James Clemens Theatre to explore ‘Shuddersome: Tales of Poe’

MADISON – Falling leaves, a listless wind and mysterious bumps in the night around town will set the eerie tone for James Clemens Theatre production of “Shuddersome: Tales Of Poe” adapted by Lindsay Price from the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

“Shuddersome: Tales of Poe” will be presented on two nights: Halloween on Oct.31 and Nov. 3. The show will open at 7 p.m. on both nights in James Clemens Auditorium.

This snippet summarizes the play’s melancholy atmosphere: “Poe’s words rise from the page like corpses from the grave, leaving the audience to shudder and wonder if they, too, hear that tap . . . tap . . . tapping.”

Amy Pugh Patel is directing this play. M. Clinton Merritt is in charge of technical direction.

This thrilling one-act play pieces together four of Edgar Allan Poe’s most haunting pieces:

* “The Tell-Tale Heart” – Published in 1843. A dubious narrator wants to prove his sanity after committing murder of an elderly man. The narrator buries the man’s body under the floor, but he hasn’t heard the last of the old man.

* “The Oval Portrait” – Poe’s shortest work. A narrator and his valet Pedro break into a house in the Apennines Mountains of Italy. They need shelter because of the narrator’s severe wounds. The narrator is captivated by artwork on the walls and finds a guide book that explains the designs.

* “The Raven” – Set during a cold December evening. Almost asleep, the narrator is trying to read but hears a low knocking at the door. He wants to ignore the interruption as he hopes his reading relieves his obsession for his love, the late Lenore. Eventually, he opens the door, and a raven flies inside. The raven utters, “Nevermore.”

* “The Masque of the Red Death” – The Prince Prospero holds a magnificent masquerade ball in an abbey, despite a virulent plague called the Red Death, raging in the populace. Unfortunately, the personified Red Death visits the party.

James Clemens student Brody Milsaps and art teacher Mason Overcash collaborated to design artwork for the play’s advertising materials.

This production of “Shuddersome: Tales of Poe” features a shadow cast that will present the play’s dialogue in American Sign Language. “In James Clemens Theatre’s continued dedication to make theatre accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing, this production will incorporate ASL shadow interpreters on-stage for every character,” Patel said.

This production is recommended for 10-year-olds and older.

To buy tickets, visit gofan.com, and search for “James Clemens High School.” Scroll and click the show title and the preferred date. Tickets are $5, or guests who dress in a Halloween costume can pay $3 at the door on show night.

For more information, visit Facebook/James Clemens Theatre.