Production Overview
- Play Title: The Mystery of Marie Rogêt (To Mystirio tis Mari Roze)
- Original Author: Edgar Allan Poe
- Translation & Stage Adaptation: Emmanuel G. Mavros
- Director: Emmanuel G. Mavros
- Production Company: Medea Pictures
- Venue: Dromos Theatre (Kypseli, Athens)
- Cast: Stefanos Kakavoulis and Yannis Apostolides (as Auguste Dupin), Myrsini Morelli and Natalia Vogiatzoglou (as Marie Rogêt), Yiannis Tsoutsias (as Police Chief G-), Savvas Poyiatzis, Natalia Voyiatzoglou, Styliani Kleidona, and Panagiotis Moschos.
- Genre: Noir / Detective Mystery / Psychological Thriller
Plot Summary
Set in interwar Paris, the lifeless body of a young woman named Marie Rogêt is found floating along the banks of the Seine. Her body shows signs of severe violence, and a portion of her dress was torn away to drag her ashore.
As rumors swirl and witnesses give contradictory testimonies, the local police force hits a total dead end. Desperate for answers, Police Chief G- enlists the help of the eccentric, brilliant analytical detective C. Auguste Dupin. Armed with deductive reasoning, crime scene evidence, and press reports, Dupin set out to unravel the complex web of suspicion and uncover who committed the gruesome femicide.
Key Themes & Context
- First Stage Adaptation in Greece: This production marked the first time Edgar Allan Poe’s famous short story was adapted into a theatrical play for Greek audiences.
- Poe’s First Forensic Narrative: Based on the real-life unsolved 1841 murder of Mary Rogers in New York (which Poe fictionalized to Paris), the play highlights the dawn of scientific crime investigation and logical deduction.
- Atmospheric Noir Aesthetic: Directed by Emmanuel G. Mavros, the staging utilizes high-contrast lighting, movement, and a jazz-infused score to immerse the audience in a moody 1930s film-noir environment.