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Silence - Pinter |
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Silence is a Beckettian portrayal of the aftermath and memories of an affair, the three protagonists sitting, separately, on a near empty stage. A difficult play to perform, with sparse stage directions leaving the actors bare to the audience, was handled with skill and maturity by director Andrew Leveson. The stage was sectioned into 3 cell-like spaces by way of a lightbulb above each chair. Each of the actors used the space well and Hedley Twidle as Rumsey, in particular, commanded attention for his lyrical musings. The rare moments of interaction were awkward, as the solitude built up was not contrasted with the contact. In a play where the silence is as important as the words spoken, the pauses were, at times, overemphasised. This is a play of communication - both what is said and what is left unsaid and the minimalist nature of the script may lead actors to over-compensate with facial and physical expressions that jar with the all important silence. This, however, was a minor problem with an otherwise good production. The lighting, built up throughout the performance to cast a shadow behind each actor, echoed the increasing agitation of the characters. The action, played out in words, is at first in monologue, with gradual overlaps building into a hopeless repetition and exploration without conclusion. This was a brave attempt at a play, made all the more difficult by the intimacy of the Burton Taylor venue, which meant that every movement and expression was obvious. Gestures which, in a larger venue, might be subtle, are accentuated by closeness of performance and audience. The lighting was faultless, the direction showed understanding of the build up of the play and the acting had moments of excellence. It is well worth taking 45 minutes to see this thoughtful production of Silence while it is being performed in the BT.
Robertson Foley 23/01/02 |