Tonight we were at one of the four showings of Vancouver’s latest Popup: Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy. Advertised as a cocktail experience that “brings the most beloved works of Poe to life off the page and onto the stage.” A night of four tales served with four cocktails to match.
I choose this as our cohort get together, keeping in mind one member’s love of theatre, the other’s of horror, and the cocktails for me.
Described as an immersive experience, the setting fell short. Hosted at the Hellenistic Centre where the gym was turned into an auditorium. Plastic chairs were unstacked and set up viewing style, semi-circle around the stage. There were no spooky decorations or even black fabric to curtain the space. Nothing to bring guests into the life of Edgar Allan Poe, other than the power of low ABV cocktails to help foster the imagination.
It would have been nice to have this as a walking tour where actors and scenes were pre-set and the audience huddled around for the retelling with passed drinks. Instead everything was done on stage, to the same prop-ed backdrop of a table, chairs, vase of roses, stack of books, and candelabra.
A little lack lustre as many, myself included, dressed for a more gothic experience. Although in hindsight at around $50 a ticket that includes 4 drinks, within a 1.5 hour time slot; you sort of get what you paid for.
There was more people than expected and the auditorium filled quickly. We were greeted with the first drink at the door and asked to find any available seat. The show started promptly after, no intermission, but breaks in between each story/set performance as empty plastic cups were gathered and fresh drinks were handed out on server trays.
The narrator started the show with light self deprecating humour, as she ran through the house rules. Four of Poe’s most famous stories retold and reimagined by their actors told in a first person narrative. Each a creative adaptation made into a soliloquy.
We were given some background into Edgar Allan Poe and the inspiration on his most famous works, as we walked though his timeline. Most of it dark as his life was plagued with much sickness and death.
The first cocktail pairing was the “Pale Blue Eye”, named after the eyes that led the narrator to kill in the “Tellale Heart”. Blueberry vodka, fresh lemon juice, rose syrup, and topped with La Croix. This was a little too light and patio ready, considering the story that it was presented with. This was basically a spiked lemonade with a single blueberry bobbing about amongst the ice. I expected a more mysterious brew and something heavy and rich to match the gruesome storytelling and theme.
The second tale was “The Black Cat”. The story of cruel acts against a cat that included eye gouging and hanging. Then how the “cat came back the very next day”. Like the “Tellatale Heart” this story had themes of killing and death, and the narrator’s guilt ultimately manifested into his own demise. Or this is how I saw it.
This was written during a time where Poe lost both his parents and was adopted by a foster family. Both his biological and adopted mother lost their lives to tuberculosis and Poe was left with his less than loving adopted father. He would enrol in military school, then desert that and dive deep into his writing.
Edgar’s Twisted Brandy Milk Punch, at least matched the theme historically. And was actually one of the author’s favourite drinks. Equal parts Kentucky Bourbon and French Brandy, mixed with vanilla cream, milk syrup, and half and half. The advertised menu said it would be topped with star anise, but I didn’t see or taste any. Otherwise the spiked churned milk cocktail was it read: creamy and sweet with a buttery after taste.
The Nevermore was drink number three, named after what the raven said in “The Raven”. Described as a “black and gold cocktail fueled by orange peach blossom vodka, lime juice, and secret spices.” However there was no black or gold. This was a murky bluish grey and I was starting to feel the disappointment of false advertisement. What was promised on the pre-posted menu and what we actually got in hand. This tasted like fuzzy peaches and fresh lime. A lighter drink that we didn’t mind at this time, given the pace of drinking we were trying to keep, at this point.
“The Raven” was another innocent animal given a sinister disposition. Ironically this tale was written during a happier time in Poe’s life. He had found love with his first cousin at 27, she 13. He would live with her and her mother until she grew sick and bedridden, and her life too was lost to tuberculosis. He wrote “The Raven” and sold it for $9.50, which is $320 today.
The story is of love lost and longing. Looking for signs in the appearance of an arbitrary Raven. The critique for this performance and the others were we wanted more stage presence. For the actors to fully utilize the stage and command more of it. To apply more emotion to the language spoken. If the narrator is talking about begging, we wanted to hear the desperatcy in their voice. If they are speaking of being driven mad, we wanted to hear the fear of losing oneself in their voice. Although in terms of what I know of Poe commercially, the at time drab and macabre speeches did seem to fit the brand.
The tale of Poe himself ended with him being found not in his own clothes then left to die in a hospital. A mystery that is still discussed today.
My favourite performance was the last, presented by our dynamic host. Where I was looking for more use of the lighting to highlight faces and action, calling the audience’s attention for dramatic effect. I got more of it here in the performance of “Red Death”. She spoke with great vocal range and inflection, bringing us into the story of meeting death in coloured rooms set as a masquerade.
Our last drink was aptly named “Cocktail of Red Death”. A club style vodka based cocktail with a tangy berry taste. A bright vibrant cocktail made with 100-proof vodka, cherry herring, benedictine liquor, lime juice, pineapple juice, and bitters.
In short, this was an interesting experience that could have been so much richer. As is, it need not bear repeating.
