An Evening of Legend

By Gabriel Morales
For the Real Critics Blog

In a macabrely exquisite tour-de-force, Travis Rhett Wilson mystifies in "Lord, Save My Poor Soul: An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe," a splendid one-man production starring the deceased literary hero.

Skillfully written/arranged and directed by John Lynd, "Evening" is a moving, visceral journey through the times and trials of the legendary poet, exploring every facet from childhood memories, to dysfunctional relationships -- with family, women, society and the bottle -- with each of the play's two acts culminating in stunning reenactments of Poe's most famous works, "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Raven," respectively. The production is minimal: just Poe, his writing desk, a spirit-filled decanter and Virginia Poe's empty wedding dress -- the combination of which is maximal in its aesthetic power. Especially the latter -- O, that dress -- with its lifeless sleeves swaying as it's cradled about in a somber recreation of Mrs. Poe's final, tuberculosis-ridden days... quite a disturbing, profound effect.

In a role he was seemingly born to embody -- his awe-inspiring, award-winning turns as Renfield (RCP's 2007 "Dracula") and  Macbeth (IESF's 2008 "Macbeth") notwithstanding -- Wilson readily exceeds this reviewer's expectations of his artistic capabilities, once again proving himself one of the Inland Empire's greatest acting talents. He humanizes Poe, a man whose enduring worldwide fame paints him even more morbid than his writings; yet, as Wilson aptly portrays, Poe was a man of deep love, passionate for his art and beloved Virginia; a man whose heart-wrenching losses and subsequent fears tortured him to alcoholism and eventual madness: a harrowing roller-coaster through which Wilson vises the audience's attention from lights up to the final "nevermore."

Lynd has struck gold with his "Acting Out Series." Fascinating and informative, entertaining and educational, one is sure to leave with a greater understanding of and appreciation for the statesmen, pioneers and artists that shaped Western culture. Coming soon: the respective lives of Benjamin Franklin and Vincent Van Gogh.

For performance or booking information visit http://www.jtlproductions.net.