Starting this week, Columbia can enjoy a unique theater experience with the production of "SILENCE!," the unauthorized parody of "The Silence of the Lambs," playing at Trustus Theatre. The production tells the story of novice FBI agent Clarice Starling and Dr. Hannibal Lecter as they join forces to help Clarice stop serial killer Buffalo Bill from getting to his next victim.
Including dancing killers, R-rated language and eight actors playing several different roles, "SILENCE!" aims to be nothing like your typical evening at the theater. With the production running from Oct. 5 to Nov. 3, the cast and crew have been working since early summer to put on a comedic show that all audiences enjoy and appreciate.
The musical parody takes a unique approach to adapting the critically-acclaimed 1991 horror film. An unauthorized parody doesn’t require getting approval or rights to the work, as long as the production doesn’t infringe on the original work’s copyright. This allows "SILENCE!" to create an identity of its own, full of satirical elements and whimsical acting, while still making it an accessible adaptation of a well-known story.
“What you’ll find is different pieces taken directly from the movie dialogue-wise and then worked into a song,” said "SILENCE!" director, Jonathon Monk.“The easiest way I think I can describe it is it's 'The Silence of the Lambs' meets 'Airplane' or 'Naked Gun.'"
Unlike usual large productions, "SILENCE"! had a relatively small budget. This forced writers and directors to think outside of the box in terms of props and the set. However, Monk thinks that this aids in the playful and silly undertones of the overall production.
“It’s the opposite of a big budget production,” Monk said. “We’re trying to just use found objects in very different ways, and that's part of the concept as well.”
This musical adaptation has challenged the actors that are a part of it. Hunter Boyle, who plays Hannibal Lecter, says that his role has been both intense and and hilarious.
“Attempting to be a character that is both creepy and funny is a great acting challenge,” Boyle said.
While "SILENCE!" includes jokes and dialogue that will be familiar to fans of "The Silence of the Lambs," Monk still thinks the production will be enjoyable for any audience member.
“You can still appreciate it, just from a comedic perspective in general,” Monk said. “If you’ve seen the movie, then you’ll definitely get a couple of Easter eggs on a second level, but in no way is the show depending on the audience’s knowledge of the movie beforehand.”
Monk finds parallels in this production with the humor he saw in shows as a child.
“This is the type of theater that I grew up watching during late nights at Trustus in the 90s,” Monk said. “Those shows have kind of an irreverence body magic to them that I just had never seen in theater before, and so I’m really excited about this show because it has all of that same energy.”
Tickets cost $25 for students and can be found on the Trustus Theatre website, trustus.org. The opening night of the production is Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m.