It's to die for!

Edgar Allan Poe was the master of the macabre short story -- heck, he practically invented it -- and an excellent poet. But can such works be made into an interesting and entertaining musical? The answer is yes! Presenting "Cabaret Poe," the new musical with music and words (other than those supplied by E.A.P.) by Ben Asaykwee, playing Halloween in the Irvington Lodge (former Masonic Lodge No.666), 5515 E. Washington St. in Indianapolis.

In a reputedly haunted building in what is regarded as Indy's most haunted neighborhood, Asaykwee stars with Renae Stone (or Maria Meschi in select performances) and Julie Lyn Barber as they sing and perform various short stories including "The Telltale Heart," "Fall of the House of Usher" and "Cask of Amontillado" and tackle some poetry including the one about a certain black bird -- the performers prefer I not reveal all the works that are covered, or their order, to aid in the surprise and wonder of the show. The listing in the program is like a guessing game with clues rather than cues. More spookiness is provided by Sara Lukaszewski as a masked dancing phantom.

The visual style, costumes, makeup and dark humor are reminiscent of Tim Burton's movie version of "Sweeney Todd" -- your average "Goth" will feel right at home. The various tales and poems flow one into another; anything jarring is meant to be. The script is clever, sometimes quoting the works directly, sometimes giving a fresh perspective, and it all works. The stage includes a crypt that extends into the audience, with which the cast occasionally interact. The mute dancer adds to the experience and deepens the mood, an impressive feat as such an addition could have come off distracting.

Considering the dark topics, the content and language are surprisingly all-ages, and children 8 and older are admitted. Curtain times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 31. For details, go to CabaretPoe.com.