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Regional Reviews: Florida - Southern The Silence of the Clams
Our heroine, Clarice Startling (Brooks Braselman,) is an FBI agent-in-training assigned to handle enlisting the help of renowned, imprisoned serial killer Hannibal Lickter (Jamie Morris) to help investigate the unsolved case of another serial killer. But Clarice must play a game of wits with Hannibal before he will divulge any helpful information. She is forced to reveal the painful past of a girl orphaned by her mother and left by her father for another man, who is then raised by an aunt and her female partner in Ft. Lauderdale where she is forever scarred by walking in on them engaging in oral sex. Hence the title of the show is but one in a very, very long line of puns related to lesbian sexual activity. Clarice, played by a man in drag, is a budding young lesbian herself. The play follows the major points of the film rather admirably. Some of the moments are too classic not to mess with a bit because they so define the film. One knows what they're in for when the first scene has the director of the FBI repeating the names of the suspected serial killer Beaver Bob and the imprisoned serial killer Hannibal Lickter over and over in sequence: "Lickter-Beaver, Lickter-Beaver, Lickter-Beaver." What follows is pure tomfoolery complete with references to South Florida locales such as The Club Ft. Lauderdale and performers such as Dame Edna impersonator Michael Walters. Braselman hits a few of Jodie Foster's acting moments right on the money, for even good actors like Foster can leave us with moments that become humorous when exaggerated just a little. I particularly enjoyed Clarice blindly swirling about with her mouth agape like a fish when the lights go off in the basement. Braselman also does double duty playing the abducted daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Seeing him briefly play both characters in the same scene is a hoot. Jamie Morris does a very good job copying Anthony Hopkins' speech pattern and accent as Hannibal. There is something in the calmness of his focus and the intensity of his eyes that eerily captures the character of Hannibal the Cannibal. He too does double duty, as serial killer Beaver Bob, including a brief moment of full frontal nudity. For anyone who would not have guessed it by now—this is a show not designed for children. Charles Logan plays multiple rolls, from the stern and businesslike to the flamboyant. Much to his credit, he is equally adept at all the characters he plays. Somehow he and the other actors manage their costume and wig changes smoothly. The small space is used efficiently by lighting and technical director Nate Sykes. It's true, The Silence of the Clams is a play of little substance, relying heavily on a camp quality that grows tiringly trite at times, but there is no question that these three skilled actors are all in. As the sold out crowd on the night attended can testify, as long as one knows what silliness they have signed up for, they are in for a night of entertaining theatre at Empire Stage. The other works of LA Weekly Award nominated writer and actor Jamie Morris include Mommie Queerest, The Facts Of Life: The Lost Episode, and Re-Designing Women, which had its world premiere in Dallas, Texas, in April of this year. When he is not performing on the road in his own plays, Morris can be seen as Father Mark at Bally's Hotel & Casino Las Vegas in the long-running hit Tony 'n Tina's Wedding. The Silence of the Clams will appear through September 22, 2013, at Empire Stage. Empire Stage is located at 1140 N. Flagler Dr. in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It is an artist-driven collective that produces new and existing works tailored to the diverse audiences of Ft. Lauderdale. It is their goal to offer theatre artists a supportive environment where they can collaborate, take risks, and develop as writers, actors, designers and producers. Empire Stage explore values, issues and humor relevant to the LGBT and progressive communities. For tickets and information on Empire Stage, visit www.Empirestage.com. Cast: Crew: *Indicates a member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
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