Many Corrie greats headed to The Lowry on Tuesday evening to watch their former colleagues in The Silence of The Lambs
The Silence of The Lambs will be running at The Lowry until Saturday, October 10(Image: Supplied)
Coronation Street legends were out in force on Tuesday evening to support two former co-stars.
Mollie Gallagher, who left Corrie earlier this year, and Oliver Farnworth, who previously portrayed Andy Carver in the ITV soap, share the stage in the touring production of The Silence of The lambs. Tuesday evening’s launch at The Lowry, a stone’s throw from the famous cobble set, saw many Coronation Street legends backing their old colleagues.
David Neilson, known to millions as Roy Cropper, Jane Danson, who plays Leanne Battersby, and Samia Longchambon, who stars as Maria Connor, were just some of the very recognisable faces fans spotted at the Salford theatre. Those present were treated to goosebumps-inducing adaption of the revered novel from Thomas Harris.
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The creative team, headed by director Nikolai Foster, have previously spoke of their production, which debuted earlier this year, taking more of a focus from the original literary work as opposed to the film and TV versions of The Silence of The Lambs. Although, devotees of the 1991 flick, which won just the five Oscars, are more than catered for.
For those unfamiliar, set in 1983, the always-solid Farnworth’s Agent Jack Crawford assigns academy rookie, Gallagher’s Clarice Starling, the unenviable task of coaxing vital information from detained sadistic psychiatrist Hannbial Lecter. Former EastEnder John Partridge completing the play’s fantasy squad of one-time soap stars as the iconic character – a flawed genius due to his penchant for cannibalism. The latter personality trait can really harm career advancement with Partridge’s Lecter incarcerated for much of the presentation.
Unsurprisingly, the fledgling feature is at its best during the scenes Lecter and Starling share together as the latter visits the imprisoned tainted doctor. Those moments are tension-laden and play out as an engrossing two-hander between the main protagonists. That often implied undercurrent of a tortured romance, of sorts, just brimming below the surface.
Both main actors overcome the potentially thankless tasks of matching up to Oscar winners Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, who came before them on the big screen, to produce something quite encaptivating on stage. Gallagher brings the character’s sense of desire and determination to the fore – along with that southern American drawl associated with Foster’s Starling.
While there’s great nuisance to Partridge’s menacing, yet deeply polite, Lecter. On more than one occasion he made those sat in the stalls jump in their seats providing chills from Lecter’s cage. We see Starling’s quest aided by Lecter, who has a firm enthusiasm for fava beans and a nice chianti, among other things, in exchange for something he craves most – a view after eight years of imprisonment.
The sets, from costume designer Michael Taylor, provide a nice desolate, eerie touch as Starling desperately campaigns for Lecter’s help capturing the elusive Buffalo Bill – portrayed in charismatic fashion by Sam Jackson.
There’s nice needle drops used throughout, to capture the 1980s feel, with The Police’s Every Breath You Take and Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun helping to reflect the overall themes. Be warned, when The Silence of The Lambs wants to get nasty, it does, delivering more than its pound of flesh. Perhaps a pound-and-a-half in the case of poor old Sergeant Jim Pembry.
While, arguably, the play’s make-or-break moment, of Partridge’s Lecter donning his iconic muzzle, is well-presented and certainly had the desired intention of leaving many of those in attendance more than a little unnerved.
The horror theatre genre has seen great success in recent years, notably from 2:22 – A Ghost Story and Ghost Stories, with this newcomer, which of course has an army of fans of the source materials, proving a worthy addition.
This is a doctor’s appointment worth making…just don’t get too near.
The Silence of The Lambs will be running at The Lowry until Saturday, October 10
Review rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
