A California actor is traveling across Iowa this month to perform his interpretation of famed poet and author Edgar Allan Poe. Duffy Hudson portrays Poe in period costume and recites several of his classic works, which are steeped in mystery and the macabre.
“It’s a one-man show where Edgar Allan Poe comes out, tells his life story, does ‘The Raven,’ ‘The Telltale Heart,'” Hudson says. “It’s very emotional, very high-pitched, an awful lot of fun. If you have any interest in Edgar Allan Poe or even if you don’t know that much about Edgar Allan Poe, you would enjoy this show an awful lot.” Hudson says he was introduced to Poe when he was just a boy.
“My father walked into my room around Halloween time and he had a copy of Edgar Allan Poe in his hand and he was reading “The Raven” aloud to me,” Hudson says. “I remember at nine-years-old, what the heck this bird was doing in this guy’s room and who’s Lenore? I thought I was supposed to be afraid but it wasn’t as much scary as it was sad and strange.” Hudson’s father helped him memorize the poem and the obesession began.
He’s performing in several Iowa communities, including: Webster City, Independence, Winterset and Humboldt. To learn more, visit: www.duffyhudson.com.
By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City