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By Mary Hierholzer,
Guest writer
October 3, 2008

Duffy Hudson travels around the country to portray the classic poet, Edgar Allan Poe, at readings in his one-man-show, In the Shadow of the Raven. In his performance at the Woodward Park Regional Library, Sept. 24, he took on the twisted mind of Poe to educate audiences about the famous author’s life and works. As Hudson performs, he presents three well-known poems: “Annabel Lee," “The Tell Tale Heart” and “The Raven."

Hudson became interested in Poe’s works around age nine, when he and his father read "The Raven" aloud at Halloween for their family. His eyes sparkled as he recalled his inability to comprehend the notorious composition. Despite the confusion, Hudson came to appreciate the beauty of Poe’s works, and continues the role for his seventh year.

Throughout high school, he performed an impressive number of plays beginning the passion at age 14. After an education at an Ohio college, the actor-on-the-rise studied the arts at the Circle in the Square Theatre School on Broadway. He spent over 14 years acting in New York on and off of Broadway. He also directed over 300 pieces, working with stars such as Brooke Shields.

Hudson's show captivates and educates its spectators. With the trademark hollow chuckle, dynamic voice and memorable accent, Poe is brought to life. The actions were a worthwhile theater lesson for me, as a drama student. Hudson often seems lost in memory — able to reach inside the eccentric poet’s head to analyze his deepest, darkest emotions.

Once or twice, the actor made his audience concerned for his own sanity when he bellowed in despair, or wielded a chair aloft his head in fury. Hudson displayed the 50-minute monologue as though the lines were his thoughts — his ideas and his emotions.

This technique is a necessity. Actors strive to convince onlookers that they are a different person on stage. As the impersonator rendered the address, it was not Hudson — it was Edgar Allan Poe. These remarkable skills inspired me to become in depth with roles I am challenged with, and Hudson’s success taught me that one can accomplish goals with integrity and passion.

After the show, Hudson welcomed the group to ask questions; he was immediately himself again. But moments before, I sat in the presence of a complex author, and the next I found myself inquiring after a down-to-earth, common man. He mentioned the classic French author Molière, who is the creator of the current campus drama production, Tartuffe. In response to my question, Hudson informed me that he never performed the work, but adores the play and similar works by Moliere.

To cite drama teacher Tom McEntee’s acting philosophy, Hudson became a “human-doing; not a human being."

The actor, Duffy Hudson, entered the room not as himself, but as Edgar Allan Poe:
shirt tail hung out of pants, dark wig slicked back and back hunched over.
The images in his eyes, wild with terror to see the crowd in front of him,
chilled the blood in my veins.

Continued