Wheaton Drama to brings silent film to life on stage Nov. 16
Wheaton Drama will put on the second show of its 2018-19 season, with the comedy "Silent Laughter" by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore.
An homage to the slapstick days of early silent movies, "Silent Laughter" is the story of Billy, a hapless schnook in New York, 1917. Not just a retread of pie fights and pratfalls (although they are certainly present), "Silent Laughter"takes up the challenge of presenting death-defying Buster Keaton/Charlie Chaplin/Harold Lloyd style gags, with a bit of Laurel & Hardy and Musty Suffer.
Director Craig Gustafson of Lombard is at the head of this hilarious and quirky project.
Gustafson, a veteran director of many plays and musicals, says he most enjoys the challenge of this piece, reflecting that he's never done something quite like it.
Gustafson, along with stunt choreographer Andrew Trygstad, have worked to craft an engaging comedy that is entirely visual, using their cast of 10 actors in bits of physical comedy and sight gags with no spoken work. The play does include projected subtitles, as one would expect within a classic silent film.
Gustafson shared that as he researched "Silent Laughter", he was able to identify gags and sequences from many classic silent films, serving as his motivation for becoming involved in the project. Aside from classic comedic gags, audiences can also expect to be dazzled by the live accompaniment at each performance.
"Silent Laughter" truly is a silent film live on stage that is not to be missed!
Wheaton Drama will perform "Silent Laughter" from Nov. 16 through Dec. 9 at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale St. downtown Wheaton. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and 3 p.m. Sundays. There is no performance on Thursday, Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving Day).
Tickets are $19 or $16 for the Thursday performance. Ticket information is available online at www.wheatondrama.org or by calling (630) 260-1820.
"Silent Laughter" is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.