Hudson Reporter Archive

A play on murder

If you’re a Weehawken history buff or an unsolved crime fanatic, you may want to see the new play, Mary/Marie: Famed Victim…Famous Fiction.
According to playwright Robert Boston, it is set partially in Weehawken and partially in France, and it’s based on a short story series by Edgar Allen Poe, who wrote about the true events of an unsolved murder case over 100 years ago.
Boston says that in reality, the murder took place in 1841. The victim’s body, that of Mary Rogers, was found floating in the Hudson River. A month later, remnants of her clothing and items were found in a wooded area of Weehawken, where she may have been killed.

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“This story is so interesting, if you live here, it’s a part of your town’s history.” – Robert Boston.
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“Her face was severely disfigured and her body left in the water,” said Boston. “Her murder was the first tabloid newspaper case. She went from being a rather popular sales girl in a [New York cigar] store, to being the most famous crime, to [being in] tabloid newspapers when they were just being born.”
Boston said Poe may have known the real life Mary Rogers, which is why he may have taken the case to solve it through his writing. Rogers frequently waited on celebrities at the store.

Background behind the story

According to Boston, when news of her murder broke out, Poe collected the news articles about Rogers and wrote a series of short stories of the murder but transferred the story’s location to France and called it The Mystery of Marie Roget.
Boston’s play has two parts: the first covering the events of the murder, the second covering Poe writing the story about the murder that eventually, due to a surprising twist at the end (which we won’t mention here), drove him to a night of madness and drinking.
The play includes musical numbers by three different groups, including Knox Arcana, a group of gothic music artists who donated their songs for the show, and Thomas Hildebrand, who wrote the music for the entire third part of the performance.

It intrigued Boston

Boston, who is an actor/playwright, has been fascinated by Poe and has written and performed in storytelling showcases in the past based on Poe’s tales.
Commissioned to take place at the Weehawken library for their 150th anniversary roster of celebratory events, Boston says the play is a must-see for residents.
“This story is so interesting, if you live here, it’s a part of your town’s history,” said Boston. “I really became a part of this story. To this day it hasn’t been solved.”
Then Boston added, “One of my own trademarks with the shows is that I like to include cinematic moments in my theater.”
Seating is very limited. “We’re already about half full at the library,” said Boston.
The play will be performed on Oct. 28 at the library for one evening only. Tickets are free of charge but reservations are strongly encouraged and may be requested by calling the library at (201) 863-7823.
Boston says for those unable to attend, the play will be moved to New York City at the Manhattan Repertory Theater for three performances at a charge of $20 for admission. For reservations to those performances contact the theater at: (646) 329-6588.
Melissa Rappaport may be reached at mrappaport@hudsonreporter.com

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