9/12 – I Might Be Edgar Allan Poe (FringeNYC Show) Writer: Dawson Nichols Reviewed by: David Roberts and Joseph Verlezza
From David Roberts –
When is the last time when you so teetered between madness and sanity that you said to your bifurcated self, “I might be Edgar Allan Poe?” It is difficult enough to get most of us to admit the fragility of our ego strength. It would be even more difficult to convince us to confess that we had ever envisioned ourselves, in that disintegrating state, the creator of “The Tell Tale Heart.” We – you and I – can rest comfortably that we will never have to make either affirmation because Craig Mathews has definitively done that for us in his brilliantly exhaustive and exhausting portrayal of Oak Brook sanatorium “inmate” Joseph in Dawson Nichols’s “I Might Be Edgar Allan Poe” currently running at the Manhattan Theatre Source as part of FringeNYC 2011.
Some precipitating event has landed Joseph in Oak Brook Sanatorium for mental “rehabilitation.” Joseph’s team of psychiatrists, headed by a just-out-of-school prodigy, bombards him with daily therapy sessions which attempt to get to the root of his alleged problem which, in their collective expertise, results from his obsession with death. Joseph rails against this diagnosis but, as he does, he recognizes his possible affinity to all things morbid and courts the idea that he might just be Edgar Allan Poe. His “listeners” (the audience) serve as judge and jury for his case for and against himself. How can anyone know the theme of a person’s life except the person? With similar questions and arguments, Joseph appeals for his case for normalcy.
There are perhaps a handful of actors who could successfully portray Joseph. Craig Mathers is one of them. Mathers writhes, cries, sits, stands, stares as he gets to the very core of his character. He does what the playwright intended: Mathers demands that the audience members examine deeply their own grasp of reality, their own understanding of meaning and language. This brilliant actor/teacher grabs the script by the throat and teases every nuance, every subtlety, and every ounce of energy from its pages. As he portrays Joseph’s struggle with identity and ego strength, Mathers recites Poe’s “The Raven,” “A Dream Within A Dream,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and Poe’s letter to Annie.
Of all of these works of Poe, it is “A Dream Within a Dream” that challenges the audience the most. Who are we sitting in the audience? Are we even “there?” To whom is Joseph speaking? Is he delusional? Is he psychotic? Do not grab for your list of DSM Codes to help you out. The answer will not be found there. What we do know is that Craig Mather’s Joseph counterpoints the life of Edgar Allan Poe and at one of the many moments in this performance, we realize with a chill of terror that all that we are seeing and hearing counterpoints our own lives. As Joseph speaks to us (if indeed in his mind we are really there), we appreciate the strength of our egos but recognize that “in the blink of an eye” we could be in one of many Oak Brooks fighting for our lives, our sanity, our right to own our reality. What could put Joseph “there?” What could put any of us there in that place of psychological meltdown? A fire? A job loss? An economy on the edge of disaster? Perhaps an eye filmed over staring at us with all-to-knowing wisdom? A raven above our door? A lost love perhaps? Craig Mathers brings these questions to life in one of the best performances you are ever likely to experience.
The “Joseph Jolt” by Joseph Verlezza – After being held captive by the brilliant craft executed by Craig Mathers who is Joseph being held captive in a mental institution, the question might arise, “Is Joseph Edgar Allan Poe or is Edgar Allan Poe Craig Mathers?” It really does not matter. The only crazy person is the one who does not run to visit either one of them. Hurry! This could be the sleeper of FringeNYC 2011.
Written by Dawson Nichols. Performed by Craig Mathers. Directed by Tim Vasen. Presented by CPM Productions at Venue #17 Manhattan Theatre Source, 177 MacDougal Street (8thAvenue & Waverly Place) in Manhattan as part of the 15thAnnual New York City Fringe Festival. Performance schedule: Friday August 12 at 7:00 p.m.; Sunday August 14 at 1:45 p.m.; Wednesday August 17 at 2:00 p.m.; Wednesday August 17 at 8:15 p.m.; Wednesday August 24 at 5:30 p.m.; and Friday August 26 at 2:45 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased online at www.fringenyc.orgby phone at 866-468-7619 up to 24 hours before the performance, in person at FringeCENTRAL (1 East 8thStreet at Fifth Avenue). Tickets are $18.00 at the door and can be purchased 15 minutes before each performance (cash only) at Venue #17 Manhattan Theatre Source.
WITH: Craig Mathers.
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Saturday, August 13, 2011
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