Rising stars take on Poe Poe Poe!

‘THROUGH JOY, THROUGH SORROW': Poe Poe Poe! is a story about the life and works of American's most famous morose poet, Edgar Allen Poe. Picture supplied

Evolution Theatre Company's Rising Stars, ages 12-15, are taking the stage to present Poe Poe Poe!, a story about the life and works of America's most famous morose poet, Edgar Allen Poe.

The play runs for 45 minutes and features some of Gisborne's up and coming young talent.

Poe's most famous, thrilling, chilling and spine-tingling works have been adapted for young actors and audiences in this work.

The play begins as Poe is dying. The author blends tragic scenes with fantasy and comedy as the writer recounts his desolate life as he struggles with imminent death.

He believed the only true, worthy subject of literature was the melancholy examination of the death of a beautiful woman.

Biographers and critics often suggest that Poe's frequent theme of the “death of a beautiful woman” stems from the repeated loss of women throughout his life, including his young wife, who died of tuberculosis. His poem Annabel Lee is often attributed to that.

Although Poe is today recognised as one of America's greatest authors, he found little recognition in his lifetime until he published The Raven not long before he died.

Among the many touching scenes in this play is the one between Poe and his most loyal editor, Graham, in which Poe is ridiculed and humiliated. Then we hear Poe recite The Raven.

The play ends where it began, at Poe's death.

It is not a quiet death, but a final defiant excerpt from The Literary Life of Thingum Bob, Esq, in which Poe reveals the meaning of his life. “Through joy, through sorrow, through it all — I wrote!”

The play runs tonight and tomorrow at 5.30pm, and Saturday at 1.30pm, at Evolution Theatre, 75 Disraeli Street.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids.