Call me a prude. I'm sure Ryan Kandray, ""Silent" Night of the Lambs" playwright, would call me that and worse. "Silent", a Hell in a Handbag production, is a witty, campy send-up of horror classic, Silence of the Lambs...if it took place at the North Pole. More naughty than nice, the show introduces us to Clarice Starling (Samantha McDonald rocking a thick Jody Fosteresque accent) who, under the guidance of Lt. Betty Blitzen (a droll David Cerda), must confer with the imprisoned Kris Kringle (Derek Czaplewski doing a spot-on Hannibal Lecter) to catch a serial killer (a creepy Ed Jones). Playing from an inspired, inventive script, every single cast member boasts commitment and comedic timing. Standouts include Jefrey Wilkerson and Anthony DiNicola, but with such a uniformly strong cast it seems wrong to play favorites. Director Will Rogers' attention to detail and frequent nods to camp genre mainstays (dramatic double takes, mimed sex acts and the like) give "Silent" a fresh but familiar feel, and his apt use of TV screens lent an appropriately cinematic tone. Mary’s Attic, the tiny bar above Hamburger Mary's, provides the perfect eclectic party atmosphere; had the play bombed, the setting would still have made the experience worthwhile.
Here's where my prudery (is that a word?) comes in: As an example of kitschy drag queenery (I know that's not a word), the show clearly excels, however, not all audience members will relate. There’s a certain brand of camp humor which I'm not hard-boiled enough to appreciate, and a certain level of vulgarity that leaves me cold. But to critique these aspects of "Silent" would be to dismiss camp's nuanced history, so while the play is not exactly my perfect Christmas Cosmo; it’s a solid antidote to the saccharine entertainment that reigns this time of year.
Reviewed by Centerstage!