Halloween apparently has come early at Moline’s Playcrafters Barn Theatre, with the dark and disturbing “Murder by Poe,” by Jeffrey Hatcher, an impressive directing debut by local theater veteran Pam Cantrell.

In her director’s note in the program, Cantrell establishes her bona fides as a fan of the master horror writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), since she was an angsty teen, and Hatcher’s 2003 adaptation of a number of Poe tales reflects the author’s obsession with death and the macabre.

The intense, mysterious Playcrafters production is clearly a team effort, as Cantrell justly praises her large production crew, including a fittingly dark set, highlighting black and red in both costumes and set (Cantrell designed the costumes and props), and Playcrafters president and producer Jacque Cohoon was instrumental in the look of the show.

Kyle Taylor as Cat, Jonna Hicks-Bird as Wife, and Emma Terronez as Pluto. (photo by Michael Bitterman)

In the one-act story (90 minutes without intermission), an unnamed woman (Julia Sears) comes upon this truly haunted house, which apparently is full of murderers, and we see the first victim – a female mannequin hung upside down from the rafters, and at one point is dramatically lowered to the ground, and then raised up again.

Including the iconic beating of the “Tell-Tale Heart,” and lifting of a fake heart at another point, the theatrical reimagining of some of Poe’s most famous tales, including that one (with an intense, high-strung performance by Paul Hansen as “Heart”), plus “The Black Cat,” “The Murderers in the Rue Morgue,” “William Wilson,” “The Purloined Letter,” “The Mystery of Marie Roget,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.”

Drew DeKeyrel as C. Auguste Dupin and Alicia Leonard as Queen from “The Purloined Letter.” (photo by Michael Bitterman)

As each haunted figure tells a story of crime, chaos and mayhem, the woman must solve the puzzle of the house and the riddle of the man who ushers her into its creepy mysteries. We learn at first he is C. Auguste Dupin, Poe’s pioneering detective, though he didn’t call himself that in his first short story appearance in 1841, preceding Sherlock Holmes by 46 years.

Dupin is fantastically embodied by Drew DeKeyrel, who has grown tremendously as an actor over the past few years. His Dupin – like Sherlock – is very confident, intelligent, self-satisfied, and loves solving complex puzzles through his powers of observation. Hatcher even throws in a Holmes reference, when Dupin exclaims something to be “elemental, but precise,” and he combines the use of poetry and mathematics to solve a case.

Paul Hansen as Heart, from “A Tell Tale Heart” in Playcrafters’ new “Murder by Poe.” (photo by Michael Bitterman)

DeKeyrel is most affecting as his character grows more tormented and despairing, and the play makes a surprising left turn in its cataclysmic climax, with an anguished Sears. “Murder by Poe” has been promoted here and at other theaters as having a good dose of humor, but I found it hard even to detect black comedy.

Jonna Hicks-Bird (left) as Cat’s wife and Emma Terronez as Pluto from “The Black Cat.” (photo by Michael Bitterman)

With several murders, and two other kitschy severed heads on display, there’s little to laugh about. The cast is highly capable and committed to their roles – with many taking on a number of roles. Performers include Gabe Thompson, Kyle Taylor, Jonna Hicks-Bird, Tabitha Oles, Elle Winchester, Alicia Leonard, Jazmin Roberts, Esteban Lopez, and Chloe Hansen. One actual laugh came during bows Saturday, when Paul Hansen pretended to strangle Lopez.

“Murder by Poe” feature (L-R) Kyle Taylor as Cat, Julia Sears as Woman, Paul Hansen as Heart, Drew DeKeyrel as Dupin. (photo by Michael Bitterman)

“Murder by Poe” will continue at Playcrafters (4950 35th Ave., Moline) at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14-15, and 3 3 p.m. Sunday Aug. 16.

Patrons who save their tickets can receive 50% off the Poe drink at Dead Poets Espresso Ltd., 1525 3rd Avenue A, Moline.

From now until August 16th, you can get the deal with proof of ticket purchase to any of the 6 showings of “Murder by Poe” or being a Playcrafters 2026 season ticket holder; the Poe drink is Black & White Mocha, a perfect mix for his gothic tales.

Tickets are $16 or $18, available at playcrafters.com or by calling 309-762-0330.

Drew DeKeyrel as Edgar Allan Poe, Julia Sears as Virginia Clemm Poe. (photo by Michael Bitterman)

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.