Regional Theatre Review: The Silence of The Lambs

Tell me Clarice, can you still hear the lambs bleating? 

Adapting such an iconic novel to be a success on the stage is always a tall order. And even more so in the case of The Silence of the Lambs with a character as infamous as Dr Hannibal Lecter. The pressure was certainly on for writer Gina Gionfriddo and director Nikolai Foster but their creative genius paid off with the audience gripped from start to finish as the drama unfolded over the two hours. 

Horror may not be the obvious genre choice for a stage adaptation but it does seem to have had a bit of a boom recently with the likes of Paranormal Activity and 2.22 A Ghost Story coming to the theatres. Admitting that “a play about serial killers might not seem like the most obvious choice coming out of the pandemic”, Foster decided to aim for one of the world’s best thrillers to get people back through the door, and while it has taken a few years to secure the rights - he has absolutely succeeded in pulling it off. 

Based on the landmark 1988 book by Thomas Harris rather than the film, the production allows for a deeper dive into certain parts of the story that the film didn’t have time to do. It delves into the character of FBI trainee and psychology graduate Clarice (Mollie Gallagher) - offering a window into her own traumatic childhood as she attempts to crack open a window into the twisted mind of sadistic Lecter. 

Gionfriddo and Foster protect the key plot points and don’t shy away from disturbing scenes either - there were gasps across the audience at some scenes, and a smattering of jumpy, unnerving moments as Lecter’s character unravelled in front of us. 

Making her professional theatre debut as Clarice Starling, Mollie Gallagher was superb, absolutely nailing the southern American accent, and portraying a complex character who is tough when she needs to be while showing a softness and vulnerability that draws you in. Another standout performance was Sam Jackson as the evil ‘Buffalo Bill’ (Jame Gumb). You couldn’t take your eyes off him as he crept around the stage in a disturbing yet slightly sympathetic way. 

But it was John Partridge (Eastenders, Cabaret) who stole the show as the deliciously dark Hannibal Lecter who is wonderfully theatrical with his evilness. Speaking ahead of the tour, Partridge described it as a “huge honour to play a role that by simply saying the character’s name, it takes your breath away”. He definitely took our breath away throughout the performance. Theatrical, charming and worryingly curious, Partridge’s portrayal of Lecter was captivating. 

The chilling game of cat-and-mouse played out between Lecter and young Clarice is gripping, drawing you in, just as Clarice is drawn in by Lecter’s evil charm. His vocal talents are very apparent during the production, adapting his voice and tone for different scenes - without giving too much away, the tape recorder set-up was particularly impressive. 

Alongside such a talented cast - with the majority taking on more than one character - is an incredible production team who have succeeded in bringing the horror to life on the stage, with special mention to Michael Taylor (set and costume design), Howard Hudson (lighting design) and George Reeve (projection design). 

The very clever set changes seamlessly from the minimalistic FBI office to the cell corridor in Baltimore Hospital for the Criminally Insane, and many other locations, with projections and lighting transforming each one, and officers and waiters helping to move things around. Such fluidity only works to enhance the intense atmosphere and allows you to be fully immersed in the tension of each scene and character. 

We’re first introduced to Lecter through the eyes of trainee Clarice as he appears in a fluorescent-lit cube which glides effortlessly on and off the stage throughout the production. It also doubles up as Buffalo Bill’s lair, the horror unfolding as the senator’s daughter Catherine (Lottie Amor) eventually realises the fate she will face in his evil hands. 

What you can’t see is almost as important as what you can see, particularly when it comes to the thrilling climax of the play, with a race against time for the FBI to catch serial killer Buffalo Bill. The use of projections brings the horror to life in surprising and shocking ways such as psychopath Lecter’s violent escape scene. 

The inter-connection of characters and plot also adds to the tension, at times you are seeing two scenes unfold in front of you in a thrilling theatrical experience that doesn’t hold back and brings Harris’ deep and rich creations to life in a way like never before. 

Intense, gripping and unsettling - the stage adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs is a theatrical triumph. Dr Hannibal Lecter will see you now…