Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe
This was a heavily stylized production that utilized puppets, shadows, mask play, and physical elements to tell the story of Poe's life/death. I used object puppetry as well as a classic Punch and Judy rod puppet in designing the puppets for this show. The props for this show are equally stylized, over-sized, and generally askew.
PROPS
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Edgar's Journal
Edgar's journal is with him throughout the entire production. It needed to be durable, functional, and had to have a place for a writing utensil. The journal was built with an interior pocket to hold several letters Edgar produces throughout the show.
Materials: The book was traditionally bound in chipboard with a leather spine, damask print cover, contrasting inner cover papers, hand-lettered name plate, and hand dyed feather. *Click images to zoom.
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Tea Cups
Everything in the world of this production was slightly askew and/or out of proportion.
Materials: These tea cups are oversized and hand painted. They are made from plastic bowls, paper clay, heavy gauge wire, acrylic paints, and fabric strips. *Click images to zoom.
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Laudanum Bottle and Luggage
Left: Antique Glass bottle with hand inked "Laudanum" label.
Right: Luggage for Edgar's brother and sister: Henry Leonard Poe and Rosalie Poe. Henry's is made from a stock suitcase painted in black with a speckle treatment. Rosalie's was a cardboard hatbox to which I added a fabric handle. Both pieces have vinyl striping and hand lettered monograms. *Click images to zoom.
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Henry Poe's BoxThis box belonged to Edgar's brother, Henry. In it, he kept all his most prized possessions. The box included an LED uplight to illuminate Henry's face when the box was opened.
"A broken sea shell, an ink-stained quill –
Half a love-letter torn in two, A handkerchief that was covered in blood And a ribbon of faded blue. A beetle with wings that shimmered like gold, A crayfish I pulled from the river – A clear glass vial with a label that read “Dr. Sheldon’s Gin Pills for the liver!” Henry Poe in "Nevermore..." Act 1, sc. 5 |
