www.montereycountynow.com october 24-30, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 35 ON STAGE Just in time for Halloween, Monterey Peninsula College Theatre presents An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe, an author who needs little introduction. Poe is a titan of American literature, father of horror and gothic, as well as the inventor of the modern detective novel. “We wanted to combine Poe’s stories with 21st-century technology, lighting and projection,” says Todd Siff, MPC Theatre Arts Department chair and the play’s director. “We are collaborating with the English Department because our seventh-, eighth- and ninth- graders read Poe at school. Now they can see what they are reading coming to life.” Enter the wonderfully eerie world of Poe with six faithful adaptations of some of his most haunting works. From old favorites such as The Cask of Amontillado and The Tell-Tale Heart to lesser-known gems like The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether, this collection of short plays represents Poe at his most horrifying: The Raven, The Fall of the House of Usher and The Purloined Letter. “He influenced so much of the horror genre,” Siff observes. “I mean, The Purloined Letter—he created the precursor to Sherlock Holmes.” The tales were adapted for the stage by Robert Mason, a contemporary writer of plays and novels. Mason spent nearly 30 years as a theatrical lighting designer, set designer, sound and lighting technician and cameraman. In addition to the play, he has written the novels Fakin’ the Blues and Bootleggers in Paradise. An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe features over 25 MPC students, staff and community members, all hands-on as they work as a team. “We don’t meet Poe himself,” Siff says about the play. “But we do have a little surprise for The Raven.” Siff’s current professional theatrical projects include an adaptation of Gary Paulsen’s young adult novel Hatchet, and a theater-for-social change devised play series called The Acceptance Project. “MPC Theatre Arts is back in full swing with an entire season of productions scheduled,” college spokesperson Kristin Darken notes. An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe 7pm Fridays and Saturdays, 2pm Sundays Oct. 25-Nov. 3. Morgan Stock Stage at Monterey Peninsula College, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. $20; $10/students, MPC faculty and staff, seniors; $17/children under 10. 645-1360, mpc.edu/academics/academic-divisions/creative-arts/theatre-arts. COURTESY OF MPC THEATRE Raven-ous The works of Edgar Allan Poe come to life onstage at MPC, just in time for Halloween. By Agata Pop˛eda What’s your favorite Poe story? An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe brings a collection to the stage, including a couple of tales that later inspired Arthur Conan Doyle. Become a member of our family... fooddis&cobuenvters age cwo mi np le i mp eernvtias ri ty f odr i se cvoeunnttss & concerts andmsoorem!uch
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