Off-Broadway, what will they think of next? First there was an Evil Dead musical spoof, and now, fava-bean-and-human-flesh-loving Hannibal Lector is getting thrown into the spotlight in a new show called Silence! The Musical.
The "unauthorized parody," which follows the efforts of fresh-faced FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jenn Harris) to track down transsexual serial killer Buffalo Bill (Stephen Bienskie) with the help of cannibal genius Hannibal Lector (Brent Barrett), opened at Theater 80 in the East Village this week. (It was previously presented at Fringe Festival.) And...it's actually been getting some pretty good reviews!
The Times called it an "exuberantly gross spoof" and says "There are some deliriously tasty (sorry) bits sprinkled throughout," while Time Out continues with the food metaphors, writing "It's ideal summer fare, not particularly nutritious but sweet, tangy and very, very tasty." (Though both do complain that the show runs a bit long.) We can't vouch for the quality of the performance, but are intrigued nonetheless by the prospect of seeing numbers like "If I Could Smell Your Cunt" and “Are You About a Size 14?” live onstage. Just remember to BYO Chianti.
