Darryl Maximilian Robinson Shares Poe's 'Annabel Lee' At The Historic Santa Monica Pier
Monday, July 01, 2024 - 9:00 AM
to Sunday, July 21, 2024 - 10:00 AM
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM See all dates and Times
Virtual Event
Chicago & LA Theatre Veteran Darryl Maximilian Robinson Presents A Street Theatre Video Version of Poe's 'Annabel Lee' At The Famed Santa Monica Pier!
Perhaps it was because his biological parents were both stage actors. Perhaps it was due to his own well-to-do southern adoptive parents disapproving of many of his actions ( including being kicked out of West Point Academy ). Perhaps it was because his personal pain was so deep after the passing of his wife ( the love of his life ). Perhaps it was because he truly sensed that his own life would not be very long. Whatever the reasons that drove him into becoming one of the greatest literary masters of the 19th century may always remain in shadow and ( as the author of one of the first detective stories The Murders In The Rue Morgue ) perhaps the man, the myth, the literary legend, would prefer it kept that way. What is known is this: Edgar Allan Poe was and is one of the finest American authors of prose and poetry. His writing is rich, lush and undeniably theatrical and dramatic. And it was his penchant for telling tales of mystery and horror with such flair that drew Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project Founder Darryl Maximilian Robinson to his numerous works.
Veteran and award-winning Chicago, St. Louis and Los Angeles stage actor and play director Darryl Maximilian Robinson ( The Founder of both the multiracial chamber theatre The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and the video and theatre arts group The Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project ) shares a "Street Theatre" rendition of American literary master Edgar Allan Poe's classic poem "Annabel Lee" on the shore of the Pacific Ocean near Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California. Recorded three years ago on Monday June 7, 2021, the videography and editing of Mr. Robinson's recitation is provided by his long-time friend and talented fellow actor Danny Belrose.
This outdoor presentation marks the fifth in a series of classic poems and speeches by Darryl Maximilian Robinson has performed in a "Street Theatre" style of format, which includes Rudyard Kipling's "If" on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood as well as William Shakespeare's "Saint Crispin's Day" Speech from "Henry V," the "Seven Ages of Man" Speech from "As You Like It," and the "O Reason Not The Need" Speech from "King Lear" all presented at various locations in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. A variety of classic poems and speeches recorded by Darryl Maximilian Robinson can be perused at his YouTube channel.
Darryl Maximilian Robinson is no stranger to public performances of the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Beginning in 1990 as a Excaliber Productions Ltd. of Chicago staged reading at The Rudyard Kipling Pub in Louisville, Kentucky ( with the highly-talented young actor Christian Kohn, who would become a future critically-praised Chicago and New York stage performer, play director and noted college theatre lecturer, bringing to life The Tell-tale Heart ), followed by the same at The Midtown Arts Center of St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Robinson ( joined by a variety of talented young actors in featured roles ) would continue over the course of a decade to evolve and present his original stage adaptation of The Raven And Six Other Points of Interest by Edgar Allan Poe. By the time he mounted his final Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago staging of the piece at The Harrison Street Galleries Studio Theatre of Oak Park, IL. in 2001, the set and final completely memorized and performed bill of literary story and poem works included: El Dorado, The Tell-tale Heart, The City In The Sea, Annabel Lee, The Conquerer Worm, The Bells and The Raven ( which was Mr. Robinson's signature performance piece as Narrator and Host ).
Now celebrating his 50th anniversary as an American Stage Performer, Darryl Maximilian Robinson is winner of numerous theatre awards and honors garnered during his 50-season long stage career including a 1997 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Award as Outstanding Actor In A Principal Role In A Play for his performance as Sam Semela in The ESC's staging of Athol Fugard's Master Harold And The Boys at The Heartland Cafe Studio Theatre in the Windy City; a 2015 / 2016 Los Angeles Elate Season Ticket Holder Award nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ernest in Tad Mosel's classic one-act of life in The Theatre, Impromptu presented at The Lincoln Stegman Theatre in North Hollywood, Ca.; and a 2019 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award nomination for Best Performer In A Musical or Revue ( Resident Non-Equity ) for his performance in the dual roles of The Chairman Mr. William Cartwright and Mayor Thomas Sapsea of Cloisterham in the 2018 Saint Sebastian Players of Chicago revival production of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning Best Musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood staged at the lovely, more-than-a-century-old St. Bonaventure Church in Chicago.
His June 7, 2021 "Street Theatre" rendition of Annabel Lee does, however, represent his first public recitation of an Edgar Allan Poe poem in twenty years. This video is presented as part of The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago Archives and The Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles.
https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-raven-and-six-other-points-of-interest/Content?oid=900690
https://en.everybodywiki.com/Darryl_Maximilian_Robinson
https://m.peliplat.com/en/library/celeb/pc31670668/Darryl-Maximilian-Robinson
Darryl Maximilian Robinson has become noted as the very first black actor in American Theatre History to portray on stage a trio of classic dramatic roles including: Sir Thomas More in Robert Bolt's "A Man For All Seasons" ( in a 1984 revival presented by The University Players of The University of Missouri-St. Louis and directed by AEA Member John Grassilli at The Benton Hall Theater ); King Henry II in a 1992 multiracial cast revival of James Goldman's "The Lion In Winter" ( directed by Mr. Robinson for his chamber theatre Excaliber Productions, Ltd in St. Louis and staged at The Wabash Triangle Cafe ); and Andrew Wyke ( opposite the talented actor Sean Nix as Milo Tindle ) in a 2000, 30th Anniversary, all-black cast revival of Anthony Shaffer's "Sleuth" presented under Mr. Robinson's direction by his chamber theatre The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago at The Harrison Street Galleries Studio Theatre of Oak Park, Illinois.
Most recently, Darryl Maximilian Robinson was named a winner of a 2022 Making The World Happening Award from Allevents.in for his numerous online theatre-related offerings during the early years of The Covid-19 pandemic.
