Rating: 4 out of 5
The Silence of the Lambs at The Lowry had plenty going for it: impressive scenery, two very good lead performances and lots of promise. But while there was much to appreciate, something was missing for us, and the show didn’t quite deliver the gripping experience we’d hoped for.
The story
Based on Thomas Harris’s novel, The Silence of the Lambs follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she seeks the help of imprisoned psychiatrist and murderer Hannibal Lecter to catch serial killer Buffalo Bill. As the investigation unfolds, Lecter draws Clarice into a psychological game of his own, with time running out to save the killer’s next victim.
Strong leads and impressive scenery
John Partridge as Hannibal Lecter and Mollie Gallagher as Clarice Starling were both very good. Their performances were a real highlight, bringing a strong presence to the stage and giving us plenty to enjoy.
Partridge was a pleasant surprise and put his own twist on the role while I felt that Gallagher was more playing Jodie Foster playing Clarice rather than putting her own character to the role Oliver Farnworth also features as FBI agent Jack Crawford, with Sam Jackson playing Buffalo Bill.
The scenery was another standout.
It gave the production a striking backdrop, and we really appreciated the work that had gone into bringing this story to the stage.
Something was missing
Our biggest reservation was Buffalo Bill. For us, the character wasn’t quite engaging or menacing enough, and we never felt fully convinced by him. We wanted a stronger sense of unease, but something in the portrayal didn’t quite connect.
The show also felt a little bitty at times. Individual moments showed promise, but they didn’t always flow together in a way that kept us fully absorbed. We wanted the tension to build and draw us in, but it never quite reached that point for us.
Our verdict
There was plenty to admire in The Silence of the Lambs, particularly the scenery and the two lead performances. However, the slightly disjointed feel and lack of menace from Buffalo Bill meant it fell short of being truly gripping.
A promising production with some strong elements, but ultimately one that left us wanting a little more.
4 out of 5.
Production shots courtesy of the Lowry
