Killing An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe NYC Reviews and Tickets

87%

(36 Reviews)

Positive

100%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Absorbing, Great acting, Entertaining, Enchanting, Clever

About the Show

Summoners Ensemble Theatre presents a return engagement of this solo performance of three of Poe's thrilling tales, "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Cask of Amontillado," and "The Raven."

In 1845, Edgar Allan Poe lived on Amity Street (now W. 3rd St) just blocks from the Merchant's House. His publication of "The Raven" had brought him instant fame and invitations to the city's most fashionable literary salons. Join John Kevin Jones ("A Christmas Carol") as the great master of terror in the Tredwell's candlelit double parlor for this bone-chilling evening of irrational revenge, obsession and premeditated murder, dismemberment, and the very, very dark.

Member Reviews (36)

Time travel to mid-1800s, Dark tales, Fabulous setting, Strong acting, Absorbing

See it if you're a Poe fan...or fan of psych'gical thrillers. Strg acting in old-fash'ed, melodramatic style. Gr intimate setting. Victorian splendor.

Don't see it if you dislike horror (Pit &P is too much). My 19 yo nephew didn't enjoy it, but I did. Sm chairs. Poe lived nearby. Memorable.

Great acting, Entertaining, Enchanting, Delightful, Absorbing

See it if Three stories by Poe that are well acted in a beautiful location for it. The Raven ends the show. If you love Poe.

Don't see it if If you dont like Poe or prefer a bigger venue.

Intimate, Masterful, Great acting, Enchanting, Absorbing

See it if for the extraordinary experience! Old Merchant's House Museum is an inspired location for John Kevins Jones' inhabitation of Poe's stories.

Don't see it if sitting within steps of the performer discomforts you.

Great acting, Masterful, Great writing, Intense, Absorbing

See it if Three creepy Poe classics & one epic poem brought to thrilling life by John Kevin Jones Consummate command of language, pacing & performance

Don't see it if Set in the landmark Merchant's House tiny parlor room, it's somewhat claustrophobic but works well esp for The Tell-Tale Heart & The Raven

100

Unique, Absorbing, Delightful, Great acting

See it if You want to experience a great storytelling of Poe's in a beautiful haunted house call The Merchant House. That has a lot of NYC History.

Don't see it if You have to walk down a few stair and after that walk up a stairs. Read more

Quirky, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if Animated Poe devotee shares three shorts and "The Raven" for approximately thirty in a parlour funereal setting with lily-strewn coffin.

Don't see it if Tight quatres of seven rows and you might be requested to stow your articles. Auditory cues could have been better. Read more

Quirky, Absorbing, Great staging, Entertaining, Delightful

See it if You want storytelling as it was in the 19th century in a 19th century house. You enjoy intimate staging. You like gothic writing.

Don't see it if You prefer more contemporary writing. You dislike gothic tales. You want modern horror stories. You prefer a more traditional theater space.

Clever, Absorbing

See it if Explore the historic Merchant's Museum from the 1820s, hear stories from docents & watch the 4 short Poe stories. Take pix in the rooms too!

Don't see it if Temperature was extremely hot inside. But 80 minutes flies by, staff is great & they answer any historic questions you have!

Critic Reviews (3)

For a previous production

“A terrific Halloween treat...The intimacy of the Merchant's House parlor allows the creepy tension of pieces to be performed with subtlety, with Jones' rich voice embracing the storyteller's vivid descriptions...The final piece provides a change of pace. ‘The Raven’ is recited in a more traditional salon manner...’The Raven’ allows Jones to offer a touching depiction of sorrowful heartbreak. It's a lovely finish to an exceptional presentation.”
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For a previous production

"Jones is bringing Edgar Allan Poe's works vibrantly alive...First up on the program was 'The Tell -Tale Heart'...If the first story seemed the personification of horror, the next one, 'The Cask of the Amontillado,' is a close cousin...He infuses fresh emotional energy into Poe's language with his protean body language and facial expressions...The final offering, 'The Raven,' has never sounded more haunting.:
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For a previous production

"A one-man, pre-Halloween tour de force...In 'The Cask of Amontillado'...Jones slips effectively into this character, in spirit bringing the audience along with him into the dank cellar...Jones closes the show with 'The Raven'...The rendition he delivers mesmerized the opening night audience with the work’s rhythmic rhymes and meter, conveying well, in contrast to 'The Raven’s' stoic coldness, the character’s crescendo of unbearable pain of loss."
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