In 2008, Catalyst Theatre first workshopped Nevermore, a dark musical tale of the life of Edgar Allan Poe. It has since travelled across Canada, as well as to London and New York. Nevermore lands in Calgary this month as part of the High Performance Rodeo.
It takes a lot of talent to tackle as complex a character as Poe. Since the beginning, Edmonton’s Scott Shpeley has brought the master of macabre to life.
"...Iconic characters like Poe or Romeo or Juliet or Mary Poppins, which we saw in New York...are hard to approach. I have never looked at it as I have to be Edgar Allan Poe. We did a lot of research on his life and I read his poetry and short stories. For me it was about finding the person in the story we were telling about Edgar Allan Poe, to imagine the darkness that has be inside you to imagine the types of stories he wrote about. His dream poetry is very powerful and beautiful but also has a darkness. That is what I was trying to do, not think about it as this iconic poet that a lot of people grew up and studied in Junior High School."
Between runs, Shpeley has gone on to do other roles before returning to Nevermore. Most actors perform a role once, and then move on. To continually revisit the show and character is a pleasure, he says.
"It is nice that you have time to step away and get a broader sense of the show. When you are in it the first thing in your view is right in front of you. When you have time off and do other shows you are always learning and getting older and wiser sometimes, or stupider at others. When you come back you are always bringing more. It is nice to have the chance to become a better performer and richer person because you have more experience to bring to the next round. That is something really special about doing this show, I keep refining my performance and ch-Allan-ging myself to go deeper into the show. Often you don’t get to do that, you do three works of performance and are done. That is nice. (Director) Jonathan Christenson is there to watch most of the performances and sees it grow on stage through different eyes."
When he first got the role, he never imagined that it would take him as far as it has.
"I was excited to work with the show because I am passionate about the style that Citadel created with Frankenstein. So it was exciting to go in not knowing the potential of where it was going. We knew going into it that it was commissioned for Magnetic North and the Luminata Festival so we knew we were going to Ottawa and Toronto, but after that we had no idea where it would lead. I never dreamed it could travel places like New York and London. It was pretty amazing when we found out that little gem," he recalled.
He made time to play tourist while the show was on. "It was my first time in Europe and going overseas. It was a lot of firsts and pretty overwhelming at points. We were in London nine days and New York almost two weeks. So we had the day to adventure and in New York we would go catch matinee performances. I tried to do as much as I could. I do spend a lot of time worrying about the show and sometimes I will stay in and rest when I could go out because I want to perform well."
The show has received rave(n) reviews from patrons and critics alike, a massive achievement in the often cynical world of New York theatre critics. The team has become a family, Shpeley explained.
"Every time we come back to it we are all aware of the family and unity that we have created with each other and respectful of the work everyone has done. I am very grateful every time I return to this because the ensemble and company is something I am so thankful to be part of. The ensemble works together so well and we all have this passion and respect for the show and are excited to work on it and discover something in the story that we haven’t yet. I am very grateful for what we have done with the show and how well it has been received. I had no idea how it would be received especially in major theatre centres like London and New York. The audiences there are exposed to world class international theatre, the best shows are going there. It has been a privilege to perform on the stages we have."
To add the High Performance Rodeo to its list of festivals is something else that he is proud to be part of. He is looking forward to returning to the rodeo.
"I can’t wait. I have performed in 2005 in the Rodeo and it was one of my favorite theatre experiences. The energy that Calgary has during the rodeo and all the artists that are there is amazing. Being from Edmonton it is a great way to build connections to the Calgary community. To have Mark Bellamy be excited about another show and bringing it in doesn’t happen a lot. That is the great thing about the Rodeo - it brings all these great artists together. I am excited to do the show for other artists and connect with other artists as well."