obsessions are driving him to the brink of madness, is promised healing by the mysterious Dr. Pilatus—who is in fact none other than the devil himself. If Poe grants the notoriously unimaginative devil his gruesome scenarios, he will finally be freed from his tormenting visions. Poe agrees and suddenly finds himself caught in a whirlwind in which his own fantasies become reality.

At the “Club Amontillado,” where Pilatus is worshipped as the “Master of the Night,” Poe meets Madeline and falls for her. Madeline, however, ignores his declarations of love; she is addicted to the ultimate thrill—and it will be her last. A show trial is held against Poe. Virginia—both a creature of fantasy and the real-life owner of the club—prevents his conviction, but loses the club’s license. The new owner is a poker king. Poe gambles against him for the club—the game ends in a duel.

Poe is once again pursued—with Virginia at his side. They confess their love for one another. Yet later, as demanded by Pilatus, Poe is to sacrifice Virginia. Poe defies evil, refuses the ritual, and renounces the pact. In a final duel between Poe and Pilatus, Poe fails to recognize the “truth” within the nightmare: that he himself is Pilatus. He shoots his enemy—and thereby himself.

Virginia bids farewell to Poe and is sent back by Pilatus to the realm of shadows from which she came. Poe is dead. Yet neither good nor evil, neither Virginia nor Pilatus, deny him their reverence. Poe lives on in his writing.

Performance rights: @franknimsgern@me.com