I went into this show knowing the story of The Pit and the Pendulum but not with The Tell-Tale Heart so I was excited to see both the familiar and unfamiliar presented in the same show by one performer.
Stephen Smith performs more than these two Poe stories here at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The two timeslots (12:45 and 18:35) at Riddle’s Court alternates between:
The Telltale Heart and The Pit and the Pendulum
The Black Cat and The Raven
The Business Man and The Case of M. Valdemar
Which is both a testament to how many these stories have stood the test of time, and to Stephen Smith’s passion for Poe’s work.
Captivatingly Commands the Room
From the beginning of The Tell-Tale Heart, Stephen Smith pulls you in with how in character he is.
He is very charismatic while depicting a character in the grips of madness. As this was the story of the two I wasn’t familiar with, I was quickly engrossed, needed to know where it would go, and was glad to be there for the journey.
How he fully throws himself into the role really held the room’s attention.
In both stories there is some lighting and sound used to set atmosphere and accentuate dramatic beats. These are simple but really effective.
Pit and the Pendulum
Stephen’s performance in the second story managed to make me really feel the tension.
The desperation of the character in the Pit and the Pendulum was gripping until the end. To so effectively depict the terror of the pendulum in this story without any pendulum prop is a testament to his theatrical abilities.
Keeping Poe Alive
This performance is a great example of story telling that really sucked me in. My eyes were glued to this intensely passionate performance from beginning to end.
The man of One Man Poe is what makes this show stand out, his love for the source material emanates through his performance.
A great show for both the Poe-Curious and Poe-Enthusiasts!
Review: One Man Poe: The Tell-Tale Heart and The Pit and the Pendulum, Fringe 2026
Summary
The man of One Man Poe is what makes this show stand out, his love for the source material emanates through his performance.
A great show for both the Poe-Curious and Poe-Enthusiasts!
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