MUSCATINE, Iowa — It wasn’t midnight, but it was dreary in Muscatine Thursday evening, perfect for a visit from the master of macabre, Edgar Allan Poe.

Poe’s not-so-forgotten lore was brought to life at Musser Public Library by Los Angeles actor and Cincinnati native Duffy Hudson, 51. Hudson has been performing his one-man show of the author for the last seven years, and is currently on a Midwest tour.

“Poe is obviously very passionate and powerful, nail-biting stuff,” Hudson said.

Clad in period garb — a dark jacket, floppy tie — and wearing a jet-black wig and mustache — Hudson recited the famous “The Tell Tale Heart” short story from memory, followed by the poem, “Annabel Lee” and Poe’s famed, “The Raven.”

Poe was born in 1809 and raised in Richmond, Va. He had a tumultuous life with the loss of parental figures and the early death of his wife, Virginia. Hudson called him a “tormented soul.”

“Everyone knew him. He could walk down the streets of the biggest cities on the East Coast and people would recognize him,” Hudson said. “But he didn’t have a dime.”

Poe died in 1849, with rumors of complications from alcoholism.

“It was quite interesting,” said audience member Bob Nelson, “quite dramatic the way he portrayed him.”

Angie Nelson said she didn’t know what to expect but was captivated by Hudson’s performance.

Hudson has spent 14 years in New York Theater, with some time on Broadway. He is co-owner of Cincinnatus Motion Picture, a film company that produces commercials and Hudson’s independent film, “Tattered Angel.”

Earlier in the afternoon, Hudson performed as Albert Einstein for extended learning program, or ELP, students from Muscatine elementary schools.

A far different spectrum from his Poe rendition, Einstein explained the theory of relativity and his life story to the fourth- and fifth-grade students.

Hudson has been performing as Einstein for only a year, but spent an immense amount of time studying him.

“I just started reading biographies and notes,” Hudson said. “With YouTube I was able to find a lot of footage with Einstein. Universities have animations on YouTube to explain his theories.”

Alexandra Sichterman, 9,  was already interested in Einstein and knew he was a “great scientist.”

“I thought he [Hudson] was really interesting. He knows a lot about stuff,” she said.

ELP instructor Lorie Baker said Hudson’s performance was “awesome.”

“Einstein’s a thinker, so everything comes from his mind,” Hudson said of his character. “Poe is a feeler, so everything comes from his heart.”