The Red Room by David Hughes

Edgar Allan Poe's classic tale, "The Masque of the Red Death," is enjoying a spike in new interpretations mixing theater with terror. The Red Room by David Hughes, for instance, is one of these. The performance continues to make its way across the UK, immersing viewers in a lively drama that re-enacts Poe's horrific subversion from a different angle. "The Masque of the Red Death" has been adapted to media as diverse as film (such as Vincent Price's classic version) and music (see Diamanda Galas' Masque of the Red Death), but shows encompassing dance and music like The Red Room are rare.

The Berwick Advertiser recently gave the show a promising review. Despite its success, it's unclear when or where The Red Room will show up next. Check out its page on David Hughes' website for some spectacular photos and other details. With any luck, more well executed Poe dramas like these will surface in the coming years, signaling renewed interest in Poe's fiction and the macabre aesthetic as a whole.

-Grim Blogger