Written by Olivia Brandon and Emily Gordon
“Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe” is an immersive show that captivates audiences from start to finish. Whether you’re a Poe fanatic or this is your introduction to his work, this play brings the author’s words to life in a striking way.
Adorned in costumes akin to Haunted Mansion-style garb, the theater department utilized cast members standing behind nearly see-through walls to create a striking ghostly effect.
Accompanied by his ghoulish counterpart (played by Karter Spoklie), Edgar Allen Poe (played by Trevor Ferguson) takes us on a journey through the inner workings of his mind, communicated through performances of his most famous works. “The Raven”, “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” are just a few of the iconic works performed by Poe and the rest of the cast of spooky spectators.
The play is based on a 2004 novel published by Eric Coble. The Director of the production, Gordon Reinhart, explains the process of bringing a novel to life
“It is just words on a page, and how do we render it with human beings in front of other human beings as an audience. What does it look like? Sound like? How does it feel?” said Reinhart. “What would serve the words on the page best, and it moves at its own pace, but it moves briskly.”
Trevor Ferguson, a junior Theater Arts major plays the role of “Poe”, the central character tied directly to the romantic style poet, Edgar Allen Poe. Ferguson offers insight regarding the difficulty of becoming the poet himself.
“I’m not gonna lie, it wasn’t easy. We went through a lot of script changes, and we added characters, and we did a bunch of stuff that wasn’t what normally the script was. And so it was just difficult, like marching that territory,” said Ferguson. “So it was weird trying to figure out what the line is between the person and the character, and trying to find the humor in this macabre play that was very difficult, but I think we found a nice balance in the end.”
The acting alone solidifies this performance as a strong start to the Danny Peterson Theatre’s season but the lighting and sound take it to the next level.
From the eerie lighting that envelops the stage to the beating heart that booms in the background as Poe desperately tries to ease his murderous guilt, these components take “Nightfall” to the next level.
Performing such a culturally rich and macabre story takes commitment and work, Ferguson sheds light on the moment stage lights turn on and the audience watches.
“As soon as the lights are on and you’re there, that’s the pain, that’s the anxiety-ridden moment,” said Ferguson. “And then the first word gets spoken, you’re like, ‘Okay, we can do this. It’s fine.’”
One of the show’s most creative aspects was characters playing multiple roles or representing various people. Sophia Jaros began the play as the raven, dressed in a beautiful black gown adorned with lace, but shifted to represent death in later renditions. As characters would near their death, the figure would drape her veil across their face — representing a literal “brush” with death.
Madeline Usher, played by Natalie Kimery, was a standout performance. From her perfectly chilling laugh to her captivating stage presence Kimery commanded the audience’s attention from the moment she stepped on stage.
It is no surprise that bringing a play to life is no simple feat, it is only the direction and cast collaboration that this play breathes life in front of a live audience.
“It’s a myth that great art gets created amidst chaos. There’s always a bit of chaos, but you want it to be structured and organized,” said Reinhart. “And every minute that we have, we have a goal that we’re pursuing while we work through that minute.”
The Boise State theater department will perform “They Promised Her the Moon”, based on a 2022 novel about the first American woman to test a space flight. As well as a rendition of “The Little Prince”, a timeless classic about a young prince and his planetary expedition.
