Honoring the Master of the Macabre (Under the Boards/StageOne)
Oct 24
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An Evening of Poe
Written by Edgar Allan Poe
Produced by Under the Boards Theatre
Review by Regina Harris
Entire contents are copyright @ 2025 by Regina Harris. All rights reserved.
Louisville spooky season standard, An Evening of Poe, opened Thursday night at StageOne Family Theatre, marking a significant milestone for this beloved Louisville tradition. Despite its 14-year history, this is the first time the production has been staged in a true theatre, having originally presented in atmospheric Frazier History Museum and aboard the Belle of Louisville. The result is a refreshed, revitalized encounter with Edgar Allan Poe’s poignant poetry and spine-chilling stories, with a few tantalizing twists.
For longtime fans for whom An Evening of Poe is an annual tradition, this year’s production is full of surprises. Not to give too much away, but one of the biggest shifts comes with the lesser known and somewhat odd story, Loss of Breath. Reimagined as a silent movie in the comedic style of Charlie Chaplin, it is whimsical, clever, absurd and unexpectedly hilarious, yet unmistakably Poe.
A major enhancement this season is the addition of live music performed by Rick Quisol. His smooth, lightly jazzy/vintage tropical sound - reminiscent of Frank Sinatra strolling into a Don Ho lounge - becomes a character all on its own. Even more impressive: Quisol works without a preset playlist. He chooses each song in real time responding instinctively to the scene’s mood. The spontaneity is brilliant and seamless, never distracting, and draws the audience deeper into the performance.
Under the Boards Theatre, comprised of Kelly Moore, Eric Franz, and Tony Digman - stewards of this annual tribute to Poe - clearly reveled in working in a true theatre. They had the room to roam the stage, making good use of the space. As always, the stage settings were spare and props and costumes few, but their tell-tale connection to the material hasn’t changed. This revitalized presentation elevates it into something that feels newly alive.
An Evening of Poe has always honored the master of the macabre, but this year dared to reimagined him. Longtime fans will appreciate the familiar favorite; and newcomers will find a polished, engaging entry point into the tradition. Either way it’s a night of dark delights, laughter, and smart, theatrical innovation.
As usual, the run is only four performances long, so tickets will go fast, but StageOne Family Theatre’s larger (but still intimate) Walden Theatre gives audiences one more chance to see it. Call the box office today because the only thing scarier than Poe…is missing Poe!
An Evening of Poe
October 23, 24, 25, 26 at 7:30 p.m.
StageOne Family Theatre at the Walden Theatre stage
1129 Payne Street
Louisville, KY 40204
502.498.2436
