The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the world, with nearly 3,500 shows. This year, Playbill is in Edinburgh for the entire month in August for the festival and we’re taking you with us. Follow along as we cover every single aspect of the Fringe, aka our real-life Brigadoon!
Shouting breaks the silence on a quiet street in a language that's unrecognizable. Neighbors find a flat in disarray, a bloodied razor, and a brutal double murder. Who—or what—could have done something like this?
Blue Orange Arts presents Edgar Allen Poe: Murder in the Rue Morgue, the very first detective story. Darren Haywood and James Nicholas split the roles, telling the story while tucked into a corner of black pipe and drape. With minimal props, sound cues, and virtually static lighting, the beauty of this murder mystery is in the performances, reverently guided by director Mark Webster.
Webster, who also adapted the story for Fringe, shared with Playbill his inspiration for bringing this tale of terror from the page to the stage and where you can catch this production next.
How long have you been working on your show?
Mark Webster: We started workshopping in April of this year then rehearsed running into the Fringe. It will be presented again in Birmingham October and November.
Why did you want to present your show at the Edinburgh Fringe?
We have been presenting shows for the past five years. We specialize in classic theatre, and with this being recognized as the first modern detective story, it is one we have wanted to do for some time.
What are you hoping to get out of your Fringe experience?
We love being in Edinburgh and being part of the festival. It gives us a chance to present work to a new audience. It is a shame, however, that it is so much easier to sell a classic show or a show with a recognizable IP than a new piece of writing. It makes it hard for people to come with new work and break even, let alone make money.
Murder mysteries seem to be one of this year’s Fringe trends. Why do you think people are so drawn to these gruesome tales?
People have always been drawn to horror and murder. In terms of a detective story, it is necessary to create stakes high enough to get emotionally invested, as there is nothing more horrific than murder.
What was your first introduction to Edgar Allen Poe’s writing and how did discovering him impact you as an artist?
I have been a fan of detective dramas for some 35 years. I read [Edgar Allen Poe's C. Auguste] Dupin stories maybe 15 years ago as they are recognized as the father of detective stories. I have been keen to bring it to the stage for some time and this year seemed the perfect opportunity.
There is so much room for laughter in between gory details (through brilliant accent and character work especially). How do you find the funny in dark material?
We found it very much through the rehearsal process. The Murders in the Rue Morgue naturally lend to an element of comedy due to the bizarre solution to the mystery. Poe also has a natural degree of dark humor in his work. When we present for Birmingham, however, we will be moving down a less humorous route as we have a much larger stage space. We are able to create a more intricate set, a full sound-scape from a fantastic film sound designer who we work with regularly, and also multimedia elements from one of the fantastic artists who work with us.
Edgar Allan Poe: The Murders in the Rue Morgue runs until August 26. For information on the upcoming runs of the show, click here.
