Oh my god I just saw David Keltz in Salem, yes, he was very good.  It was poignant rather than 'macabre' (that over-used word) which I liked.  It was a tiny theater with me and a few Salem MA tourists looking for something 'witchy' and 'scary' but he entertained everyone.  He blew everyone away with 'The Bells,' as I recall.  He touched slightly on Poe's 'literary wars,' which I think it a great well that has not been tapped yet.   I agree Keltz is terrific.

I did see John Astin's Poe, too, about 10 years ago somewhere in Massachusetts, and that was very inspiring, a very heart-felt and intelligent performance, and I say intelligent because Astin gave us the Poe of hope and beauty, not the cheap 'goth' Poe.  There's nothing wrong with 'goth,' per se, it has its beauties as well, and of course Poe was alive to this, but Astin used 'the star' in Poe's poem 'Al Araaf' as a final symbol and it was absolutely moving.  Astin, as I might be expected, was very polished, but his identification with the 'noble' Poe was amazing--Astin's Poe did not go in for cheap thrills. 

So, of Norman George, Keltz, and Astin, I would give Astin a slight edge.  George surrenders a little too much to the 'well, yes, I have a few drinks' for my taste, choosing to compromise with Poe-slander rather than fight it, and I can't fault George for that, because over-all his Poe is witty, learned, scintilating, and avoids bathos.  George is right up there with Keltz and Astin.  I would recommend all three.  You are right, "Poe Alone" is what Norman called his show, and just the title gives an indication that his performance is more melancholic than Astin's and not quite as robust as Keltz's. 

-- Edited by monday love at 14:05, 2008-11-09

I remember first hearing about Stallone making a Poe film in "People" magazine back in the 1980s. Stallone at that time wanted to play Poe, and he said that Poe was an "athlete" and not all like he was generally depicted, so I had high hopes.

Several years later I met a playwright/screenwriter who claimed to be writing the screenplay for Stallone's Poe film. I was interested, but when this fellow told me the key to Poe was that he was only 5 feet tall, I began to have my doubts. I told him it was Keats who was only 5 feet, and that Poe was about 5 foot 8. He later cast me in the lead (without an audition) for a play he wrote that went up in a theater above a bar owned by the rock group Aersosmith in Boston, but I never did find out whether he really knew Stallone--he was such a talker. I've since lost track of him. I miss ya, Pete! (The play wasn't about Poe.)

The only Poe expert I ever met was the great Poe actor, Norman George. I met him in Boston in the 80s. He helped to get a plaque put up where Poe was born. I've lost track of him, too. Nice man. Hello, Norman!

Take a look at that trailer for "Last Days of the Raven" - I'd love to hear what other people think of it. The web page doesn't have a list of upcoming screenings but I wonder if the film is getting any exposure.

 

About Depp, I firmly disagree. Personally, I think that he would make an excellent choice to depict Poe. I am a fan of Mr. Depp and Mr. Burton and I do think that, when you combine the minds and talents of the two, you get a certain flavor. However, I dont think Depp plays his characters to be weird. Poe, though a gentleman, was an eccentric person. I think that Depp is very adept, honest and empathetic in portraying eccentric personalities. I also think that his acting style is sometimes very subtle, which would probably compliment Poes demeanor as a southern gentleman. Also, from what I understand, Depp takes a very immersive approach to most of his roles, especially his historical roles. I dont think hed be a shabby choice at all. Of course, being a lady, I may be biased. ;)  

 

By the way, does anyone know anything about the other Poe movie coming out--Poe: The Last Days of the Raven? I watched the preview and am much intrigued!

Yes; ironically, Downey is now going to be playing Sherlock Holmes, a character inspired in part by your namesake, Poe's Dupin.

That's a shame; from what I had read, my expectations were high for this film and I reallly believe that if anyone would do justice to Poe, it would be Stallone and his decades-in-the-making biopic. I know I heard recently that Viggo Mortenson was surprised to hear the rumor he was tapped to play Poe, but I had heard it too. I took it as a sign of hope that it was really going to get the green light.

Maybe some day. I look forward to it.