When twin sisters inherit the house where Poe composed The Raven, their lives take twisted turns that affect the future of mankind.
The House on Poe Street by Fengar Gael, directed by Katie McHugh is a sharp, witty escapade through an incredibly wide range of topics including chemistry, poetry, the occult, privilege, and gender bending.
The twin “sisters”, Fluorine & Argonne, played by Eliza Shea and Olivia Nice, are wonderful to watch as they lure the hapless male characters into their experiment(s). If you have even the slightest interest in science or Poe’s poetry, you’ll delight in the intelligent discourse.
The well-constructed set (love that curtain!) firmly positions you in the 1800s, but then the dialogue quickly yanks you into the present with modern issues and references. As our world becomes increasingly compartmentalized, it’s refreshing to find characters that cross so many of these boundaries and illustrate for us how to live with joy in the midst of the muck.
The House on Poe Street is playing at the 14th Street Y Theatre until November 12th.
Gothic ghosts encounter modern monstrosities when twin sisters inherit the house where Poe is reputed to have composed “The Raven”. The House on Poe Street reflects Poe’s macabre spirit while exploring issues of gender parity, the presumptions of wealth, and the power of poetry to conjure spectral visions. | Running Time: 95 Minutes | No Intermission