R. Michael Oliver.

One of the central tenets behind the Capital Fringe Festival is its mission to give a platform to cutting-edge work. But as anyone familiar with Fringe will tell you, attempts at edginess often lead to gimmicks, vulgarity or otherwise very rough work. In that context, the Sanctuary Theatre‘s production of Embodying Poe is a refreshing departure. The piece embraces simplicity by placing its focus on an actor, a writer and the writer’s words.

The one-man show starring R. Michael Oliver presents dramatic performances — not simply readings — of a half-dozen or so of Edgar Allen Poe’s poems. The only accompaniment is minimalist music by Douglas Fraser and ethereal images projected onto a small screen. The set consists of nothing more than a table laden with knick-knacks that might have been found in someone’s front parlor during the 19th century.

The poetry ranges from seminal works like “The Raven” as well as lesser-known pieces. They are interwoven with monologues that tell us of Poe’s biography and how each of these poems fit into the peaks and valleys of a troubled life. We learn that while Poe is remembered mainly for his stories, he always thought himself a poet who wrote “soliloquies in want of a play.” He had to pursue the more commercial writing because “there is no money in poetry,” while recognizing that “there is no poetry in money.”

Embodying Poe is a work of maturity. Oliver is clearly an experienced player who has achieved control over his instrument. There were no obvious stumbles during the 50-minute performance, in which he saw and seized the music in Poe’s language. But a play that centers on language places almost as many demands on the audience as it does the actor. Truly understanding and absorbing these poems requires concentration, and whether there is a home and audience for this kind of subdued and understated work at a festival that is often in-your-face is a fair question.

Embodying Poe: Poetry in Performance has four remaining performances on July 14, 17, 20 and 22. Full ticket and schedule information is available here.