The House on Poe Street

See it if You are a fan of Poe and productions with a supernatural overtone, and are willing to suspend reality for a very offbeat plot.

Don't see it if You prefer more realistic productions and would not appreciate an unusual plot.

See it if you're interested in Edgar Allen Poe and want to see a creative story concerning him.

Don't see it if You want to see a cohesive, relevant, entertaining show.

Also After meeting the very talented and intelligent author of the play I had high expectations. It is a creative show with some very talented acting and singing.... Read more Read less

See it if a superficial treatment of gender & class issues makes you feel superior for being able to chuckle off obviously simplistic arguments

Don't see it if you recognize a straw man fallacy when you see one

Also Scarily overrated. Has noble intentions of addressing timely issues in an accessible, humorous way but misinterprets what makes such efforts successful. Dropping lots of Poe references doesn’t automatically make the script witty or sophisticated. Unearned superpowers (instead of any real threatening charm or perceptiveness) don't make the twin villains interesting. Worst of all, claiming to question “presumptions of wealth [and] gender parity” doesn’t mean you aren't actually toeing the party line in muddled writing. In Poe Street, the fight against masculinity, war, sexism, & consumerism is made to look ridiculous by way of a campy world domination plot (there’s also no deep examination of why those things are linked). It’s also compared to eugenics & Nazism. Trivializes what it wants to promote. If the playwright hoped to write comedy that wasn’t so dismissible there should have been less finger-wagging and more internal logic.

Points because the songs were actually well-sung.... Read more Read less

See it if Some fun campy scenes by the attractive but devious sisters and the spirit medium. Good songs.

Don't see it if Holy hormones Batman! So silly it was like a cartoon. Dull anti-capitalist sentiment. Pseudo-scientific paranormal drivel. Awful dialog.

See it if you’d like an amusing, well-done production where the ghost of Poe, his wife, and the raven hover over the proceedings.

Don't see it if you don't enjoy Gothic stories with improbabilities or tales by Poe.

Also The play is like a parody of a Poe tale, with two female twins who have an astonishing history and who conduct dubious experiments to reduce war & violence through genetics. The central character is a real-estate lawyer with the unlikely first name of Mendel (as in Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics). He and his fiance have a crisis and decisions to make. The dramatic questions are will he stop the twins? Should he? Will he lose his fiance, sympathetic to the twins’ reasoning? It’s all amusing and features skillful interweaving of various Poe-related writing and biography. The play begins with a monologue where Mendel tells us (his investment club) why he has to resign from his investment club. The investment club business, as opposed to the investments themselves, seems a bit overwrought. The twins steal the show with their singing and eidetic memories; the other characters are bland by comparison. But it’s entertaining and well-constructed, acted, and staged.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see some excellent actors, a wonderful play that captures today's times and social issues brilliantly. Clever songs too!

Don't see it if No reason not to see..

See it if You enjoy theatre that explores abnormal subjects and unique characters that draw you in from the very beginning. Also amazing actors.

Don't see it if You only prefer traditional theatre. Also if you're emotionally triggered by ghosts or Edgar Allan Poe, this isn't the best show for you.

See it if you like intelligent writing, delightfully wacky twins, Edgar Allan Poe, + Gothic ghosts. Fantastical fun with serious issues.

Don't see it if you want your plays strictly realistic and you don't appreciate having fun with political and social issues.

See it if you want to see an engaging, fresh tale set in a gothic house. The script is very smart, design elements, cast and direction are top notch.

Don't see it if You don't like theatre that's a bit dark.

See it if You want to enjoy two sumptuous female characters who are the most likeable villains I have seen in years. Like delicious language.

Don't see it if You don't like to be challenged with a script that twists perceptions of good and if you want a clear protagonist. There is nuance to this.

Also The audience loved it the night I was there. The play presents a set of twins you adore and even when they commit their crimes, you still want more! The supporting cast was solid, set was fantastic and it was 85 minutes of joy.... Read more Read less

See it if You like gothic themed plays that utilize the narrator to connect to the audience. See it if you love a fiery comic duo/ set of twins.

Don't see it if You like well fleshed out plays that have a sense of climax or build. If you don't like gothic plays w/ poetry this isn't the play for you.

Also Eliza Shea is the clear standout star of the show. Her grace and comic timing keeps the play moving and adds a vibrant nuance to the dark themes of the play. As the energetic, poppy twin, Ms. Shea exhibits a classy performance that has the audience in laughter for much of the play.... Read more Read less

See it if You like a good comedy with issues combined. Perfect Halloween fare, with a bit of feminism on the side. Poe's famous poems well musicalized

Don't see it if You can't go with wacky dialogue and a potentially sci-fi premise that brings to light the role of women in a male dominated world.

See it if Interesting take on topical issues.

Don't see it if You are looking for something frothy, this is a bit deeper.

See it if You enjoy a well-written sci-fi theme focused on contemporary issues of sexuality with first-rate acting and staging in an intimate setting.

Don't see it if You prefer bland or simplistic story lines or don't want to be provoked.