A Scary Poe, Nourished on a ‘Cask of Amontillado’

The Glorious Repertory Company’s production of “Poe: Out of his Mind” at the 24th Street Theatre is a captivating introduction to the works of Edgar Allan Poe, particularly for children ages 10 and up. Yet ardent Poe enthusiasts may feel that too much of the grandiosity and eloquence of Poe’s language has been jettisoned, perhaps in an attempt to accommodate the younger audiences.

The program consists of three highly recognizable Poe works--”The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Raven.” Also included is the lesser-known short poem “Alone,” a wistful little oddity that poignantly illuminates Poe’s melancholia and emotional isolation.

The material is linked by original narration, consisting largely of factual snippets from Poe’s short and somber life. Writers Edward Mast and Erick Melton developed the material with the help of the company. The device of having the hollow-eyed adult Poe (Bernardo Pena) commune, in pantomime, with his child-self (Mackenzie Solomon) seems contrived, but director Debbie Devine otherwise keeps the action brisk and very much to the point.

“Heart” is so drastically truncated that dramatic momentum lags. Not only do we lose the famous opening line, but the old man’s “vulture eye,” which incites the narrator to a killing frenzy, is absent. “Raven” is merely workmanlike, despite a chilling moment in which the white glove of the dead Lenore (Allison Karman) peels away to display a blackened bird’s claw--a terrifying image.

The success of the evening is the opener, “Amontillado.” The fittingly fervid performances of Steve Ruggles as the drunken, doomed Fortunato and Jose A. Garcia as his vengeful nemesis, Montresor, combine perfectly with the inspired design elements.

Montresor’s family vaults are ingeniously suggested by set designer Eytan Ginosar’s moving walls of bricks, wheeled by black-clad performers in death’s-head masks. In lighting designer Kathi O’Donohue’s simple but stunning effect, the actors mime their descent into a “trap door” of white light. John Zalewski’s spooky sound design and Richard Allen’s eerie original music complete the treat, just in time for the Halloween season.

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* “Poe: Out of His Mind,” 24th Street Theatre, 1117 W. 24th St., North University Park, Los Angeles. Saturdays, 3 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m. Ends Oct. 31. $15. (213) 745-6516. Running time: 1 hour.