The Murders in the Rue Morgue was written and published by Edgar Allan Poe in 1841 and considered the first detective story.
Sherlock Holmes would begin as a series of short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1891.
The Murders will be presented as a puppet show at Poe’s Place in downtown Staunton by Off Center Staunton.
“As a theater artist, I’m always looking for stories to tell,” said Davey White of his inspiration behind the puppet show.
He said he was struck by the narrator’s adoration for Dupin in The Murders.
“It’s Poe’s flowery language. The flowery language this person had,” White said.
The Murders is about two men who live a decadent life together in Paris and the impact on their lives of a news story about the murders of a mother and daughter.
“I think these two souls are connected and there’s something tender about it,” White said about the two men, although nothing in the story tells readers that they are in a homosexual relationship.
White said the story is visual, but also provides a challenge in solving the murders in a visual way. Ten characters living in Paris pop up as shadow puppets and give their testimony. Some knew the mother and daughter.
Maria Leckey of The Hot Mamas will play accordion and read text from Poe’s story. She wrote original music for the show.
“It’s really special to get to write French-inspired music for these characters,” Leckey said. She has played the accordion since she was 10 years old.
Puppeteers will include local actress Diana Black and White.
The show’s audience is adults and children over age 10, according to White.
“People who delight in the unexpected,” he said.
Poe’s Place is at 16 W. Beverley St., Staunton. The show will be performed Saturday, Aug. 10, Sunday, Aug. 11, and Wednesday, Aug. 14 to Saturday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person and are available online.
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Rebecca Barnabi
