Performance Review: Nevermore On Film

The Catalyst Theatre, an Edmonton-based theatre company, is known for its highly inventive and dramatic original productions. Their most recent exploit, Nevermore: The Imaginary Life & Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe on film, is no exception. The show Nevermore was conceived over fifteen years ago and has toured both nationally and internationally since. Catalyst recently committed it to film. They reunited the original cast at Calgary’s Vertigo Theatre in order to immortalize the production as a motion picture. The film premiered January 18 at the Citadel Theatre, and I had the pleasure of attending.

Nevermore is an original musical written and directed by Jonathan Christenson. It follows the life and times of the renowned poet Edgar Allan Poe, from birth to enigmatic death. While some of the plot is based on historical fact, much of the show is imagined due to the esoteric nature of Poe’s life. Christenson paints a dark and disturbing portrait of a tortured man who turns to his work for refuge. Filled with a mixture of darkly whimsical tunes and modern pop rock numbers, Nevermore is as bizarre as it is compelling.

Nevermore has a clear, cohesive artistic vision that is beautifully executed. The impishly grotesque aesthetic is brought to life through beautiful costume design and use of monstrous puppets. The costumes, designed by Bretta Gerecke, bring to life the outrageous, Tim Burton-esque visuals of the show. These costumes enhance the expressionistic and robotic movements of the actors. The film medium allowed a much closer look at the costumes than is usually available in theatre. This allowed the audience to appreciate the grimy, almost trash-like textures of the fabric. This truly drove home the distressed tone and aesthetic of the production.

The show, at its core, is very theatrical, in both visuals and plot. While the drama of the design helps accentuate the high stakes felt by Poe, at times the show can be repetitive. How many times can Poe fall into the deepest depths of despair only to be pulled out by yet another guardian angel? This juxtaposition can be felt in both the script and music. The variety of musical styles is intriguing, but at times it makes the dramatic rock ballads feel slightly out of place next to the lighter melodies. The repetitive contrasts start to take away from their intended emotional impact.

Despite the occasional tonal whiplash, the actors kept the show together. Working beautifully together as an ensemble, the cast delivered a smorgasbord of pitiful and freaky characters. While Poe has minimal dialogue, Scott Shpeley conveyed his emotion through vivid facial expression and delightful physical acting. Beth Graham also stood out in a variety of roles, bringing amusing character voice and physicality to each of her characters. She managed to make herself both pitiable and hilarious.

All in all, Nevermore is a delightfully morbid musical for Poe fans and passive appreciators alike. Christenson’s strong direction and clear artistic vision make for an immersive journey into Poe’s tragic life. Combined with excellent performances and wonderful design, Nevermore is a delight.