Last week I had the pleasure of seeing Silence! The Musical at The 9th Space Theatre at PS122 in New York City (part of the COIL Festival). It was a much awaited experience for me, and it lived up to every bit of anticipation. And did I mention in has a dream ballet? Does it get any better?
This show was conceived by Jon and Al and Kaplan who are comedy writers and composers. They wrote the music and lyrics, and their original screenplay was adapted for the stage by Hunter Bell. The show was originally produced for the 2005 NYC Fringe festival, at which it won “Overall Excellence Award” for Outstanding Musical. In its new incarnation (which features many of the original performers) they have taken out the intermission and trimmed down some of the songs, making the 90 minute show clip right along.
This show is a parody of the 1991 film Silence of the Lambs, and it gets right to the heart of what every fan of this movie wants to see. Even from the opening sequence in which Agent Starling (played by Jenn Harris) jogs around the stage reenacting the opening of the film, I knew even the smallest detail would not be overlooked.. This production capitalizes on each memorable moment and quote, and it knocks it in just the right way. A few of the classic lines from the show are even turned into full blown musical numbers, such as “If I Could Smell Her C---” and “Are You About a Size 14”. These songs not only bring special attention to some of the unforgettable gems the film has to offer, but these songs also shine light on characters’ backgrounds and inner motivations, elaborating on the baseline provided by the film. What I love about the way they make fun of the movie is that, as a self-proclaimed super-fan of the film itself, I am able to laugh with the show, rather than being offended. Even Jodie Foster saw the play and gave it a standing ovation! I would wager the creators of this show have to be fans of the movie as well, to be able to put it on a pedestal, and then point and laugh.
Highlights
High Production Value: The design elements are generally simple across the board. The set (designed by Tony Award winner Scott Pask) is a nearly empty stage filled with rolling set pieces covered with pieces of leather (…or human skin?) maneuvered to perfection by dancing “lambs”. But in this simplicity comes crisp perfection – everything executed cleanly and with purpose. Lecter’s cell is effectively depicted with a few drawings hanging from the walls and a rolling desk with a glass “viewing window” attached to it. This not only makes the transitions completely seamless, but it also captures the essence of the locale while still allowing for the movement of the campy musical theater choreography. Complementing the simple scenery is some flawless lighting (designed by Jeff Croiter), again an example of elegant simplicity with perfect shifts from the jazzy dance numbers to the harsh asylum lighting, nothing is over (or under) done.
Amazing Performances: All of the performances are stellar – especially the supporting cast. It was fun to see a show that seems like a silly lark, and then have a veritable parade of incredible voices guide me through the show. I was able to have a fairly mindless good time without having to compromise on quality. The standout performance is by Annie Funke – who plays both the kidnapping victim Catherine Martin as well as her mother, Senator Martin. As Catherine, she gives new life to the character, rather than attempting to recreate the character from the film. She plays her roles with a great balance of honesty and humor, and she’s got a voice that will knock your socks off.
Ponderings
As I was watching this show, it struck me that the downside is that I don’t really see it going anywhere. This is not a show that will be hitting your regional theater anytime soon, because it has a fairly specific audience in mind - and a pretty raunchy core of text and situations. It really belongs right where it is, and I hope for their sake that they keep finding their audience – because we are out there! But I don’t see it moving to Broadway in the near future – I can’t imagine the masses choosing to see a spoof like this over the more traditional Broadway fare.
Another thought that continually crossed my mind during the show was that I didn’t love the lead actress Jenn Harris’ parody of Jodie Foster. It was hilarious at first, as Harris does an over-the-top impersonation that plays up all of Foster’s mannerisms from the film. She exaggerates the vocal twang and movements just enough to be hilarious - for about the first two scenes. Then it sort of became tiring for me, and lost its charm. I didn’t even really notice this phenomenon until her performance was juxtaposed with that of David Garrison’s portrayal of Hannibal Lecter. The beauty of Garrison is that he doesn’t mock Anthony Hopkins’ character – he simply does an incredibly spot-on portrayal. He plays the role so straight, that it actually became the funniest performance for me, subtly highlighting the character’s natural quirks and humor. I appreciated that his impersonation didn’t try too hard, it just worked.
See it for yourself!
It was recently announced that the show’s run has been extended (yet again! ) and tickets are on sale through May 6th.
(all photos by Carol Rosegg)
