Shuddersome: Tales of Poe adapted by Lindsay Price fr... - Theatrefolk

Shuddersome: Tales of Poe

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

Shuddersome: Tales of Poe

adapted by Lindsay Price from Edgar Allan Poe

A vivid and theatrical adaptation of some of Poe's best known works. Multi length versions to fit every performance need.

 About 45 minutes

Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks

 34
4 M | 5 W | 25 Any Gender, Doubling Possible

Simple Set

 51 pages

Drama Choral Work Classical Adaptation Movement-based Mystery Reader's Theatre

Average Producer Rating:

Reviews from Past Producers

“Once upon a midnight dreary,
While I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious
Volume of forgotten lore...”

The thumping of a heartbeat. The creek of a door. The howl of a bitter wind. The gong of a clock tower. The clang of alarm bells. The sound of beating wings getting closer and closer…

Specters, ghosts and ghouls come alive in this vivid theatrical adaptation of some of Edgar Allan Poe’s best-known works. Included are The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Masque of the Red Death.

Poe’s words rise from the page like corpses from the grave. Be careful. Do you hear that tap, tap, tapping?

Multi-length versions of the script to fit every need.

Free Classroom Study Guide

Click here to read production tips for this play.

Awards and Accolades

  • Advanced to the All Ontario Showcase of the 2013 Sears Drama Festival
  • Clinton High School - Best Overall Costume at North Mississippi DramaFest; Best Overall Costume at Mississippi Theatre Association Festival
  • Laingsburg High School - Advanced to the State level of The 2018 Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association Theater Festival
  • Langley Fine Arts School - Outstanding performance in the Langley District Drama Festival, advanced to the 2019 British Columbia Provincial Festival
  • Cambridge-Isanti High School - 2019 - Mississippi 8 conference starred Performance, Minnesota Sub-Section 7AA Champions, Minnesota Section 7AA Champions and Minnesota State Festival Performers
34 Characters
4 M, 5 W, 25 Any Gender, Doubling Possible

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

The Tell-Tale Heart
The Old [M] 24 lines
The Young [M] 75 lines
Police One [A] 9 lines
Police Two [A] 10 lines
The Shudders [A] 54 lines
Ensemble
The Bells
Silver One [A] 6 lines
Silver Two [A] 5 lines
Silver Three [A] 2 lines
Gold One [A] 7 lines
Gold Two [A] 4 lines
Gold Three [A] 4 lines
Brass One [A] 9 lines
Brass Two [A] 8 lines
Brass Three [A] 8 lines
Iron One [A] 16 lines
Iron Two [A] 14 lines
Icon Three [A] 11 lines
The Shudders [A] 22 lines
Ensemble
The Oval Portrait
Painter [M] 0 lines
Extensive mime
Picture Lady [W] 0 lines
Extensive mime
Young Lady [W] 0 lines
Extensive mime
Soul Suckers (x2) [A] 0 lines
Extensive mime
The Shudders [A] 0 lines
Ensemble
The Raven
One [A] 38 lines
Two [A] 38 lines
Three [A] 38 lines
Four [A] 37 lines
Five [A] 36 lines
The Shudders [A] 12 lines
Ensemble; You can have many more Individual Speakers for this poem. Feel free to divide the lines among more speakers.
The Masque of the Red Death
Narrator One 17 lines
Narrator Two 17 lines
Narrator Three 16 lines
Guest One 21 lines
Guest Two 21 lines
Guest Three 16 lines
Prince 15 lines
The Spectre
Extensive mime
The Shudders [A] 25 lines
Ensemble
Lionizing
Robert Jones [M] 42 lines
Father [M] 15 lines
Mother [W] 1 line
The Artist [W] 9 lines
The Duchess [W] 11 lines
The Countess [W] 7 lines
The Marquis [M] 4 lines
The Prince [M] 15 lines
The Elector [W] 4 lines
The Shudders [A]
Ensemble

Subgenres
Mystery/Thriller Ghost Story Halloween Adaptation Choral work Movement-based

Settings
19th Century Victorian Abstract setting

Dress
Elaborate costumes Fantasy costumes Period costumes

Audience
Pre-teen Teen

Features
Mime Poetry Tableau Masks Opportunity for spectacle Dance Choral work Movement-based Music Variable length Sound & Lighting Design Variable Cast Size Multiple endings Special effects Variable gender breakdown

Set
Simple set

Cautions
Adult themes Onstage murder Frank talk of death

Themes
Betrayal Death Illness/Health Love Memory Morality Revenge

Cross-Curricular Uses
English

Other uses
Competition Class work Scene work

Awards & Accolades
Plays with Awards & Accolades

Prop List

Blanket, Ribbons, Skull mask, 60 minute version - Book, 60 minute version - Hanky

Production Photos

Multimedia

Video

An elegant and inexpensive solution to the The Masque of the Red Death scene.

Related Titles

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Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

We accept orders worldwide using the following payment methods:
Purchase Orders accepted from US and Canadian Schools.
Info for your purchasing department.

A vignette play is a collection of short scenes on a theme. You'll love working with the variety and flexibility of the scenes. Your actors will love the fast pace and fun characters.

There's more. Every Theatrefolk vignette play holds the unexpected. A showcase monologue. A dramatic moment. A change in form. A left turn.

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