Poe-Dunked

Book By: Burton Bumgarner
Play #: 2335
Pages: 43 pgs
Cast: 6 or more flexible characters

Twelve short scenes depict events in the life of Edgar Allan Poe -- or how his life might have been in today's world! Some of the more popular tales are represented: "The Tell-Tale Heart" is a police investigation; "The Cask of Amontillado" is a Jerry Springer-type TV show; and "The Masque of the Red Death" has a group of Hollywood types hiding out in a castle. In "The Fall of the House of Usher" Poe himself pitches the story to a producer for a horror film. Other scenes depict Poe as he might have been in elementary school; seeing a psychiatrist; trying to write "The Raven"; being rejected by a careless editor and working in a fast-food restaurant. This farce accurately reflects some of the events in Poe's tragic life, yet is fast-paced and wildly entertaining. About 30 minutes.

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LOS ALAMITOS HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PLACENTIA, CA 1/20/2024
MANDARIN HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
JACKSONVILLE, FL 11/8/2023
MCKINLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BATON ROUGE, LA 10/18/2023
BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CARSON CITY, NV 5/12/2023
WINTER PARK HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WINTER PARK, FL 5/12/2023
CROSSROADS SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
NORFOLK, VA 4/15/2023
OWEN-WITHEE SCHOOL DISTRICT 1 Performance(s)
OWEN, WI 2/6/2023
NUTE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MILTON, NH 1/27/2023
NORTH LAKES ACADEMY 3 Performance(s)
FOREST LAKE, MN 1/27/2023
THE WINSTON SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ALLEN, TX 12/1/2022
THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
WINSTON-SALEM, NC 11/3/2022
BASSETT HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BASSETT, VA 10/28/2022
ANDREW JACKSON MIDDLE / LANCASTER COUNTY SCHOOL DI 1 Performance(s)
KERSHAW, SC 10/28/2022
UPPER SANDUSKY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
UPPER SANDUSKY, OH 1/16/2022
SALEM HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB 1 Performance(s)
SALEM, AR 11/2/2021
JENNINGS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 1 Performance(s)
FORT JENNINGS, OH 10/9/2021
GUHSD 1 Performance(s)
PEORIA, AZ 11/18/2020
BADIN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HAMILTON, OH 10/30/2020
CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CORINTH, ME 4/15/2020
VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
NORTH BROOKFIELD, MA 10/12/2019
MERKEL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MERKEL, TX 1/10/2019
WESTFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WESTFIELD,, IN 12/14/2018
ALCONBURY MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
APO, AE 11/20/2018
OAK MOUNTAIN ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
CARROLLTON, GA 10/24/2018
CORTEZ HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
PHOENIX, AZ 10/24/2018
CARDIGAN MOUNTAIN SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CANAAN, NH 5/17/2018
PAHRUMP CALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PAHRUMP, NV 2/24/2018
LEWISTON ALTURA HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
LEWISTON, MN 1/20/2018
FRIENDS SCHOOL OF ATLANTA 1 Performance(s)
ATLANTA, GA 11/15/2017
CALHOUN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
EDISON , GA 12/1/2016
THEATRE GROUP 1 Performance(s)
CRANBERRY TWP., PA 5/19/2016
DAYTON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
DAYTON, KY 3/15/2016
MONTEVALLO HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MONTEVALLO, AL 11/6/2015
WILLISTON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WILLISTON, FL 10/23/2015
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES HEALTHY YO 3 Performance(s)
NEW ULM, MN 7/17/2015
KAMMERER MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LOUISVILLE, KY 6/15/2015
WASHINGTON PARK HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
RACINE, WI 5/22/2015
SHOSHONE HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
SHOSHONE, ID 4/17/2015
SPIRITWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SPIRITWOOD, SK 3/26/2015
TRI COUNTY SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
DE WITT, NE 1/29/2015
CLEARWATER PUBLIC 4 Performance(s)
CLEARWATER, NE 11/16/2014
SCHRADE MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ROWLETT, TX 11/15/2014
VISTA VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ORANGE, CA 11/14/2014
STARKWEATHER SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
STARKWEATHER, ND 11/4/2014
MANDAN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MANDAN, ND 4/10/2014
STEWARTVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
STEWARTVILLE, MN 1/18/2014
UPLAND CDS 1 Performance(s)
KENNETT SQUARE, PA 10/30/2013
CUMBERLAND CTY. PUBLIC SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CUMBERLAND, VA 6/24/2013
ANDREW JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
KERSHAW, SC 5/14/2013
PATAGONIA UNION HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PATAGONIA, AZ 3/15/2013
RAMSEY MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LOUISVILLE, KY 1/7/2013
HARPETH HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TN 1/5/2013
DREW MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
FREDERCISKSBURG , VA 12/15/2012
TRITON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
RUNNEMEDE, NJ 11/30/2012
CARRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CARRINGTON, ND 11/19/2012
MERKEL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MERKEL, TX 11/19/2012
CARRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CARRINGTON, ND 11/3/2012
CARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
HEATON, ND 11/3/2012
MT. VERNON PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ATLANTA, GA 11/2/2012
MCCLUER NORTH SENIOR HIGH SCHO 1 Performance(s)
FLORISSANT, MO 10/30/2012
VALDOSTA MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
VALDOSTA, GA 10/11/2012
SAPULPA HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SAPULPA, OK 6/26/2012
GUTHRIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
GUTHRIE , OK 5/15/2012
BETHLEHEM HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BONIFAY, FL 5/11/2012
BETHLEHEM HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BONIFAY, FL 5/11/2012
SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 3/15/2012
COLONIAL HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA 1/7/2012
BADIN HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
HAMILTON, OH 12/1/2011
POE MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
ANNANDALE, VA 11/17/2011
GALION HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
GALION, OH 11/4/2011
GREENE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LEAKESVILLE , MS 10/22/2011
CLARK AVENUE THEATER TROUPE 1 Performance(s)
CHELSEA, MA 6/1/2011
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TIOGA, LA 4/14/2011
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REDEMPTORIST HIGH DRAMA CLUB 1 Performance(s)
BATON ROUGE, LA 1/21/2011
UPPER SANDUSKY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
UPPER SANDUSKY, OH 1/16/2011
ST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
LOS OSOS, CA 12/3/2010
SEGUIN PERFORMING ARTS CO. 1 Performance(s)
SEGUIN, TX 10/30/2010
WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PLEASANT RIDGE, MI 10/29/2010
RAYMOND S KELLIS HIGH SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
GLENDALE, AZ 10/29/2010
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DE QUEEN, AR 5/5/2010
GRACE PREP ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
ARLINGTON, TX 4/30/2010
MINICO HS 2 Performance(s)
RUPERT, ID 4/23/2010
HOLLY RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HOLLY SPRINGS, NC 3/20/2010
DORMAN HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ROEBUCK, SC 3/15/2010
BUCKEYE UNION HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
BUCKEYE, AZ 2/11/2010
HIAWATHA HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
KIRKLAND, IL 2/10/2010
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SOUTH LAKE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
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CROMWELL, MN 1/20/2010
BOSQUE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 12/10/2009
MARION MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MARION, VA 11/12/2009
OAKES PUBLIC SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
OAKES, ND 11/3/2009
WHEELER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ALAMO, GA 10/30/2009
MARIPOSA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MARIPOSA, CA 10/23/2009
MCCLUER NORTH SENIOR HIGH SCHO 1 Performance(s)
FLORISSANT, MO 10/15/2009
BOONES CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
JOHNSON CITY, TN 10/12/2009
THEATRE GROUP 1 Performance(s)
SAXAPAHAW, NC 6/15/2009
ODYSSEY MONTESSORI 1 Performance(s)
FREDERICKSBURG, VA 6/4/2009
DANVILLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
DANVILLE, VT 5/15/2009
WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WINDSOR, IL 5/1/2009
BALDWIN MAGNET SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MONTGOMERY, AL 3/28/2009
BALDWIN MAGNET SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MONTGOMERY, AL 3/28/2009
LAFAYETTE PARK MIDDLE SCH 2 Performance(s)
KOKOMO, IN 3/28/2009
MANATEE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BRADENTON, FL 2/7/2009
PICKENS HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PICKENS , SC 1/15/2009
HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS 3 Performance(s)
HOBBS, NM 12/10/2008
OLIVE BRANCH MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
OLIVE BRANCH, MS 11/21/2008
OWENSBORO HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
OWENSBORO, KY 11/21/2008
MT. VERNON PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ATLANTA, GA 11/6/2008
SOUTH POINTE MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WALNUT, CA 10/30/2008
MANATEE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BRADENTON, FL 10/29/2008
WILLISTON HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WILLISTON, FL 10/28/2008
HALTOM MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HALTOM CITY, TX 10/28/2008
PICKENS HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PICKENS , SC 10/10/2008
GARVEY DRAMA CLUB 1 Performance(s)
ROSEMEAD, CA 5/29/2008
MARVIN RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WAXHAW, NC 5/16/2008
HUNTINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT 1 Performance(s)
HUNTINGTON, OR 5/8/2008
MADISON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MADISON, MS 5/6/2008
DICKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
DICKSON, TN 5/1/2008
ST MARKS LUTHERAN CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
CHARLOTTE, NC 4/26/2008
CADDO MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SHREVEPORT, LA 4/15/2008
NOBLE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
DOVER, NH 3/8/2008
PAUL BREAUX DRAMA CLUB 1 Performance(s)
LAFAYETTE, LA 3/7/2008

Behind The Scenes

PLAYWRIGHT BURTON BUMGARNER

TALKS ABOUT "POE-DUNKED"

 

Q.: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?

A.: A friend suggested I write a play based on "The Raven." "The Raven"? That's a poem full of brooding melancholy, regret and loss. And it doesn't have much of a plot. A guy is suffering from insomnia and a talking bird shows up ... in his house. What's the first thing that would come to one's mind in a situation like that? 1) How did a bird get in my house, and 2) How do I get the bird out of my house? The other scenes fell into place after that.

 

Q.: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?

A.: I like the "biographical" parts of the play: little Eddie as the weird kid in school, Poe running into Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in a Waffle House, Poe seeing a psychiatrist (who's crazier than he is), Poe trying to write while a raven flutters around his desk telling what to write, Poe being rejected by a careless editor, Poe watching television, and working at a fast food restaurant. Why? Because none of it is accurate!

 

Q.: TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE CHARACTERS.

A.: The characters come from the distorted imagination of Edgar Allan Poe ... and the distorted imagination of the playwright. Some of the more twisted characters are based on teachers I had in high school. Just kidding. Well ... maybe not.

 

Q.: WHAT DID YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?

A.: I first encountered the tales of Poe in middle school. I couldn't believe they let us read stuff like this! Torture, murder, mayhem, mental illness! It just doesn't get any better! I hope students who are involved with this script will want to read the real Poe. He was a great writer. His tales are dark and menacing, and still influential today.

 

Q.: ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THE PLAY?

A.: If you have nightmares and visits from talking birds, maybe you should seek professional help ... or write poetry and tales of terror.