“Poe’s Midnight Dreary” set for this weekend

Published or Revised September 29, 2010

The Paris Junior College Drama Department presents "Poe's Midnight Dreary" in the Ray Karrer Theatre this weekend. The play is based on Edgar Allen Poe's life works and ties his best works together with his dramatic life as he deliriously remembers them on an anonymous deathbed in a Baltimore hospital. "We kept our students in mind when picking 'Poe's Midnight Dreary'", said PJC Director of Drama Alex Peevy. "We know that PJC students love horror films and entertainment. Who better to tell those stories than one of the originators of the genre, Edgar Allen Poe? 'Poe's Midnight Dreary' tells the story of Poe's mysterious death, as he confronts the faces from his stories and his own life. We hope everyone enjoys this imaginary romp through one of literature's most colorful writers." The play weaves together people from his life and scenes from some of his most famous poems and stories, including "The Raven," "Annabel Lee," "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Black Cat" and "The Fall of the House of Usher." The cast includes Dakota Caraway of Paris as Bertram; Hayden Colbert of Clarksville as Edger Allen Poe; Kristin Smith of Caddo Mills as Dr. Moran and Officer O'Hernigan; Breanna Murphey of Hooks as Virginia and Cat; Justin Cox of Fouke, Ark., as Frances Allen and Fortunato; Cassidi Alford of Avinger as Reginald and Mrs. Clemm; and Rebekah Mills of Waxahachie as Wife and Allousius. The crew is made up of Jason Hayes of Paris as stage manager, Jon Stewart of Paris as sound operator, Nicolin Pash of Ector as light operator, and Callie Henderson of Powderly and Sara Ware of Greenville as backstage crew. Peevy is play director, and drama instructor William Walker is the costumer. The play runs on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1-2 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 3 at 2:00 p.m. in the Ray Karrer Theatre at PJC in Paris. For ticket information, call 903-782-0327.