Poe

Poe Traum in einem Traum
Lebendig begraben
Poe Manie
Schlag ein

2004 World premiere at the Saarland State Theatre, 2005 revival at the Tollwood festival in Munich. Fantasy was his profession. The extraordinary author Edgar Allan Poe, born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1809, was actually the founder of the detective novel. In his all too short life he created works such as “The Fall of the House of Usher”, “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pyms” and his most famous lyrical work “The Raven” and the genre of the horror novel. The death of a beautiful woman is almost always the at the core of these stories (“Morella”, “Ligeia” or “Annabel Lee”). Poe also achieved striking effects through previously unimaginable literary descriptions of people being “Buried Alive”. His protagonists are mostly people on a mission, people who almost challenge their destiny.

When Poe’s adoptive parents – he was an orphan – moved to Scotland for a few years, he was only six years old. After his return to America he visited the military academy in Westpoint and married his cousin Virginia. She died eleven years later; Poe never really got over her death. He drank, took laudanum and opium in great quantities and died in 1849, delirious in hospital. In America success was also initially denied to him posthumously. Only after his works had established themselves in Europe, did the Americans discover the lyrical power
of their poet Edgar Allan Poe.

Edgar Allan Poe’s last night, his last dream is the subject of the musical Poe. The story of a pact with the devil is told through seven pictures, all of which borrow from Poe’s works, but which also possess a logic and strength of their own, connected by ironical and satirical texts. The secretive doctor Dr. Pilatus is in fact the Devil himself. For the price of an alleged cure and a final big success, Poe lets the Devil have his fantasy. However instead of getting better, the poet becomes the victim of the madness of his stories and the creator of these fantasies becomes the victim, torn between addiction, sex, love and death.

Poe meets and falls in love with Madeline in the “Club Amontillado”, in which Pilatus is worshipped as “Master of the Night”. Madeline however ignores Poe’s protestations of love, as she’s addicted to the big kick – it should turn out to be her last. It turns into a show trial against Poe, Virginia – as both real club owner and fantastical creature – prevents Poe’s conviction. She loses however the licence for her club, who’s new owner is a poker king. Poe plays against him for the club, and the game ends in a duel. Poe flees again, with Virginia at his side. They confess their love to each other. Later however, according to Pilatus’ will, Poe has to sacrifice Virginia, but Poe opposes the Devil and refuses to carry out the ritual and withdraws from the pact. In a final duel between Poe and Pilatus, Poe doesn’t recognise the “Truth” in the nightmare: that he is in fact himself Pilatus. He shoots his friend and with that himself too.

Virginia takes her leave of Poe and is sent by Pilatus back into the empire of shadows from whence she came. Poe is dead, however neither good nor evil, neither Virginia nor Pilatus refuse to grant him deference. Poe lives on in his poetry.

Musical by Frank Nimsgern und Heinz Rudolf Kunze
Konzeption, Songs & Production: Aino Laos & Frank Nimsgern
2005 Neuinszenierung beim Tollwood-Festival in München / 2004 Weltpremiere am Saarländischen Staatstheater,
Original Soundtrack by Sony, downloadable under itunes, amazon & music load.

Director: Christian von Götz
Musical Director: Frank Nimsgern
Choreography: Marvin A.Smith
Stage: Detlef Beaujean
Costumes: Angela Schütt

Original cast: Edgar Allan Poe – Henrik Wager
Pilatus – Darius Merstein-MacLeod
Virginia Usher – Aino Laos
Madeline Pfaahl – Peti van der Velde
ThingumBob – Frank Felicetti

Press about POE

PDF – Münchener Abendzeitung 22.11.05

PDF – Süddeutsche Zeitung 23.11.05

PDF – Münchener Abendzeitung 26.11.05

PDF – Donaukurier 26.11.05

Zusatzmaterial

POE – Programmheft (Saarbrücken)

PDF – Tollwood München – Frank Nimsgern

PDF – Tollwood München – POE

PDF – Tollwood München – Tänzer

Poe Traum in einem Traum
Lebendig begraben
Poe Manie
Schlag ein

2004 Weltpremiere am Saarländischen Staatstheater, 2005 Neuinszenierung beim Tollwood-Festival in München. Hauptfigur und Ideen-Pool für dieses Musical liefert der Stammvater aller Schauerliteratur Edgar Allan Poe. In sieben Bildern, die thematisch den berühmtesten Erzählungen Poes folgen, wird die Geschichte eines verhängnisvollen Teufelspaktes erzählt: Poe, dessen schaurige Obsessionen ihn schier in den Wahnsinn treiben, wird von einem geheimnisvollen Dr. Pilatus, hinter dem sich niemand anders als der Teufel selbst verbirgt, Heilung versprochen. Wenn Poe dem notorisch fantasielosen Teufel seine grausamen Szenarien überlasse, werde er endlich Ruhe vor seinen Wahnbildern finden. Poe akzeptiert – und findet sich unversehens im Strudel der nun zur Realität werdenden eigenen Fantasien wieder.

Poe lernt im »Club Amontillado«, in dem Pilatus als »Meister der Nacht« verehrt wird, Madeline kennen und verfällt ihr.  Madeline jedoch ignoriert Poes Liebesschwüre, sie ist süchtig nach dem großen Kick – es soll ihr letzter sein.

Es kommt zum Schauprozess gegen Poe, Virginia – sowohl Fantasiewesen wie reale Clubbesitzerin – verhindert Poes Verurteilung. Doch sie verliert die Konzession für ihren Club. Dessen neuer Besitzer ist ein Poker-König. Poe spielt gegen ihn um den Club – das Spiel endet mit einem Duell. Poe wird wieder gejagt – mit Virginia an seiner Seite. Sie gestehen sich ihre Liebe. Doch später soll Poe, so will es Pilatus, Virginia opfern.

Poe aber stellt sich gegen das Böse, verweigert das Ritual und kündigt Pilatus den Pakt auf. In einem letzten Duell zwischen Poe und Pilatus erkennt Poe nicht die »Wahrheit« im Albtraum: dass er selbst Pilatus ist. Er erschießt seinen Feind und damit auch sich.

Virginia nimmt Abschied von Poe und wird von Pilatus zurück ins Reich der Schatten geschickt, aus dem sie kam. Poe ist tot. Doch weder Gut noch Böse, weder Virginia noch Pilatus, versagen ihm die Reverenz. Poe überlebt in seiner Dichtung.

Musical by Frank Nimsgern und Heinz Rudolf Kunze
Konzeption, Songs & Production: Aino Laos & Frank Nimsgern
2005 Neuinszenierung beim Tollwood-Festival in München / 2004 Weltpremiere am Saarländischen Staatstheater,
Original Soundtrack by Sony, downloadable under itunes, amazon & music load.