The Stage

Silence

Published Monday 21 June 2010 at 14:03 by Anne Hopper

Taking the far-off reign of Ethelred the Unready, Vikings and other pagans as her starting point, Moira Buffini expertly, if effusively, superimposes many of today’s troubled talking points onto her medieval setting. As her six characters wend their fearful way in a mirror image of the Canterbury Tales - from Kent to Cumbria - we are treated to some fine ensemble playing, directed with skill by Stefan Escreet. Each character quickly establishes and develops a rapport with the audience, essential if this play is to provide a satisfactory theatrical experience or indeed to make any sense at all. That it does so despite the often rambling script is a tribute to the six actors, with James Hogg excelling as Roger the priest, pointing every comic line and managing to get laughs simply by announcing himself.

There’s not a lot to raise a smile, though, in the modern issues examined during this Dark Ages comedy. Christopher Webster is splendidly chilling as Ethelred the wimp turned mass murderer, Sarah Groarke as future queen Ymma eloquently and powerfully highlights the role of women in society, then and now. Vanessa Johnson is touching as the confused Silence, with Andrew Grose bringing out the inner turmoil of Eadric, the King’s warrior serf. Quietly but efficiently keeping the narrative on track is Rebecca Elliot as Agnes the maidservant in a confident, controlled performance.

Minimalist settings by Elizabeth Wright, and particularly the sounds provided by Matt Hall, complete a very impressive addition to the Theatre’s summer season.