The Silence of the Lambs On Stage Review | The Lowry | Manchester
The Silence of the Lambs is one of the most memorable thrillers on page or screen. Its disconcerting performances and eerie lines stick with you for all the right reasons and as the film celebrates 35 years of striking villainy, the Lowry welcomes Dr Lecter to the stage for a live demonstration.
Based on Thomas Harris’s 1988 novel, the story follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Mollie Gallagher) as she interviews psychiatrist and serial killer Hannibal Lecter (John Partridge) with the aim of catching a new killer. Going toe-to-toe with Clarice and her boss Agent Jack Crawford (Oliver Farnworth) is the modern monster, Buffalo Bill (Sam Jackson), who leaves the FBI scrambling when he picks up a new victim. Helping to paint a portrait of the sinister killer who abducts and skins his victims, Lecter offers a quid pro quo to Clarice, if she lets him into her past, he will clue her into her future.
Written for the stage by the award-winning Gina Gionfriddo and directed by Nikolai Foster, this cannibalistic crime drama pulls the Lowry audience deeper into the hands of Hannibal. Using some creative, colour drenching lighting effects and shady two-tiered staging for the ominous surroundings that craft the crimes and characters. Hannibal moves between his illuminated boxy cell and a full-body restraint as Clarice’s interrogation leads to her trading killer information for her most painful childhood memories.
Partridge (Cabaret, EastEnders) gleefully takes on the role of Hannibal Lecter, revelling in the snarky commentary and restraints, but revelations about his eating habits are removed entirely due to licensing. Despite its film including dialogue the entire audience can quote verbatim, this abridged rendition excludes its most famous lines and as a result, loses much of its charm. The casts accents are heightened and the stage show’s faithful adaptation is visually entrancing, but it is a bittersweet nostalgic revival. It is difficult to capture the trappings and claustrophobic feel that the film relays and its stage show naturally loses the grounded, authenticity that made the film so shocking. With an audience familiarity too strong to get spooked, this live production captures the slow dissent of Buffalo Bill and includes a few new frightful effects and revealing jump scares for the audience.
While Buffalo Bill looms in the shadows, Gallagher (Coronation Street) gives this neo-noir an interesting spin, centring the grim underworld of killers around women who do more than just haunt the set as murdered props. Exposing the corrupt and sexist agency, Clarice helps blur the lines of decency between the FBI and the helpful but extremely murderous Hannibal. Gallagher’s performance is compelling and her scenes with Partridge, balancing connection and control lead to some tense and torturous moments that make the stage production an entertaining revamp.
As Foster cranks up the anxiety with scenes bouncing between Lecter and Buffalo Bill, you may find yourself lured into Thomas Harris’s 1988 sequel. The Silence of the Lambs on stage is one for the fans, offering a striking set, killer cast and is sure to leave an impression. However, after decades of celebrating Hannibal’s captivity, this streamlined story will leave audiences hungry for more.
Tickets are available via the Lowry link